Here's a pic of the Moorings Marina in Carabelle Fla. To cross the Gulf,, most recreational boaters leave either from Apalachacola or Carabelle and cruise across to either the Tampa Bay area (170 miles), or to a shorter destination which requires a second hop to Tampa area. We've crossed from both Apalachacola and Carabell to Steinhatthache a distance of about 120 miles. The next hop from Steinhattche to Tarpon Springs is another 120 miles..
Carabelle is a quaint "old Florida" town that is the home of the Moorings Marina. A beautiful area with out the high rise buildings that have taken over the Florida beaches elsewhere. Always file a float plan with the Marina before leaving.
Just a short trip up the river to the marina is rewarded by the friendly management who are eager to give advice on the weather and other crossing info.
Carabelle is probably the only town in the USA whose
police station was a telephone booth.
When leaving the shore you see Dog Island over your shoulder if you left through the proper cut.
The cut between Dog and St George Isles is the beginning of the trip when leaving Carabelle. When leaving Apalachacola, one must go thru the tricky narrow Gov. cut that many boaters prefer to avoid. This plus the fact that Carabelle is about 10 miles less distance makes the Carabelle the preferred departing port.
Distance from Carabelle to Tampa Bay is about 170 miles and is usually run over night. The determining factor in planning is one must leave and arrive in daylight to avoid hitting crab traps. They are with in 20 miles off both shores. Also, when going to Tarpon Springs you shouldn't arrive too early in the morning as the sun coming up will make it very difficult to navigate in to the Ancelote river at the Greek island..
Moorings Marina office and store as we came in from our last crossing. Our third and last crossing was east to west when bringing our "Great Escape" home to St. Louis.
Our "Great Escape" at the dock. (she really wants to get back in salt water)
Sponge diving boat at dock on Ancelote river in Tarpon Springs.
Pelican in the afternoon on the Gulf...We were warned by the Coast Guard on the marine radio that 12 to 16 forty foot Grey Whales were "lurking" in the area that we were going to cruise through. JoAnn and I wondered why they said lurking. Its bad enough to have some anxiety when out of site of land for 6 to 7 hours, but to be told something will be lurking in the area??? Really???
Here's a pic of the Moorings Marina in Carabelle Fla. To cross the Gulf,, most recreational boaters leave either from Apalachacola or Carabelle and cruise across to either the Tampa Bay area (170 miles), or to a shorter destination which requires a second hop to Tampa area. We've crossed from both Apalachacola and Carabell to Steinhatthache a distance of about 120 miles. The next hop from Steinhattche to Tarpon Springs is another 120 miles.. 
Carabelle is a quaint "old Florida" town that is the home of the Moorings Marina. A beautiful area with out the high rise buildings that have taken over the Florida beaches elsewhere. Always file a float plan with the Marina before leaving.
Just a short trip up the river to the marina is rewarded by the friendly management who are eager to give advice on the weather and other crossing info.
Carabelle is probably the only town in the USA whose police station was a telephone booth.
When leaving the shore you see Dog Island over your shoulder if you left through the proper cut.
Moorings Marina office and store as we came in from our last crossing. Our third and last crossing was east to west when bringing our "Great Escape" home to St. Louis.
Sponge diving boat at dock on Ancelote river in Tarpon Springs.
Did you find out what the possibilities were from the whales? I mean csn they topple a boat?
ReplyDeleteI think they had better things to do. The Coast Guard found a dead one though right where we had been hours before. Iguess a 40 foot whale could do some dammage but our experience has been such that they can come close but avoid hitting the boat.
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