Upcoming Cruises
January
Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival
Tides and weather permitting we will plan on leaving TSS at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday January 11th, 2025. There will be a captain’s meeting on the porch at 7:30 A.M.
Keep in mind that the municipal pier is still currently have overnight slips available. For those of you planning on staying overnight, plan on anchoring and using your tinder or dinghy. There are hourly slips available at Doc Ford’s, as well.
What could be better than sitting waterside, enjoying some smokey barbeque, sipping on a cold beer, playing cornhole and listening to some great live bands?!
The annual Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival at Vinoy Park is a festival full of rich & smoky brisket, juicy chicken,, fall-off-the-bone ribs and delicious craft beer & cocktails.
Features Include -
> Over 100+ Barbecue Dishes from Florida's Best Competition Barbecue Teams!
> Cast you're vote for Tampa Bay's Best Barbecue Team!
> Live Mural Artists
> Great Craft Beers & Cocktails
> Live Music by Great Bands & DJ's
> Games, Prizes & Tons of Fun
Cruising Schedule 2024 - 2025
|
Month
|
Cruise
|
Sponsor
|
Date
|
Category
|
Comment
|
|
May 2024
|
Newcomers Cruise
Boca Ciega YC (BCYC) -
CANCELLED
|
|
05/27/24
|
City/Event Cruising
|
Boca Ciega Bay, Gulfport
|
|
June 2024
|
Sky Beach Marina,
South St. Petersburg -
CANCELLED
|
|
06/08/24
|
City/Event Cruising
|
Second Weekend - old Magnuson Hotel and Marina
|
|
June 2024
|
Dry Tortugas
|
Maria Verstrate
|
06/08/24 -
06/14/24
|
Adventure Cruise Long
|
Long Cruise - Tampa to Dry Tortugas and back via Cayo Costa
|
|
July 2024
|
4th of July Fireworks
|
Deb Doyle
|
07/04/24
|
City/Event Cruising
|
Fireworks at the bay, Raft up -
Weather permitting
|
|
August 2024
|
Twin Dolphin Cruise
CANCELLED
|
|
08/10/24
|
City/Event Cruising
|
Twin Dolphin or Regatta Point
Marina
|
|
October 2024
|
St Petersburg
|
Brad Carr
|
10/19/24
|
City/Event Cruising
|
St Petersburg Marina
|
|
November 2024
|
Tampa Bay Lighting SailGate Cruise
|
Tom Conaty
|
TBD
|
City/Event Cruising
|
Tampa Conv Marina –
Amalie Arena
|
|
December 2024
|
Sail/Lunch Doc Ford's
|
Heather Carr
|
12/22
|
Adventure Cruise Short
|
Long or Short City Cruise
|
|
January 2025
|
Rib Fest
|
Brad Carr
|
1/11-12
|
City/Event Cruising
|
St. Petersburg
|
|
February 2025
|
Terra Ceia Bay
|
Heather Carr
|
2/15-16
|
Adventure Cruise Short
|
Terra Ceia Bay |
|
March 2025
|
Hula Bay Lunch
|
TBD
|
TBD
|
Adventure Cruise Short
|
Tampa |
Most marina's in Florida now use the Dockwa app to register and reserve slips and/or mooring balls.
Sign-up and create an account with Dockwa. You can do this via your smartphone or a computer.
Link to Dockwa here
Protocol/Procedures for Cruising:
Please sign up for cruising events on the TSS website if you plan on attending!
1. Login to the TSS website (Sail-TSS.org)
2. Click on the Event Calendar tab. Link here: Events/Calendar
3. Scroll to the date of the event, then click on the event you wish to attend.
4. When the event is displayed, click on the Register Now or Sign-up Now button.
Member attendance counts towards compliance!
The TSS website is the official record for attendance and communication of cruising events.
The Cruising Fleet Captain is responsible for TSS cruising and the cruising schedule and will assign a Host to each cruising event. The event host will setup planning of the cruise, working with dockmasters, restaurants accommodation, etc.
Please contact the Cruising Fleet Captain and/or Host if you plan to cruise, whether by boat or land, and if you have guests attending. Please respect the time and work it takes in planning a cruise. The Cruising Fleet Captain and Host, unless otherwise noted, are the folks that communicates with the Dockmaster of event marina's. That is what the dockmaster's prefer.
Cruising Ground Rules:
Sailing with other boat Boat Best Practices: Clear communication, coordination, and adherence to best practices to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone involved.
Communication and Coordination:
a. VHF Radios: All participating boats should have functioning VHF radios for easy and immediate communication.
b. Pre-Departure Briefing: Before setting sail, captains will conduct a pre-departure briefing to discuss the day's plan, destinations, potential hazards, and emergency procedures.
c. Check-ins: We will establish regular check-in times, especially during longer sailing legs, to ensure everyone is on course and experiencing no issues.
Responsibility and Decision-Making:
a. Individual Captain Responsibility: Each captain is responsible for the safety of their vessel and crew, including navigation, weather monitoring, and adherence to safety regulations.
b. Consensus on Routing: While each captain is responsible for their decisions, we may reach consensus on the planned route, anchorage spots, and sailing legs to enhance overall safety and coordination.
Emergency Protocols:
a. Man Overboard Drills: Conduct regular man overboard drills to ensure all crew members are familiar with the procedures and equipment.
b. Emergency Contacts: Share emergency contact information among participating boats to facilitate swift communication in case of urgent situations.
Anchoring and Mooring:
a. Safe Anchoring Distances: Maintain a safe distance between boats when anchoring to avoid collisions and ensure swinging room.
Anchor Watch: We recommend that you have some type of achor watch process.
Weather Monitoring:
a. Weather Briefings: Before each sailing leg, captains should provide weather briefings, discussing potential challenges and allowing for adjustments to the plan if needed.
b. Weather Alerts: Keep an eye on weather updates during the journey, and communicate any significant changes to the group.
Towing Guidelines: At no point are cruise participants obligated to tow another vessel
a. Risk Assessment: Participants should assess the risks involved in towing a disabled vessel and prioritize the safety of their own crew.
b. Professional Assistance: In the event of a disabled vessel, recommend calling a professional towing service rather than attempting to tow, minimizing risks to both vessels.
Mutual Assistance:
a. Voluntary Assistance: While participants are not obligated to tow disabled vessels, they can offer assistance in other ways, such as providing information, coordinating with authorities, or standing by for support.
b. Emergency Protocols: Establish clear procedures for requesting and providing assistance in emergencies, emphasizing safety and effective communication.
Contingency Planning:
a. Emergency Rally Points: We will define emergency rally points or safe havens along the route where the group can regroup in case of separation or unforeseen circumstances as needed.
b. Alternative Routes: Discuss and agree upon alternative routes in case the planned route becomes impractical due to weather or other factors.
By adhering to these best practices, captains and crews can foster a safe and enjoyable sailing experience when cruising in a buddy boat arrangement.
Brad Carr
TSS Cruising Captain
346-242-9069
bradmcarr@gmail.com