Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club is a member of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs, for my money a collection of the most successful and prestigious yacht clubs on the Eastern or Gulf seaboards. Having had the good fortune to visit with Treasure Island myself on multiple occasion, I join my voice with the author of the note below in voicing the first class status of this facility.

If anyone is in the area of Treasure Island, FL, you just can’t beat “The Club at Treasure Island” just off from Treasure Island Causeway on the GIWW at Mile 119. Talk with Les, the Dock Master, and go to this website and he will take good care of you.
http://theclubti.com/
The price is right. (really, really, right.) There is a junior Olympic size swimming pool, a Tiki Bar by the pool, tennis courts, a big work out room with everything you can think of, and a good restaurant. You are within a mile of Publix and the gulf. On Gulf Blvd you can pick up the “Suncoast Beach Trolley” that will take you anywhere from Clearwater to St. Pete Beach to Pass-a-Grille. Any place else you want to go, Les or Bob will drive you or “Lady Etta”, the Harbor Host, will also help you out. They are wonderful people here and they make you feel right at home.

Just to let you know, Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club is no longer a member of the FCYC.
Lynne and Rich

Treasure Island Yacht and Tennis Club hasn’t been a FCYC member for sometime. Their association with the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs, as a member club, ended when the Treasure Island Yacht Club was sold to the current owner.
Kathy

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club

Just north of the Western Florida ICW’s passage across the entrance to Tampa Bay, the Waterway passes under two bridge, both confusingly enough, known as the Pinellas Bayway. The southern of the two is knows at the “E span,” with the northern bridge bearing the moniker of “C span.”
Captain Dave is quite right that for sailcraft, or even slow moving trawlers, the restrictive opening schedules (follow link below for the schedules) can be “challenging.”

This bridge answers to `Structure E’ and opens every 30 minutes which makes it tough to get to Structure C in 10 minutes.
Dave

And, here is a chance for the cruising community add input to this bridge situation. Carefully read Captain Michael Lieberum’s note below. In the past, Captain Lieberum has been extremely generous with his time and expertise over the years in helping us get all the bridge info on the Cruisers’ Net as accurate as possible. He also has MORE THAN A LITTLE TO DO WITH SETTING BRIDGE OPENING SCHEDULES! So, PLEASE respond to Captain Lieberum’s question, by clicking the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, or e-mail him directly at the address he provides.

If it is a problem getting from one bridge to next bridge in 10 minutes would it be better to change the schedule of Structure `C’ to a 30 minute schedule; which would allow 15 minutes between bridges? Please email your responses directly to me: michael.b.lieberum@uscg.mil
Sincerly,
Michael Lieberum,
Seventh Coast Guard District Bridge Branch, Miami, FL

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Bridge Directory Listing For The Pinellas Bayway, E-span

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Bridge Directory Listing For The Pinellas Bayway, C-span

Clearwater Municipal Marina is definitely a well run city owned marina facility. Their marked entry channel cuts west, northwest off the Western Florida ICW, just south of the high-rise Clearwater Memorial Causeway bridge.

We visited Clearwater Municipal Marina in April 2010. The docks we experienced appeared to have been recently renovated and in solid condition.
The restrooms were inside the locking gates, in good working order, and the cleanest we have experienced. We were given a key for access upon arrival.
There are many great restaurants in the area within walking distance. Clear Sky Beachside Cafe is one of our favorites. It’s classy, upscale, and serves great seafood.
Scott and Jolene
Clearwater Beach, FL

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Clearwater Municipal Marina

It is always nice to get recommendations for marinas that are “off the beaten track”, especially in an area as large as Boca Ciega Bay with its many marinas. Glenn thinks you should add Pasadena Marina to your stop list.

I wanted to put a plug in for Pasadena Marina, which is around the back side of Pasadena Isle in Boca Ciega Bay. To get there, turn out of the ICW at FL R `38’³ just south of the Corey Causeway Bridge, and follow the marked channel around the I wanted to put a plug in for Pasadena Marina, which is around the back side of Pasadena Isle in Boca Ciega Bay. To get to the backside of Pasadena Isle, you will carry 11 ‘“ 15 ft all the way around the Island. When you get around the Island, the channel splits, with the right hand leg going to the east towards a Marine Max marina, and the left leg, to the north, going towards Pasadena Marina. Right where the channel splits, there is a hump with about 5 ft at MLLW, then the channel deepens to about 6 ft at MLLW. Some of the markers at the split are missing their panels. Treat them as Red and leave them to starboard when inbound. The channel after the split is narrow, but is well marked and easily negotiated. Once in the channel, you should see the marina office for Pasadena Marina in front of you. I recommand you call on your cell phone to get the dockmaster, Chuck, as he is often out on the docks and isn’t monitoring CH 16. There are plenty of slips, and they do take transients. The marina is very clean and quiet. There is a pool, clean air conditioned showers on both sides, and laundry facilities. Pump Out is available, and they have free WIFI and ice. I would consider it an excellent hurricane hole. Check out the web site or give them a call!
Captain Glenn Zeiders

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pasadena Isle

The channel cutting west to Mandalay Channel leaves the Western Florida ICW, north of the high-rise Clearwater Beach Bridge. As Captains Dave and Patty note, this passage is reasonably well marked, and it brought them to a secure anchorage just off the main channel. Note also the presence to two “city supported dinghy docks nearby.” I’ve asked for more info about where these facilities are located, and voila, Captains David and Patty have now provided that data in the second message posted below. Many thanks to this seagoing duo!.

Because of strong westerly winds, we decided to take advantage of the protection offered by the principal Mandalay Channel. The route off the ICW was easy to follow, was marked well, with sufficient depths for vessels with up to six foot drafts. We anchored off the western banks, near the fixed bridge, in 15 feet of water. There was a fair amount of current coming through the bridge. Because this channel is used by fishing vessels during the night, the Coast Guard did come by to make sure certain boats were not anchored in the marked channel from the bridge. The wind gusted to 25 to 30 knots from the west during the night. There was very little fetch and with 100 feet of chain/rode, there was no threat of dragging. In addition, there were two city supported dinghy docks nearby to give access to Clearwater Beach and to a grocery store. This was a great anchorage with excellent protection from every direction, except the north.
David & Patty Power
S/V Two If By Sea

In response to your inquiry, there are two city/dinghy docks off the Mandalay Channel. For the first one, as you approach the fixed bridge at the south end of the channel, head easterly, past the Island Yacht Club on the north, along the causeway to the south. Proceed past the Clearwater Marine Science Aquarium towards the end of the canal. The dock will be on the north shore. They, at first, appear to be the docks for a restaurant located there. However, there is a posted notice by Clearwater Beach authorizing free use during the day. No overnight dockage. The docks, which consist of numerous slips, appear to be brand new and are in excellent condition. From there, you have access to the free trolley system and a Publix is within one block.
The other city/dinghy dock is located just off the western shore of the Mandalay Channel, north of the fixed bridge. There are several commercial and residential/condo dock facilities. Then, there will be a city recreational/library facility that includes the new city/dinghy dock, also consisting of numerous slips. It will be obvious. Again, there is a posted notice authorizing free use during the day, but no overnight dockage. A security gate was being installed when we were there and I assume the dock is locked at night.
David & Patty
S/V Two If By Sea

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For The Mandalay Channel Anchorage