Update:  July 2024

YACHTS WANTED!

Charter and Class demand exceeds our supply of yachts!  We have immediate openings for sail and power yachts from approximately 30-50 feet to join our private charter fleet.  We are looking for owners of late-model monohulls, sailing cats, trawlers, tugs, motor yachts and power cats who want to earn charter revenue to help offset the cost of boat ownership.  Well-known vessels such as Catalina, Beneteau, Grand Banks, Leopard, Fountaine Pajot, Ranger, Krogen and many others always do well.   Perhaps you are not using your boat quite as much as you had planned.  Consider adding the yacht to our fleet where it will be lightly used, maintained to your satisfaction and ready for you when you are ready to cruise!

Your boat could be located in one of the nicest year-round cruising areas in the USA!  Owners may use their yachts at any time and we can help you with all of your cruising plans every time you visit.  When you are not using your boat it can be used for charters or classes.  That extra revenue can help cover the cost of ownership or even pay for that new Chart Plotter or new dinghy that you want to add to your ship's inventory!  We only charter a limited number of vessels.  Our boats may not be new, but they must be in excellent condition and owned by yacht owners who are commited to the long-term maintenance and safety of the vessel.

Our fleet is based at Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral, Florida.  We are close to Sanibel, Captiva and all the islands of Southwest Florida.  However, you must call the Marina directly to get on the waiting list for a slip.  The marina's phone number is 239.549.4900.  Be sure to speak to the Harbor Master and let him know that you would like to place a boat in the SFY Fleet.  Tarpon Point has also been rebuilding over the last 20 months and they are getting close to being fully operational.  Do not wait to reserve a slip!

If you have a vessel or are interested in purchasing a yacht for charter fleet placement please give Barb Hansen a call at 239.257.2788 or 800.262.7939.

Update:  March 2024

Florida Spring Break on the Water

Spring break is just around the corner! If you are planning a visit to the Sunshine State, but are not sure what to do, let me offer some suggestions.

Our theme parks are very attractive to visitors from across the country and around the world, but that popularity has some considerations. The crowds are substantial and that means long lines and crowded hotels, not to overlook heavy traffic, as well. That’s also true of the popular beach areas all around the state.

If those things give you pause, you might want to consider another option for your visit to Florida this upcoming spring break with no crowds, no traffic, no waiting in long lines and some experiences that will truly be memorable.

I’m talking about a spring break on the water – either on a charter cruiser you captain or one with an experienced person at the helm – off the coast of South Florida. This cruising area is ranked as one of the finest in the world. That’s right in the world!

You cruise on your own to private islands and secluded beaches with the chance to enjoy the sun, shell as you wish with no worries about crowds. Frankly, many of these island beaches offer white sugar-sands with very few, if any, others. That means it’s your private beach!

And, while enjoying our cruising area you might also hook up with some “wake-dancing” dolphins, a very common experience, along with abundant bird and marine life. Fishing is great, too! Whether you fish on your own or with the guidance of a knowledgeable guide, chances are you will have the back bays or open waters to yourself for a “reel” experience.

If this sparks your interest, you should also know that you have a wide range of cruisers – both power and sail – available. And, if you are a bit uneasy about taking the helm, you have the option of experienced captains available to you.

So, if the hustle and bustle associated with many of Florida’s tourist locations aren’t what you want during your visit, consider “Spring Break on the Water”. I can pretty much guarantee you won’t regret it.

Update: December, 2023

Celebrating a “New Beginning”

The time is right for us to celebrate a “New Beginning” as we enter our 40^th year in the cruising business. It’s a new beginning because we finally have resumed operations after more than a year of recovery from Hurricane Ian. That’s right, our doors are open, we have berths and most importantly our cruising family is back in action, and that includes both power and sail classes.

Yes, it has been a long time, and we are most appreciative of the efforts of our staff and understanding from the members of our cruising family, as well as their collective support. 

I am particularly delighted with the new additions to our fleet and the return of those cruisers that were damaged by Ian. We continue to expand our fleet, and I would encourage you to visit our website – www.swfyachts.com – for more information and photos of those new cruisers. That speaks to the ongoing attractiveness of our cruising area and the confidence boat owners have in our operation – a reputation we have worked hard to earn and maintain over the last four decades.

Speaking of our cruising area, here’s an update:

Downtown Ft. Myers – both the Ft. Myers City Yacht Basin and Legacy Harbor Marina were destroyed in the storm. They are still closed and there is no plan to reopen them soon.

Tarpon Point Marina, where we are based is still rebuilding. They have limited dockage, but there is a great anchorage outside of the Harbor. The Westin Hotel, shops and restaurants are all open at Tarpon Point.

 Sanibel/Captiva - ‘Tween Waters Inn reopened very quickly last October on a limited basis; however, they are fully up to speed now with the marina, resort and restaurant.

South Seas Resort is also open. I understand that some of the restaurants are not fully back yet, but the marina is open as are many of the rental units.

Cabbage Key- The marina was rebuilt and now both the marina and restaurant are fully open.

 Useppa Island - The marina was rebuilt and just got power to the docks in mid-November! The Collier Inn is closed, but the Tarpon Bar is open for most meals.

Boca Grande Marina (formerly Miller’s) was up and running fairly soon after the storm as Gasparilla Island did not get the kind of damage that the islands further south had received. The restaurant at the Marina is open as are many local shops and restaurants in Boca Grande.

Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda is also open.

Naples and Marco have most marina facilities up and running - Naples City Dock, Naples Boat Club, The Esplanade in Marco and Marco Island Marina to name a few.

With so many marinas still out of commission, there will be a shortage of boat slips in 2024 so make your reservations early!

We’ve nicknamed our 40th anniversary commemoration “Sail-abration” and it will continue until the end of 2025. Everyone will receive one free day with a charter of three days or longer if the particular vessel they want to charter is available.

These discounts are a way for us to express our appreciation to our cruising family for four decades of loyalty and support, especially this last year after Hurricane Ian which has been the most challenging time in our history. Thank you again for your support.

We wish you fair winds and calm seas this Holiday season! Merry Christmas!

Update:  October, 2023

WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!  We are open for taking charter and class reservations on a limited basis now for dates after November 1, 2023.

We are now booking our New Fairline Phantom 46 Motor Yacht beginning 11/1.

Update:  July, 2023

Getting Ready to Celebrate a New Beginning!

We are getting there! As we get closer to reopening our Charter and School operations we want to thank everyone again for all the support over the last nine months! As we said right after the storm we look forward to celebrating our 40th Anniversary with all of you later this year and throughout 2024 and we are getting closer to that goal! We plan to have a very much scaled-down operation returning by October/ November, 2023! We can't wait to see all of you again. Please keep us in mind when you make any future boating plans!

Thank you for your patience and understanding!  We look forward to seeing you ALL again soon!

Update:  April, 2023

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!  As I wrote in January, we are in the process of rebuilding and making great progress!  We will be adding a new vessel to the fleet on May 1, 2023!  The Silverton 43 is a gorgeous double-cabin, double-head motor yacht with twin engines and generator.  She is beautifully decorated and will please the entire crew when you take her out on your next charter!  We will be posting photos, rates an availability in late April.  Stay tuned!

We will also be adding several other new yachts to the fleet in the months ahead and will be sending out "Berth Announcements" as those vessels join our program.  We also have several boats that were in the fleet prior to the storm that are undergoing repairs and should be ready to cruise by Fall, 2023!

As soon as we have boats available we will again begin to offer our sail and power courses.  As we stated earlier this year, we plan to be up and running to celebrate our 40th Anniversary in 2024.  Please join us then!

Update:  March 2023

Making it Home: Navigating the Road to Recovery

I have been watching various interviews with Benjamin Hall, the Fox News reporter who was almost killed in Ukraine one year ago when several bombs hit the car that he and his colleagues were riding in. His two colleagues died and Benjamin sustained serious injuries, including losing one leg and his foot on the other leg. He has a new book out now entitled: “SAVED: A War Reporter's Mission to Make it Home”. 

In the book he describes what happened to him, gives kudos to the people who helped get him to safety following the blast and his journey through recovery and finally making it home to his family. Each time I have heard Ben speak about his experience I have been moved by his courage, humility and positive attitude. What kept him going? He says that from the moments after the attack and all through his surgeries (at least 20 so far) he just kept his focus on going home. "Home" for him was back to England to be with his wife and three young daughters ages 3, 5 and 7! His strength and his optimism have inspired me even more to be grateful for all that we have been through the last six months after surviving Hurricane Ian. 

While we lost our physical home, we have been on a journey to make it to a spiritual "home," if you will. That home would be a place of peace knowing that we had done everything we could to repair, renew and rebuild. How can we be grateful for a disaster that took our home, our cars, our boats and severely damaged our business? First of all, we survived! We, along with friends who were staying with us, all of our pets and our neighbors, emerged the day after the storm with stories to tell, but only a few scrapes and scratches. Moreover, we have a new appreciation for simplifying our life by doing without all the "stuff" we thought we needed to be happy.

Since September 28, 2022 there have been many extremely difficult and frustrating moments working through the repairing, replacing and rebuilding process to be sure. However, through the pain and heartache we have received many blessings that we never expected. We received cards and emails of support as well as donations to our GoFundMe page from friends as well as from people we don't even know. As I tell everyone who has reached out to us, their support has meant more that they know.

Six months ago I could not have imagined where the road from this disaster would take us. Now that we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel we are once again excited about the future. Having weathered the physical, mental and emotional storms that the Hurricane brought we know now that there is nothing we can't overcome. Of course there are many more challenges ahead, but we have faith that the good will outweigh the bad as we move forward. Personally, I no longer listen to the naysayers. Those are the people who bring only negative energy into our world. By focusing on the positive steps forward we are ensuring that we stay motivated toward reaching our goals and rebuilding our lives. My motto throughout this process has been to "take a step forward each week." There were times when those positive steps were few and far between; however, each time we were successful we celebrated! Whether it was closing out one insurance claim, purchasing a car or finally getting our office phones repaired as we did just last week, each victory was a step closer to being "home."

Everyone goes through difficult times in their life. We are not the only ones who have faced a disaster like a hurricane. There are thousands of people dealing with their own "storms" each and every day. Whether you are facing an illness, the death of a loved one, a natural disaster or anything else you can navigate your way home through hard work and a positive attitude. Getting "home" may mean different things to different people. Some people may be working toward better health or a better relationship or even more financial security. If you are facing challenges in your life, continue to navigate the road to recovery with a hard work and a positive attitude and you will make it "home" as well.

Update:  January 2023

A New Year's Resolution:  Recover, Rebuild and Reopen!

This is a New Year like no other at Southwest Florida Yachts. This is typically the time when we all make those resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, read more books or spend more time with family. For all of us here at SFY our Resolution is much simpler. Our resolution involves the three R's - Recover, Rebuild and Reopen!

More than 90 days after the storm we are still in the Recovery mode. Many of us are still working with insurance companies, working to save property and belongings and trying to put the infrastructure of our lives back together such as shelter, cars, phones and computers to name a few. We are still waiting for sunken boats to be removed and for mounds of debris to be hauled away. It is no easy task to recover from the worst Hurricane Florida has ever seen and I know that many of you may not understand the scope of the devastation in our area. Nor do some people realize that the recovery continues long after the photos fade from the pages of the newspapers and the nightly news.

Personally I have been shocked by some of the negative email comments that I have received. I won't share any of those posts here as this is a message of Hope for the future. Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of you have offered your kind words of support to all of us at SFY. However, a small minority have used email and social media to criticize us for the time it is taking to rebuild and reopen. As hurtful as it is to see these comments, I try to focus on the positive.

We have worked every day since September 28, 2022 to put one foot in front of the other and move forward both personally and professionally. It only takes a few hours to lose everything in your life; however, I now know that it can take months and perhaps years to work through the recovery process.

Nothing about this disaster has been easy and I would not wish such devastation on anyone. Make no mistake however; this is not about gaining sympathy for our plight. As I write this, tornados have killed many people in the South and have destroyed communities. Disastrous weather has impacted the West Coast for weeks now with flooding, mudslides and wind damage. The Northeast recently experienced life-threatening conditions during a blizzard and record snowfall. We are not the only ones who have ever suffered from a disaster and will not be the last.

The second "R" of our Resolution is for Rebuilding. We have already begun the rebuilding process in earnest. Our Nautical Boutique opened on November 20, 2022, but without flooring. Sometimes you have to improvise! Water intrusion made it necessary to take up our floors, but fortunately for us cement floors are very popular these days! In fact, most customers do not even notice the missing laminate flooring. They are just happy that we are open! While our Charter and School operations have not reopened; we hope to have our office operational soon. It has taken much longer than expected to put all of the pieces of the business back together. I may have been overly optimistic when I said that we would be open by now. Until one goes through something like this I don't think anyone could imagine time, energy and resources that it takes to successfully chart a course to a brighter future. We are navigating our way forward every day!

We are also working to Rebuild our fleet! As many of you know, two vessels sank and many others have varying degrees of damage. Some of the yachts we hope to have back in service within months; however, for others the repairs will take longer. As SOON as we have a better handle on the repair timeline we will let everyone know which boats will be back and when they will be in service. You can imagine how overloaded the repair facilities are now with thousands of vessels needing work. We are still working through the repair process.

Finally, we do plan to Reopen! As we said right after the storm we look forward to celebrating our 40th Anniversary with all of you later this year and throughout 2024! We can't wait to see all of you again and we want to thank you in advance for supporting us with your future boating plans. Please watch our website for details on booking boats for charters and classes!

We know the road ahead will continue to be challenging, but we are committed to coming back better than ever!