The Sailing Club, Inc.

Florida's Gulf Coast St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Longboat Key, Sarasota November 7 - 14, 2015

Warm Sunny Days & Cool Sunsets It's been too long since the Club has sailed the vast and beautiful blue waters of Florida's Gulf Coast. We are remedying that oversight with a delightful eight day trip, departing out of St. Petersburg, and sailing the Gulf, with minimal time (and therefore motoring) in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), weather permitting. We'll mix a combination of anchoring out in some idyllic coves with a layover day in Sarasota, and an overnight at slips in Clearwater. We will be chartering from Sailing Florida, where we have three spacious, well-equipped, boats reserved, all over 40 feet. The charter base is located at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort Marina in St. Petersburg, about 20 miles from Tampa International Airport. Saturday, November 7: Fly into Tampa International Airport (TPA). Various ground transportation options are available (SuperShuttle shared ride service is $23 one way). The pre-board time is flexible, as the boats are guaranteed to not be in charter that day. Skippers and First Mates will do checkout and chart briefing, and everyone will provision the boats today. There is a Stop and Shop a quarter of a mile away. Sunday, November 8: After some last-minute market runs, we'll sail out of Tampa Bay, passing under the magnificent Sunshine Causeway and into the rich, blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. We'll then head north, and after about a ten mile sail, proceed through John's Pass and go a short way up the ICW to an anchorage in Boca Ciega Bay. Here we'll raft up and have our traditional appetizer and dessert fare - basically an on-water Meet and Greet. (20 NM) Monday, November 9: After breakfast, we'll go back through John's Pass and head north to Dunedin Inlet or Clearwater Inlet, depending on mast heights. The destination for the night is Clearwater Harbor Marina where we have slips reserved. Plan on arriving in the early afternoon so that there's time to explore. (15 NM) Tuesday, November 10: The longest sail of the week - from Clearwater to the northern end of Longboat Key. Retracing our course back into the Gulf, we'll then head south to Longboat Pass, at the north end of Longboat Key. After negotiating the pass and the drawbridge, a quick right turn avoids the shoal. Then it's about a mile to the anchorage. Crews can either eat aboard or visit one of the two restaurants on shore. (40 NM). Wednesday, November 11: After yesterday's long trek, we'll have a well-deserved, relaxed start today, as we'll cross Sarasota Bay. Our destination in Sarasota is Marina Jacks, where slips are reserved for two nights. If we start early, it's possible to make Sarasota in time for lunch. (15NM) Thursday, November 12: Layover day in Sarasota. Perhaps visit the Ringling Museum or Mote Marine Laboratory (bus service available to either). Or perhaps drain your wallet on St. Armand's Key, where the prices rival Madison Avenue. There are many things to do in Sarasota. (0 NM) Friday, November 13: Depart Sarasota Bay through New Pass at the south end of Longboat Key and head north, rounding Anna Marie Island and entering the mouth of Tampa Bay through Southwest Channel. The destination for the night is an anchorage in Manatee River off Snead Island. (15 NM). Saturday, November, 14: Sail around for the day, either in Tampa Bay or in the Gulf, returning the boats pumped out and fueled. Off the boats by 5:00 PM. The cost of the trip is an irresistible $615.00 per person (Skippers - $333.00). Trip price includes charter fees, as well as slip fees in Clearwater and Sarasota. Fuel, provisioning, pump-out, and other incidentals are additional and will be handled by each boat's crew. A $100.00 non-refundable deposit and Release of Liability and Zero Tolerance Form must accompany your reservation form. Please make your check payable to The Sailing Club, Inc. and mail it, along with your completed reservation and release forms, to Mia McCroskey at the address below. Reservations will be processed beginning April 3, 2015 with a random draw of those received by that date. All reservations received after that date are on a first-come, first served basis. The balance of $515.00 will be due September 4, 2015. With the exception of the non-refundable deposit, the Club's standard thirty-day cancellation policy applies for this event. A pre-trip meeting will be held a few weeks before the trip, at a time and place to be announced. All participants should make every effort to attend in order to meet your crewmates, plan your meals, and make travel plans. Please note that sailing conditions are dynamic, that your safety, and that of your crewmates, depends on your good physical health and agility.

Trip Leader	Assistant Trip Leader
Mia McCroskey                19 Manor House Drive, K-12            Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522         914-693-0074 miamc@aol.com	Steve Krakauer         11 Clark Court Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908-306-0898 stevekrak@gmail.com