Located on Florida’s Central Gulf Coast, Sarasota County boasts more than 100 miles of prime rowing water, from the seemingly endless straights of Osprey Bay and Longboat Key to a buoyed freshwater racecourse at Nathan Benderson Park. The nearby Myakka River, an acclaimed wildlife preserve with miles of rowable water is another attractive option, while open-water enthusiasts will appreciate the many access points to the Gulf of Mexico.

The John Ringling Bridge over Sarasota Bay.

The weather is ideal for rowing year-round, with mild winters and summers moderated by Gulf-Coast breezes. These are seldom a problem during prime morning rowing hours, and there’s plenty of sheltered water if an afternoon wind does arise.

Osprey Bay is sheltered by the tony homes lining Casey Key, while the Longboat Key area boasts dozens of protected channels between mangrove islands, some barely wider than a scull’s wingspan. Both of these stretches are part of the Intracoastal Waterway, but powerboat traffic typically stay in mid-channel, well clear of the prime rowing areas.

This tidal saltwater does offer some challenges though— primarily shallow spots at low tide, and the need to give your boat a good rinse after each row. 

Six rowing facilities serve Sarasota’s vibrant community of more than 1,000 rowers, including two very successful junior programs and sweep and sculling opportunities for masters.

The action is centered in Osprey Bay, home water to Sarasota Masters, Osprey Crew, Sarasota Scullers and Sarasota Crew. Scullers also will enjoy the bay behind Longboat Key, where Urs Wunderli’s RUM International offers sculling

lessons, boat storage for visiting scullers, and rowing shells suitable for smooth inside waters or the Gulf of Mexico—both of which are easily accessible from the RUM at Harbor Square.

A few miles inland sits Nathan Benderson Park, currently home to a 1,500-meter racecourse, which in 2011 will be expanded to a FISA-standard 2,000 meters. The park will house the planned rowing and aquatics center, including boathouses and other facilities for rowing and flatwater canoe/kayak. 

The off-water choices are no less varied. Sarasota is a mid-sized city boasting miles of pristine beaches, world-class fishing and golf, and scores of excellent restaurants (try the Bijou Bistro on First Street) and down-home eateries (prove your local cred with an order of ‘gator chowder at the Linger Lodge in Bradenton).

The Sarasota Opera House, built in 1926 as a movie and vaudeville theater, has been called one of the finest opera venues in America, but it’s not the most unique theater in Sarasota.

The Historic Asolo Theatre was built in Italy in 1798 and transported brick-by-brick to Sarasota after the Second World War, while the interior of the Mertz Theatre was moved from Scotland in a similar manner. Both now host theater, music and dance performances. And come spring, there’s always a ball game—Sarasota is spring-training headquarters for the Baltimore Orioles.

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