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Below, you will discover our COMPLETE listing of North Carolina cruising news/postings from fellow cruisers, arranged in chronological order, based on publication date. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NARROW YOUR SELECTION of NC cruising news to those messages which pertain to a specific geographic sub-region, locate the RED, vertically stacked menu, on the right side of this, and all Cruisers’ Net pages. Click on “North Carolina.” A drop down menu will appear, with a blue background, Now, click on “NC Regional Cruising News.” A sub-drop-down menu will now appear, listing 13 North Carolina geographic sub-regions. Select your waters of interest, and after clicking on your choice, a list of messages will appear, confined to the sub-region you have picked!

SUBJ: SAFETY BROADCAST NOTICE TO MARINERS
SEC NC BNM 079-12
NC – ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY – NEUSE RIVER TO MYRTLE GROVE SOUND – SAFETY ZONE
1. THE COAST GUARD IS ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY SAFETY ZONE ON THE ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY (AICW) ADJACENT TO MARINE CORPS BASE (MCB) CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE NAVIGABLE WATERS OF THE AICW BETWEEN MILE HAMMOCK BAY AND THE ONSLOW SWING BRIDGE IN SUPPORT OF MILITARY TRAINING OPERATIONS ON FEBRUARY 6TH AND 7TH 2012. THIS ACTION IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR THE SAFETY OF MARINERS ON NAVIGABLE WATERS DURING THIS MILITARY TRAINING OPERATION.
IT IS INTENDED TO RESTRICT VESSEL TRAFFIC ON THE ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY TO PROTECT MARINERS FROM THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH MILITARY TRAINING OPERATIONS. PERSONS OR VESSELS REQUIRING ENTRY INTO, OR PASSAGE THROUGH, ANY PORTION OF THE SAFETY ZONE MUST FIRST REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FROM THE CAPTAIN OF THE PORT, OR A DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE, UNLESS THE CAPTAIN OF THE PORT PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED, VIA MARINE SAFETY RADIO BROADCAST ON VHF MARINE BAND RADIO CHANNEL 22 (157.1 MHZ), THAT THIS REGULATION WILL NOT BE ENFORCED IN THAT PORTION OF THE SAFETY ZONE. THE CAPTAIN OF THE PORT CAN BE CONTACTED VIA TELEPHONE AT (910) 343-3882 OR BY RADIO ON VHF MARINE BAND RADIO, CHANNELS 13 AND 16.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Anchorage Directory Listing For Mile Hammock Bay

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Mile Hammock Bay Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Bridge Directory Listing For Onslow Beach Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Onslow Beach Bridge

NC – CURRITUCK BEACH LIGHT TO WIMBLE SHOALS – OREGON INLET – BRIDGE REPAIRS
Mariners are advised that steel repairs, cleaning and painting operations will be performed from March 5, 2012 through June 15, 2012 at the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge across Oregon Inlet, at mile 0.9, in Dare County, NC. To facilitate the work at Span 145, the navigation channel, a decking platform will reduce the available vertical clearance to approximately 61 feet, above MHW. Mariners should use extreme caution when transiting the area. Chart :12204

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Oregon Inlet Bridge

SOUTHEAST ATLANTIC COAST-GPS NAVIGATION SIGNAL TESTING
On Feb 03 through Feb 10, daily from 1600 EST to 2145 EST, the GPS navigation signal may be unreliable due to testing on GPS frequencies used by shipboard navigation, aviation and handheld systems. Systems that rely on GPS, such as E-911, AIS and DSC may be affected at an approximate testing center point of 33 45.00N, 77 00.00W, with an impact radius of approximately 75 NM from center point. More information is available at the Coast Guard Navigation Center website www.navcen.uscg.gov. During this period GPS Users are encouraged to report any GPS service outages that they may experience to the Navigation Information Service (NIS) by calling (703) 313-5900 or by using the NAVCEN Website to submit a GPS Problem Report www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=gpsUserInput.

While most cruisers opt to either tie up at the free Mariners Wharf City Docks or anchor south of the HWY 158 bridge, Mark is correct that the little cove north of the bridge at mile 50 does appear to be a good anchorage, but is not. However, south of the bridge puts you much closer to the downtown area. Either way, Elizabeth City is a Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net Sponsor!

CAUTION when anchoring near 50 mile mark! Right at the 50 mile mark, there is a Marina on the South shore. It’s close to the highway, and it gives the appearance of a nice place to anchor … figuring nice folks are nearby, (with about 30 boats docked at the marina), and nothing else. And it appears that if necessary, one can dingy up and get to shore if needed. HOWEVER … look close at the charts! There are very ugly serious underwater hazards out from the pier, both to the East and West of that 50 mile line on chart. Looking out away from the pier to the NNW and North East, these nasty hazards are visible when the wind blows hard from the North for a few days. There is a particular nasty sunken barge NNW of the pier!! A Tow Boat had a very hard time pulling a 40’ cruiser off a sunken barge last year. The story is this area was used as a graveyard for numerous wood barges back in the day.

This area is a good place to anchor, as long as you stay very far from shore, and are East of the 50 mile line. If you see evidence of a sunken barge up near the shore, there is likely another big one 200 to 300 feet closer to you that you cannot see. If you stay directly North of this pier/marina/yacht club, you’ll be fine. The club boaters know of these hazards, and will watch out for you when coming and going. There’s plenty of room for a boat to anchor and local boats to work around you. On a direct line from this pier, I’m guessing one has clearance from obstructions to no more than 100 feet to the West, and at maybe 300 feet to the East. That pier is the Pasquotank River Yacht Club. We hope to mark these hazardous soon. We’ve been unsuccessful with getting any government agency to take it on, so we may try to do it ourselves. We usually have no slips available, but don’t hesitate to holler and say hi! However in an emergency, don’t hesitate to beach it between pier and our club house which you can see just SW of pier. Some members have beached there to clean the bottom. If you see anyone hanging around the pier, and want to dingy over for fresh water, that shouldn’t be a problem; hopefully you can talk someone into handing you a hose to let you fill up. We know it’s a bit awkward getting water downtown.
Mark H.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Mariners Wharf [Elizabeth] City Docks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Elizabeth City, NC

NC – OCRACOKE INLET – BIG FOOT SLOUGH – SHOALING
Shoaling to a depth of 5.0 ft MLW has been reported in the vicinity of Big Foot Slough Channel Daybeacon 10B (LLNR 29070.1). Chart: 11555.

Shoaling on the east side of Big Foot Slough is pretty much a constant situation, particularly in the area of red markers 8, 10, and 12. It isn’t unusual to see shore birds wading only a few feet outside of the channel, and when I was last there the shoal area encroached 15-20 feet into the channel and was quite visible at low tide. I presume the sustained winds from Irene only made the situation worse.
As a “local” who goes out to Ocracoke several times a year, and has a sailboat with 5’6″ of draft, I hold to the center of the channel, or favor the green markers when entering or leaving Ocracoke by Big Foot Slough.
Rick Brass

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position on Big Foot Slough Channel Near Marker #10B

NC – BEAUFORT INLET – DREDGING
The Hopper Dredge MCFARLAND will be conducting dredging operations on the Morehead City Bar from 14 January until 10 February, 2012. The dredge will monitor VHF-FM Channels 13 and 16. Mariners are cautioned to stay clear of dredge, booster, floating (pontoon) and submerged pipelines, barges, derricks and operating wires associated with dredging and marine construction operations. Operators of vessels of all types should be aware that dredges and floating pipelines are held in place by cables, attached to anchors some distance away from the equipment. Buoys are attached to the anchors so that the anchors may be moved as the dredge advances and the location of the submerged pipelines aremarked by buoys on each side of the channel. Mariners are cautioned to strictly comply with the Inland Rules of the Road when approaching, passing and leaving the area of operations, and remain a safe distance away from the dredge, booster, buoys, cables, pipeline, barges, derricks, wires and related equipment. Owners and lessees of fishnets, crabpots and other structures that may be in the vicinity and that may hinder the free navigation of attending vessels and equipment must be remove these from the area where tugs, tenderboats and other attendant equipment will be navigating. Dredging projects are usually conducted twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week, all fishnets, crabpots and structures in the general area must be removed prior to commencement of any work. A NO WAKE transit is requested of all vessels passing the dredge and if necessary to clarify a SAFE PASSAGE contact the dredge on the appropriate VHF-FM channels. Chart: 11543

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Beaufort Inlet

NC – NEW RIVER TO CAPE FEAR RIVER (AIWW) – LOCKWOODS FOLLY INLET CROSSING – DREDGING
The Dredge WILKO will be conducting dredging operations in the AIWW at the Lockwoods Folly Inlet Crossing from 19 January until 15 February, 2012. A floating and submerged pipeline will traverse from the Lockwoods Folly Inlet to Holden Beach and will be lighted and marked with buoys. The dredge and assisting vessels PROUD MARY and MISS CINDY will monitor VHF-fm Channels 13 and 16. Mariners are cautioned to stay clear of dredge, booster, floating (pontoon) and submerged pipelines, barges, derricks and operating wires associated with dredging and marine construction operations. Operators of vessels of all types should be aware that dredges and floating pipelines are held in place by cables, attached to anchors some distance away from the equipment. Buoys are attached to the anchors so that the anchors may be moved as the dredge advances and the location of the submerged pipelines are marked by buoys on each side of the channel. Mariners are cautioned to strictly comply with the Inland Rules of the Road when approaching, passing and leaving the area of operations, and remain a safe distance away from the dredge, booster, buoys, cables, pipeline, barges, derricks, wires and related equipment. Owners and lessees of fishnets, crabpots and other structures that may be in the vicinity and that may hinder the free navigation of attending vessels and equipment must be remove these from the area where tugs, tenderboats and other attendant equipment will be navigating. Dredging projects are usually conducted twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week, all fishnets, crabpots and structures in the general area must be removed prior to commencement of any work. A NO WAKE transit is requested of all vessels passing the dredge and if necessary to clarify a SAFE PASSAGE contact the dredge on the appropriate
VHF-FM channels. Chart: 11534.

a href=”http://www.CruisersNet.net/2-intersection-of-aicw-and-lockwoods-folly-inlet”>Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the AICW/Lockwoods Folly Inlet Intersection

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem Stretch

February 3, 2012
First Friday Art Walk
Various Locations around Downtown Elizabeth City
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Admission: FREE
Arts of the Albemarle:
252-338-6455
Red Rabbit Art Gallery:
252-331-2700
Kelly’s Color Studio:
252-202-1597
http://www.ecncart.com

February 4, 2012
Meet the Author @ Page After Page Bookstore
 Featured Author: Jameria Townsend
Author of: “Drowning in My Own Tears”
Location: Page After Page Bookstore
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Admission: FREE
252-335-7243
http://www.pageafterpagebook.com

February 17 & 18, 2012
Encore Theatre Company presents ‘Nunsensations’
Location: Museum of the Albemarle – Gaither Family Auditorium
8:00 pm
Admission: $15 (Purchase tickets at Page After Page Bookstore)
Museum of the Albemarle: 252-338-6455
Page After Page Bookstore: 252-335-7243
http://www.encoretheatre.org

February 17, 2012
Live Music at Groupers Waterfront Restaurant
Featuring: Deja Blue Band
Location: Groupers Waterfront Restaurant
9:30 pm
Admission: Cover Charge
252-331-2431

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Mariners Wharf [Elizabeth] City Docks

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s North Carolina Marina Directory Listing For Pelican Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Elizabeth City, NC