ON TAMPA BAY – SAILING CAPITAL OF THE SOUTH
Located on the Pinellas Peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, St Petersburg – affectionately known as St Pete by locals – enjoys an impressive 361 days of sunshine each year, earning its nickname of “The Sunshine City”. Nestled in the heart of downtown, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Marina has been fundamental to the region’s vibrant boating community for over a century. This historic marina has been home to Olympic gold medallists and America’s Cup sailors and hosts an array of national and international regattas. All this confirms St Pete’s status as one of the world’s most dynamic and beautiful sailing destinations. Among its many contributions to sailing history, the St Petersburg to Havana Yacht race stands out. Not only did it showcase the city’s maritime spirit, but it also paved the way for the Southern Ocean Racing Conference, a cornerstone of offshore competitive sailing in South Florida.
In 2023, the Yacht Club embarked on a transformative project to replace its aging fixed pier dock system, which had faithfully served for over 50 years, with a state-of-the-art floating marina and event pier. This ambitious upgrade was designed to accommodate larger yachts, support high-profile regattas, and enhance the club’s ability to host local events. Partnering with SF Marina, the club brought this vision to life. Installed in 2024, the new marina features 33 durable concrete pontoons anchored by 76-centimetre steel piles. It offers 42 berths with concrete fingers, 18 berths with aluminium fingers for smaller boats, and a 145-metre main access dock that provides alongside-tie accommodations and serves as the marina’s centrepiece. To meet the needs of modern boaters and event organisers, the marina incorporates an array of utilities. These include fuel systems, large fire water capacity, pump-out, power connections, CCTV, wi-fi, and provision for electric vehicle charging – all seamlessly integrated through concealed internal ducts. Manufactured in Sweden, the pontoons were shipped to Florida and installed to ensure exceptional durability, ready to endure even the harshest hurricane conditions.
