Boats and Boating in Sarasota

Sarasota and boats have gone together forever. Whether your preference is sailing in the open waters or taking a kayak up a river, you'll find yourself in good company. There's a remarkable variety to the types of boating waters around Sarasota.

 

You don't have to have your sea legs to enjoy boating in Sarasota. You can just watch the pros. Regattas for rowers, sailboats and yachts happen in Sarasota throughout the year. The Sarasota Labor Day Regatta, now in its seventh decade, crowds the bay with bright sails. Speedboat races are popular, too.

 

Because of the local popularity of boating, there are many marinas in business. A walk through one of these provides a quick visual lesson about the many different kinds of small sea-going vessels. Some Sarasota marinas participate in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Clean Marina program. Member marinas hold to standards that protect the waters and the life within them.

 

Throughout the Sarasota boating community you'll notice a desire to maintain a healthy environment in and around the water. Boaters value the beauty and vigor of the Gulf and the rivers that feed it perhaps more than anyone else.

 

Sarasota has long been a destination for sport fisherman. The waters of the Gulf are home to some spectacular fish, including the tarpon. The rivers of the estuary, too, offer good fishing. Among the fish swim protected manatees, turtles and dolphins. The rich environment of Sarasota's waters is a big part of its attraction to boaters.

 

Local boaters and visitors from out of town can improve their understanding of watercraft and polish their skills with the help of an organization called the United States Power Squadrons (USPS). With four USGS stations in the Sarasota area offering courses year round, boaters have excellent access to a wealth of boating knowledge.