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Yellow Background Articles Below Are Navigation Alert Postings
Staging Area - Click for Chartview
This equipment staging area is in a narrow portion of the North Carolina AICW, immediately south of Carolina Beach Inlet. According to the original LNM, the dredging was scheduled to be completed by May 20, but from Cpat. Yount’s report, it sounds as if it will continue for awhile. Watch for future Notices.
NC –MYRTLE GROVE SOUND TO NEW RIVER (AICW) – DREDGING EQUIPMENT STAGING AREA
Starting 26 March, 2013 and continuing until 20 May, 2013, WEEKS MARINE will have tugs, barges and floating pipeline along the east side of the AICW channel between New River-Cape Fear River Daybeacon 159 (LLNR 39750) and New River-Cape Fear River Buoy 155A (LLNR 39735). Equipment is in conjunction with the Carolina Beach/Kure Beach dredging/beach nourishment project. The tugs will monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16. A NO WAKE transit is requested of all vessels. Chart: 11534.
Skippers should be aware of extensive ICWW dredging operations in the area extending from the Carolina Beach inlet nearly all the way south to the entrance to Snow’s Cut. Portions of the channel will/may be blocked as a result.
Noted today, May 18, 2013, were multiple barges, tugs and a rather large dredge, along with associated piping, floats, etc.
Exercise caution.
Gregory Yount, SV Intermezzo
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Staging Area
Bald Head Island Marina - Click for Chartview
Beginning Thursday, May 24, Bald Head Island is hosting a full-blown, five day Memorial Day Celebration. From surfing lessons and paddleboard excursions, to a reptile roundup and a turtle trot, there is certain to be an activity for every member of your family. Evening events include a Howl at the Moon party and food booths of international cuisine. The celebration ends with a Memorial Day Observance on Monday. For the full schedule of acrtivities, see the link below.
Of course, your best bet for a waterside view of the celebration is Bald Head Island Marina, found hard by the seaward mouth of the Cape Fear River, within sight of the “Old Baldy” lighthouse! Naturally, they are A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! What a great long weekend!
http://www.baldheadisland.com/uploads/2013MemorialDayBrochure.pdf
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bald Head Island Marina
This sounds like a wonderful adventure. Contact Kacie Wallace at the email below to determine what requirements are needed to be a support vessel.
Cruising News:
On June 8, World Oceans Day, YOLO Board team rider Kacie Wallace and friend Kimberly Sutton will begin paddling up the North Carolina coast, from the South Carolina state line to Virginia. The two are making the trip to raise awareness of plastics pollution in the ocean. And they’re looking for a support boat to accompany them. kacie.wallace@gmail.com, or visit http://www.supthemag.com/features/industry-news/yolo-board-team-rider-to-paddle-300-miles-for-plastic-pollution-awareness/
You may also reference this website: http://paddleforthenccoastline.weebly.com
HB Koerner
Yea! we have a volunteer, but as Capt. Koerner suggests, stay in the loop and we will post progress reports as they come in.
May 19
I have contacted Kacie, and she has accepted the use of my boat for the support vessel. Having said that, I would like to keep other cruising sailors in the loop on this because, as we all know, stuff happens.
I have a 2007 Pacific Seacraft 31 cutter, Take Five, and will be traveling at about the same speed as the Stand Up Paddleboards (SUP’s). I will have Kaycie’s brother to assist me as crew. We have berths for everyone, and room for the boards on deck, albeit a snug fit at night.
I shall keep you up to date on our progress. I need to use the Cruisersnet website to locate a marina closest to the SC/NC border, and make reservations to that we may depart on or about June 8.
HB Koerner
Captain Watson’s April 27th report confirms further shoaling in this area. Captain Briskman’s message from 12/2012 refers to the Longboat Pass (Inlet) channel, running between south Bradenton Beach and north Longbeach, allowing access from the Gulf of Mexico to Sarasota Bay.
April 30, 2013
I saw a nice sailboat go aground here on Saturday, April 27, 2013 attempting to enter the channel from the north between the MO(A) “LP” and Green 1. The chart shows plenty of depth there, but it is incorrect and that area is severely shoaled. To safely enter the pass from the north, the MO(A) “LP” should be treated as a green marker, or, in other words, when approaching from the north, round “LP” before heading toward the bridge. I understand that the channel is slated for dredging eventually.
John Watson
Cruising News:
Shoaling at Green Marker #1 in the approach to Longboat Key bridge from seaward. Shoal has moved south into channel. Stay well south of mark to find deeper water. I ran hard aground just past high tide with a 5′ draft.
Joel Briskman
May 17, 2013
You aren’t kidding, I ran aground even after reading this post. 4.5 draft not even low tide right in the channel. 3 ft waves slammed me across. Stay as far south in the channel as you possibly can at marker 1. The Bridge Tender was very nice though.
Cambren Davis
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Longboat Pass
Fort Pierce Inner Harbor - Click for Chartview
Fort Pierce Inlet pierces the Eastern Florida coastline between Dynamite Point and Hutchinson Island with an entrance range and an inner range which intersects the Waterway at statute mile 966. The destroyed marker, described below in this article cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariners, lies in the northeast corner of the intersection of the Inlet channel and the Waterway.
FLORIDA-FORT PIERCE HARBOR-FORT PIERCE INLET INNER HARBOR: Hazard to Navigation.
Fort Pierce Inlet Inner Harbor Light 16 (LLNR 9970) is destroyed. A TRLB “WR16” displaying Q R characteristics has been set in position 27-27-42.235N 080-19-06.285W channel ward of the destroyed structure. Mariners are advised to use caution while transiting the area. Chart 11475
New River Channel - Click for Chartview
The Waterway classically shoals either immediately north or south of the four-way intersection with New River and New River Inlet. Dredging at this intersection was begun in November of 2012 and was to have been completed by February of 2013.
However, shoaling is once again beginning to rear its ugly head at this perennial AICW Problem Stertch. On 5/16/13, long-time contibutor and experienced captain, Bruce Franz, cruising aboard “Hemisphere Dancer,” took the time and effort to telephone the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net and pass along specific advice as to where the best depths are currently to be found at this intersection. The whole cruising community owes a debt of gratitude to Captain Franz!
May 15, 2013
At marker #72A and marker #72B on the west side of the Waterway, favor the red side.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Earlier in 2013, we have had consistent reports of shallower depths at the AICW/Shallotte Inlet intersection at St. M. 330. Well, it’s not a surprise that we are now hearing the same thing about the AICW/Lockwoods Folly intersection, just a hop, skip and jump farther to the north. After all, we haven’t designated both these intersections as “AICW Problem Stretches” for nothing. And, with no dredging planned at either of the these spots in the near future, we can only conclude that things are going to get worse, until and if dredging occurs!
Long-time SSECN contributor and experienced cruiser Bruce Franz passed along the important information below by telephone on 5/16/13. Many, many thanks to Captain Franz for taking the time and effort to share this data with the cruising community. And thanks to Captain Yount who reports similar conditions during his passage on May 17.
I came through Lockwood Folly intersection with a 5ft draft at dead low tide and bumped hard three times. I spoke with a local waterman who said that the intersection channel has changed markedly just during the the past three weeks. I strongly recommend that anyone whose vessel has a 5ft draft or greater, wait for mid to high tide before attempting to navigate this intersection.
Transited this area May 17, 2013. Noted minimum depths of 8.1 ft. Note that this was at high tide.
This area has tidal ranges of 3.5 to 4.5 ft. so that depths at low water will approach 4 ft. or less.
Observations made at center channel of marked passage.
Fortunately, eyeball navigation is very useful at both this inlet and Shallotte Inlet, providing weather conditions are accommodating. Deeper water is readily visible.
Gregory Yount, SV Intermezzo
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch
Even many veteran Western Florida cruisers have never known that the “official” path of the Western Florida ICW, across the mouth of Tampa Bay, cuts east-northeast under the huge Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and then takes a LONG curl back around to the north and west before passing under the Skyway’s northernmost section (known as the Misner Brige), and eventually rejoins the “official” Waterway just west of the Misner span. We don’t know of any cruiser who actually follows this route consistently.
The vast majority of captains continue north from the Waterway’s buoy #1A, through what the NOAA charts call the “Sunshine Skyway Channel,” rejoining the Western Florida ICW at marker #15. As alluded to above, many mariners think this is all part of the “official” Western Florida Waterway.
Not so, and that means that the Sunshine Skyway channel is not as carefully maintained as the Federally sponsored Western Florida ICW. And so, the shoaling reported below by Captain Davis is actually a long standing problem between Sunshine Skyway Channel markers #3 and #2. If memory serves, which sometimes it does not, while performing research here in 1992, for the first edition of “Cruising Guide to Western Florida,” we found less that ideal depths between #3 and #2.
So, if your vessel draws more than 4 1/2 feet, try to time your passage through the southern foot of the Sunshine Skyway Channel for mid to high tide. And, note Captain Davis’ advice to favor the eastern side of the passage.
In any case, proceed with caution. Once #3 and #2 are in your wake, the Sunshine Skyway channel soon deepens all the way north to the juncture with the official Waterway.
Cruising News:
Shoaling at marker 3 in the Yacht Channel [Sunshine Skyway Channel] just North of the Main Span of Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St Pete. Shoaling extends midway through channel, stay towards the Eastern (red) side. Hit bottom with 4.5 foot draft at mid tide.
Cambren Davis
There was a temporary red [marker] more to the east of the shoal spot a month ago. We favored the west and bumped with 4’5 draft at mid tide too. Next trip I’ll favor the east temporary red marker as suggested.
Roy Cucchiara
The poorly marked entrance to Delegal Creek Marina leaves the combined paths of the AICW and Vernon River, immediately north of the infamous Hell Gate section of the Waterway. Captains Chuck and Claria give GOOD advice below for successfully navigating the tricky entrance passage.
The article below is copied from the American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association Forum!(http://www.greatloop.org/)
I’ll second the vote for Delegal Creek Marina, at MM 600 on Skidaway Island. Yes, it can be a little tricky getting in there the first time, their channel markers don’t line up with what’s on your chart plotter. Go to http://www.landings.org/delegal-creek-marina-3284 and then click on Delegal Creek Map under Marinas tab for directions on getting in. If you’re coming in with less than + 3′ of water on the tide table, call the marina office for instructions, and if your still a little concerned as to where the deepest water is they will come out and guide you in.
Then if you want a special treat for dinner, call Renee at 912-598-7929 and order Chicken Pot Pies delivered to your boat. Call her a few hours before you get there and she will deliver them hot, if you wait to call her until you get in late in the afternoon, they will be frozen. Of course, a delightful dinner at one of the club houses is always a special treat as well. An inexpensive stop you will enjoy, $.94 per foot with Boat US discount. We now stop every time we go by. It’s a nice 61 mile run from our home in Beaufort, SC.
Chuck and Claria Gorgen
ODYSSEE
Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Delegal Creek Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Delegal Creek Marina
On 4/22/13, as part of a NE Florida – Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:
Statute Mile 695.5 to 685.5 – anyone cruise the alternate “Umbrella Cut” AICW passage to bypass St. Andrew Sound this spring? If so, what depths did you discover? Is this passage still a viable alternative for cruising size craft?
Responses follow: (UPDATED on 5/16/13, with the detailed report from Captain Kevin Quinn below)
Cruising News:
I would like to report to you about my horrific day cruising back to Savannah GA from St. Augustine FL on Wednesday the 1st of May 2013 in my Catalina C36 MKII draft 4’3”. The main point of my report is the “Alternate ICW back route around the infamous St. Andrews Sound. Well the weather was as bad as I have seen in years, the wind never dropped below 30 knots all day. I have crossed St. Andrews Sound in rough weather before and the crossing is never good not even in low winds. We were getting bad reports all day from boats that crossed St. A. Sound, none were good. Two things convinced me to go the back way; one the ICW in the Cumberland River was worse than my previous crossings of St. A., two it was one hour before high tide. I fought the Cumberland River above and below the waves to get to the Red “40” Dayboard and was glad to make the port turn into Floyd Creek and the Red “A34” Dayboard. Once in Floyd Creek the water calmed and was flat. There was plenty of water but never having gone that way I kept a close eye on the depth gauge. When I turned into the wind at the Green “ A31” Dayboard the waves were only one foot high but the wind was ripping the tops of the little buggers and throwing them at me horizontally. I could see another sailboat about a mile in front of me. So I felt if he did not stop I would be OK. At the Green “A27” There is a wreck marked and it is visible at high tide. When I was between the wreck and the “G A27” I marked 9 feet of depth. Now if you subtract 8 feet of tide from that, at low tide there will not be much water there. At the “G A21” I also showed 9 feet at high tide. Crossing the Bulkhead there is open water again 4 foot waves and good depth. There was good water and depth all the way to Dover Cut. I entered Dover Cut at the Red “A14” Dayboard. It looks small and intimidating on the Chartplotter and when you are in it, it is as small and curvy as it looks. But it is deep. That is till you get to the end and it does shallow up. The “R A8” and “G A9” are side by side at the entrance to Umbrella Creek and there I marked 9 feet and that is at high tide. Now all the charts I looked at have some warning about the low water in the Umbrella Cut but there I marked 18 feet all the way. From there it is a straight shot across Jekyll Sound to the back side of Jekyll Island but still it was a rough crossing on that day. St. Simon Sound was rougher than any of my St. Andrews Sound crossings and St Simon is completely closed in and protected.
So I made it and it took two hours from the Red “A34” to the Green “A3”. My recommendation is that you can go the Alternate ICW route around St. Andrews Sound as long as it is two hours before or right at high tide. Even the locals like long time sailor Barney Riley at Golden Isle Marina say they never go that way. There is no local knowledge, I asked Barney, BoatUS and “Down” the Army Corps of Engineers Hydrostatic boat that happened to be in the area sounding and they all said they had no knowledge and had never been that way. The “Down” did say they had a boat assigned to that area and hoped to have some data soon.
Kevin Quinn
Came thru here on 4 17 13. Dead low tide. We draw 3 and one half. Saw several spots of 1 or two feet under keel. Also saw a bear cub along the way.
Greg and Donna
on The Lady in Red
Would use St. Andrew Sound in place of Umbrella Cut even if I had to wait out weather for the Sound. 40 foot boat with a 4.5 foot draft.
Raymond W. Smith
“Fire Dog”
My wife and I utilized this alternate route northbound while bringing our GB42 home in June,2012.
We were at near- low tide. We took it slow. We experienced a “light” grounding in a spot that just looked like it was going to be trouble. We were going slow enough to back off and “nose” our way thru by searching for deeper water. At higher tides, for those who want to avoid the “sloppy sound”, this is a great alternative. We would always use this route– unless we have our vessel stabilized.
We still have a hole in our after cabin panelling from a table lamp we forgot to secure, when we came thru the sound and experienced the chaos that the wind, tide and waves can cause.
Clyde Lee
Diane Willis
1987 GB42 CL
“Friendship”
"Blue Run Springs Park Manatees – St. Johns River"
by: Glen and Jill Moore
