Sailing South for the Winter
We had just weathered a cold front and with another one heading our way, I started seriously looking for a weather window to head south to warmer weather. So, after 9 days in Pensacola, we took advantage of a lull between storms and headed south to Tampa Bay with Clearwater, Florida being our first stop. It took us almost 68 hours to go 311 nautical miles. We left at a chilly 45° and finished our passage with a balmy 71°. We also needed a successful passage to gain more confidence in our engine and ourselves to be able to weather longer time offshore.
Since our marina in Pensacola didn’t have shower facilities, we booked a slip at Clearwater Beach Marina for our stay. It was a great marina and just a walk from beaches and restaurants. We decided to leave the dingy and bikes on board and just hoof it around town. We happened to be in town for President’s Day and Mardi Gras weekend and it definitely had a Spring Break kind of vibe. We had to search for a lonely beach but it was well worth the hike.
With the hustle and bustle of Clearwater Beach and it’s busy/touristy marina, we’ve decided to make a move further south to spend a few days on anchor exploring Gulfport, FL. We anchored just outside of the City Marina’s mooring field which offers a free dinghy dock for access to food and entertainment. We hung out in this quaint spot for a bit to relax, enjoy some great food and do a little boat maintenance.
After once again needing some creature comforts, like showers and air conditioning, we reserved a spot at St. Pete’s Municipal Marina for a few nights. We enjoyed touring the downtown area with loads of restaurants, shops and breweries. There are plenty of museums and parks to stroll through as well. We happened to wander into a seafood festival but had unfortunately just eaten a large breakfast, but it all smelled amazing.
Overall, Justin and I really loved our time in Tampa Bay. We went from the spring break/beach atmosphere of Clearwater to the small town feeling of Gulfport, then on to a City vibe in St. Pete’s and they are all pretty much in the same area. I think we loved the energy of Gulfport and St. Pete’s the most and were very glad that we decided to spend some extra time in the area. We are still trying to get into a rhythm of exploring, doing boat projects and while finding time to relax and enjoy the moment. Skål!
TO CROSS THE GULF BE OUR PORT OF CALL
LEAVING A WAKE OF PEACE AND LOVE FOR ALL
– Saying posted in Gulfport, FL
