Sea Turtles Nest On Longboat Key

A number of boats were built in Sarasota – off which Longboat Key Club & Resort rests – during the past 150 years. Some were for work; some for play for Florida resort guests and residents alike. But for poise and speed, few match the Stiletto catamaran. The name is perfectly apt – an Italian Renaissance weapon used for cutting through competition…and clear-blue coastal waters.

The first one was built in 1976 in Sarasota, and it represented an engineering revolution. Fiberglass had replaced wood as the material of choice by that time, but the Stiletto went beyond fiberglass. It used a Nomex (used in fire-proof suits) core and epoxy to form ultra-light, ultra-strong hulls. Those hulls featured a polyurethane coating that always remains smooth and hard – and offers an ideal canvas for the vibrant graphics enjoyed by many a Florida resort guest.

Stiletto production ended 20 years ago, but the boat would not go away. For the past 15 years, Stiletto owners from all over the country have come to this Florida resort town once a year to compete for the national championship.

“We’ve had people from Canada, the Great Lakes, Texas, the Midwest, even New England come to participate,” says Ron Nicol. He’s been with Stiletto nearly from the beginning, and now runs a business in Nokomis. The business repairs, modifies and fabricates replacement parts for the far-flung fleet.

Of the nearly 500 built, Nicol says about 80 percent are still on the water. “We’ve got them in Hong Kong, England, Peru, Hawaii—lots of places overseas,” he says. “They’ve become kind of a cult thing, like classic cars.”

While there are a number of reasons the catamarans are popular among Florida resort guests and residents – and people all over the world – one reason is universal: Speed. Most sailboats plod along at four to six knots (4.4 to 6.6 mph), while Stilettos commonly reach 20 knots. While nobody claims a speed record, Nicol says one of the 27-foot models has topped 34 knots (approaching 40 mph).

At those speeds, Florida resort guests, along with local and international sailors, need to know what they are doing. “It’s an easy boat to sail,” says Nicol. “But everything happens fast. You need some experience. It will push you back in your seat when it accelerates.”

Every Wednesday, if you look out Big Pass between Lido and Siesta keys, Florida resort guests can see a group of Stilettos. For the past two decades, local Stiletto sailors have made a sunset rendezvous every Wednesday. If the weather is good (which it often is), they push out into the Gulf of Mexico in search of the flash of green at sunset. Sometimes it’s 10 boats and sometimes three, but it is a local tradition. “All the local enthusiasts head out,” says Nicol. “And of course there’s a little informal racing going on.”

“The Sailing Squadron is our home port,” says Nicol. “Sarasota has always been home for Stilettos.”

Sarasota’s “Best of 2007”

When Sarasota Magazine revealed the results of their “Best of 2007” readers’ poll, 227 winners and finalists rose to the top. Categories included “Best New Restaurant” (Rustic Grill) and “Best Bar” (Ca d’Zan Lounge tied with Fred’s).

A pristine haven favored among Sarasota hotel guests for decades, South Florida’s Gulf Coast is home to some of the finest shopping, dining and entertainment anywhere. Here are some additional relevant “Bests” of Sarasota to help you plan your next vacation at Longboat Key Club and Resort – the region’s premier hotel destination.

Best Waterfront Restaurant: Marina Jack (Runners-up: Charthouse, Ophelia’s) What Sarasota hotel guest doesn’t love a delicious meal with delicious views of sparkling waters? Marina Jack’s offers an eyeful of Sarasota Bay and mouthfuls of exquisite cuisine. Enjoy the view and the “high life” from the second floor, or keep it casual at the open-air raw bar downstairs.

Seafood Restaurant: Bonefish (Barnacle Bill’s, Captain Brian’s) Passionate about fish? There’s plenty at Bonefish—even Florida grouper from our Sarasota hotel’s own backyard, cooked over a wood-burning grill and drizzled with lime-tomato-garlic marinade. There’s no mystery to Bonefish—just fresh fish cooked any way you want it.

Romantic Restaurant: Ophelia’s (Bijou Café, Mattison’s Steakhouse on Longboat Key) If you were scouting for a location for a romantic movie, you couldn’t find a better spot. Sarasota hotel guests can dine outdoors or in. Enjoy sweeping views of sparkling water, mangroves and seabirds; perfume wafting from the tropical gardens; an evening sky lifted from Matisse; and a menu to swoon over.

Ice Cream Store: Kilwin’s (Big Olaf, Cold Stone) What’s more satisfying than ice cream? Homemade ice cream from Kilwin’s. What’s better? Dipping your ice cream into homemade hot fudge at Kilwin’s. Enough said.

Performing Arts Group: Asolo Repertory Theatre (Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Ballet) With its big, top-flight cast (including students from FSU/Asolo Conservatory) and a season that satisfied Sarasota hotel guests, local audiences and critics, the Asolo Rep is up for almost anything.

Museum: John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (Circus Museum (Tibbals Learning Center), G.WIZ) Circus magnate John Ringling expressed his Baroque sensibilities for Florida resort guests, tourists and locals in a wondrous art collection. Now, with recent expansions—placing it among the 20 largest museums in North America—the Ringling also plays host to world-class traveling exhibitions.

Festival/Special Event: Sarasota Film Festival (Arts Day, Florida Winefest & Auction) The Sarasota Film Festival is not just the talk of the town—it’s the talk of the industry. The recent 9th annual season starred big names, a creative mix of films, seminars with the people who made them and tons of photo ops and swanky parties. It’s the “reel deal” for Sarasota hotel guests, as well.

And, of course, among the area’s “Best Beaches:” Longboat Key, home to Longboat Key Club & Resort.