With over 120 square miles of cruising waters in the harbor and access to the Gulf of Mexico your adventure awaits you whether you are a day sailor, weekender or island bound! Our area boasts many protected inland passages to the north and south, along with the inland water way Myakka River and the beautiful Peace River. The rivers are navigable for considerable length especially for a shoal-draft sailboat.
Visit Cabbage Key, Captiva Island, and Cayo Costa
Daysailers and cruising sailboats alike may want to head to the island of Cabbage Key for a refreshing tropical drink or perhaps dock their boat at Tween Waters on Captiva Island and enjoy the poolside Tiki Bar for a Golden Margarita and fabulous cheeseburger. These are only a few of the day trips you can make! Perhaps you would like a calm anchorage for an over-nighter along the beautiful sandy beach area of Pelican Bay on the east side of the island of Cayo Costa. You may find yourself with an endless exploration on this undeveloped island locating fossils, sharks teeth and shelling your day away.
Protected anchorages abound up and down the Intracoastal Waterway from Sanibel all the way up past Charlotte Harbor with easy navigation on this well marked waterway, you will have no worries about water depth as you enjoy sailing your day away on the harbor and if you choose, make passage into the Gulf via Boca Grande Pass. Easy to navigate as well, Boca Grande Pass is located to the west and is a famous fishing destination for the hardest fighting fish locally known as the Silver King, the Tarpon.
The pass is bounded by Gasparilla Island and Gasparilla Sound, on the north side which have marina facilities for fueling and provisions, restaurants, haul-out service, and yet more anchorages and islands to explore before leaving Charlotte Harbor and heading north to Venice. To the south of the pass is the island of Cayo Costa, Captiva and Sanibel. As you can see there are few places designed by nature that offer so much: protected quality sailing waters for the windiest days, quick access to the Gulf of Mexico, modern amenities with restaurants and fueling nearby and beautiful uncongested waters.
Getting To The East Coast
If your adventure takes you from the east coast of Florida to the west coast or visa-versa, there is a cross-state waterway, which leads from the Atlantic side across Lake Okeechobee and down the Caloosahatchee River to the Fort Myers and Cape Coral area. The mouth of the Caloosahatchee leads to Pine Island Sound and the intercoastal waterway which takes you to the southern entrance of Charlotte Harbor.
At the south-eastern side of the harbor you will find a fixed bridge at Matlacha Pass which prevents most sailboat access to Charlotte Harbor from the south, shoal-draft sailboats drawing two to three feet may wish to explore Little Pine Island Sound, an inside passage to the east of Pine Island.
Charlotte Harbor is home to many Sailing Regattas with many vessel classes with serious competitors that come from around the globe. Sailing clubs are a way of life here and if you possess the spirit of competition you will have plenty of company.
