Regatta Point, Palmetto, FL 2/25-26/2013

Today we pulled anchor at 6:30 and headed out of Charlotte Bay through the Boca Grande Pass and into the Gulf of Mexico. We were hoping to outrun the bad weather coming from the northwest.....We had 68 miles to cover before pulling into Regatta Pointe Marina in Palmetto. We motor-sailed most of the way and to save time we headed into Longboat Pass which was very narrow and shallow. Immediately we had to go through the Longboat bridge, turn north and go through the Cortez and Anna Maria Bridges which then put us into Tampa Bay. Now the winds were blowing 20 knots so we called ahead for help docking the boat. Five men were waiting for us at our slip which was good because the dock was only 15' long and our 42' sailboat had a hard time tying off her lines! Poor Ranger has to be carried off the boat because the dock is so short...but the marina is lovely and the washers and dryers are close. There is a pool, hot tub, two restaurants, a work out room and boaters' lounge. Nice!