The Cruising Opportunities of Southwest Florida
From the cruising yachtsman’s perspective, few areas in the world offer the same quality and variety of cruising options as Southwest Florida.
By Barb Hansen
What area could be more of a cruising “gem “than the waters of Southwest Florida? As owners of a power and sail charter company in the heart of this area for four decades, my husband Vic and I have often told our charter customers, “You can cruise with us time after time and never cross your own wake.”
When you begin your cruise from our Cape Coral base at Tarpon Point Marina, you will have access to some of the world’s finest cruising grounds – a fact that’s often cited by many, including international boating publications.
Florida’s “West Coast,” from a cruising perspective, is the 220-mile stretch from Flamingo, at the state’s southern tip and in the heart of the Everglades, north to Tampa. Fort Myers is located in the heart of the islands and inlets which encompass Southwest Florida. From our backyard barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva, south to the bustling resorts of the rich and famous in Naples and Marco Island, or east through the Manatee sawgrasses and citrus groves of the Okeechobee Waterway, which winds through Florida’s heartland, Fort Myers is located at the area’s cruising epicenter.
Over the years, our cruisers have become family and we are pleased to note that many generations have come to enjoy the many offerings of our cruising area. While we offer both power and sail charters, our services include onboard classes that meet the needs of beginning cruisers, refresher courses, yacht brokerage services, and the opportunity for boat owners to participate in our charter program.
We work closely with our charter customers to help plan a cruise that meets their desires. We also have a Concierge Service that will make all their marina reservations for overnight dockage, whether they want to stay at a marina every night or only one night of a week-long charter.
Southwest Florida Yachts has also added a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 – “Far Niente” – to its charter sail fleet. Far Niente features three cabins, two heads with stand-up showers, and a large salon. She is fully equipped with a bow thruster, generator, air conditioning, and Raymarine electronics. Leave your cares behind and set sail for Sanibel and Captiva Islands aboard Far Niente.
