Captain John’s discussion below of Western Florida bridges in general, and the Anna Maria Island Bridge, in particular, gives some great cruising advice for all mariners plying the western coastline of the Sunshine State. And, watch out for a certain bridge operator (see below)!

We have cruised the FL West Coast extensively, both offshore and ICW. SUNBURST has been through every bridge along the west FL ICW at least once (excepting Charlotte Harbor’s eastern reaches) and with a vertical clearance of 23′ has required her share of openings. This height, as it turns out, is exceptional in that it also approximates the vertical clearance of innumerable west coast bascule bridges. The decision to request an opening is never taken lightly, and we have no designs on unnecessarily impeding road traffic or taxing the bridge tenders. However, we also emphatically endeavor to avoid dis-masting ourselves; placing SUNBURST or crew in peril, or otherwise engaging bridge spans in a physical sense. (We know the bridge will win every time!).
So the usual drill as we approach any bridge that is even remotely close to our vertical clearance involves the oft rehearsed combination of straining (to discern a tide card reading) through binoculars and hand wringing. Anything less than 24 feet will generate discussion on Ch 9. The vast majority of our bridge tenders are very professional and courteous, and in keeping with our collective goal to transcend the said span safely, readily and happily comply with our requests for an opening (within the constraints of the bridge opening policies).
Here, the Anna Maria bridge has distinguished herself as consistently problematic. On no less than 4 occasions within the last 12 months the bridge tender has proven recalcitrant, difficult, unpleasant and frankly cantankerous. This has now become part of our planning calculus: whenever feasible (weather, etc) we opt for offshore passage between Tampa Bay and Long Boat Pass.
I would like to emphasize the fact that approaching this particular bridge, like so many others along the ICW, does NOT uniformly generate a request for opening. Due consideration is given to the tide, tide card reading, and so forth such that we pass safely under the closed span just as often as we must (reluctantly, in this case) request a bridge opening. The point is that responsibility for the safety of my crew, my boat rests squarely and unambiguously upon my shoulders. I cannot be `bullied’ into unsafe operation under any circumstance.
Although I have posted this negative comment regarding one particular bridge (and perhaps one individual?), I just as vigorously applaud the professionalism of the vast majority of bridge operators along the FL west coast ICW!
Capt. John Moritz

Subject: Ana Maria Bridge tender
Cruising News: I have been Passing under Ana Maria Bridge for Years. This is the worst Bridge tender on the west cost of Florida. He seems to forget he would not
have a Job if it where not for sailboaters
Ken Brown