This relocated buoy is in the Matanzas Pass Channel, out of San Carlos Bay. Note that the LNM lat/lon given does not appear to be accurate, so our chartview given takes you to the charted marker #4.

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS: Week 05/12
Due to encroaching shoaling between Matanzas Pass Channel DBN 4 (LLNR 18095) 11/10 11427 0512 and DBN 6 (LLNR 18110) DBN 4 has been relocated to position 26-27-54.046N/081-58-07.981W

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Marker #4

A west coast nautical festival for everyone.

Cruising News:
March 31- April 1, 2012
9 am to 6 pm
Sarasota County Fairgrounds
3000 Ringling Blvd
Sarasota, FL 34237

The Sarasota Nautical Flea Market & Seafood Festival will be held March 31 – April 1st 2012 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds in Sarasota FL.
The best place to find bargains, quality and a wide variety of fishing equipment and supplies, restock up here. No other event can match the depth of this fishing and boating trade event. People come to flea markets ready to buy or sell so this is the perfect opportunity to get fishing and boating bargains.
RESERVE YOUR MARINE FLEA MARKET AREA VENDOR SELLING SPACE. Spaces to sell new, used, closed out and liquidated boating and fishing supplies and equipment. Vendor spaces for the two day event are still available. Set up is Friday 8 am to 6 pm and event hours are 9 am to 6 pm Sat and Sun. For application www.flnauticalfleamarket.com
Giant Nautical Flea Market+Huge Public Boat Auction+Massive New and Used Boat Corral+Seafood Vendors+Marine Kids Zone+Sponsorships+Beer and Wine Garden+Island and Reggae Music
People come to flea markets ready to buy and sell so this is a perfect opportunity to sell or buy your boat (s) or Marine products. You can be sure people will be looking for “deals”.

Visit the 2012 Sarasota Nautical Flea Market website for more information, special hotel rates and specific driving directions: http://www.flnauticalfleamarket.com. Vendor applications are still being accepted. For information and discount tickets, visit the website or contact Under the Sun Promotions, Inc. at 954-205-7813, FAX: 561-395-5389

–

Here’s a new one. All the discussion concerning Fort Myers Beach usually seems to center around their popular mooring field, or one of their several marinas and/or repair yards. This is the first we’ve heard about free dockage near a restaurant on these waters.
Can anyone supply a more precise, on-the-water location for the Nervous Nellie’s dock. If so, then please click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.

If you go to Ft. Myers Beach, there is a wall to tie up to at Nervous Nellies and if you have dinner there they will let you stay overnight. Easy access to the delivery. West Marine is not too far maybe ten miles if someone is available to drive you. Maybe call them ask them the question.
Good Luck,
David

And, as usual, a fellow cruiser responds with the needed information. Many thanks Captain Hellman!

Directions to Nervous Nellies
By Car or Boat
Parking for patrons of Nellie’s and Ugly’s is free, whether you arrive by car or boat.
Dock your yacht with the dock attendant’s
assistance at
Nellie’s Snug Harbour Marina. The GPS coordinates are 26”27’23.41” N • 81”57’15.18” W.
Tracy Hellman

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Fort Myers Beach

Once again in 2012, the city of Fort Myers Beach is showing its sincere appreciation for the cruising community by throwing a “5th Annual Cruisers’ Appreciation Day” on 3/24/12. Let’s try to have as many cruisers attend this wonderful event as possible.
Don’t we all wish more Floridian communities would show this sort of appreciation to those of us who travel by water. And, let me quickly add, Fort Myers Beach is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

The Town of Fort Myers Beach
5th Annual Cruiser’s Appreciation Day

When: Saturday, March 24th, 2012 (Noon – 3:00PM)
Where: At Matanzas Inn (Next to the Dinghy Docks)
N26-27.375 – W81-57.191 (AKA – 414 Crescent St.)

Who: All Boaters are Welcome
What: Food, Drinks, and Entertainment
Why: To Meet Fellow Cruisers from all over the World
Cost: Free to Boats on a Mooring Ball (nominal fee to others)

I don’t visit Fort Myers Beach anymore since they covered all the viable anchoring area with pay moorings. I prefer to anchor, and apparently they don’t want me there so I take my business elsewhere.
John Kettlewell

Now, here’s a notice cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariners (as of 1/25/12), which demands the attention of every cruiser bound for the popular mooring field at Fort Myers Beach (or one of the many marinas in this region). The provided position, below, for the partially sunken vessel plots out as being just east of the Fort Myers Beach entrance passage, between markers #7 and #8.
I suspect every effort will be made to remove this potential navigational obstruction as soon as possible, but, until that happy event, ALL mariners bound for Fort Myers Beach should be aware of this derelict, and navigate accordingly!
The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is declaring a Navigational Alert for these waters!

FLORIDA-WEST COAST-FORT MYERS TO CHARLOTTE HARBOR AND WIGGINS PASS-SAN CARLOS BAY: Hazard to Navigation.
There is a 38ft white sports fisher partially submerged and aground approximately 200 yards north of Bodwitch Point, San Carlos Bay in position
26-27.994N 081-57.889W. Mariners are advised to use extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11427

I passed through there at 0800 yesterday, and did not see the vessel, though it may have been removed. It was also not present at 1300 the day before.
Donovan

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Reported Position to the Partially Sunken Vessel Described Above

The report below is cherry picked from the lastest Local Notice to Mariners as of 1/26/12. We have plotted the position of this abandoned vessel, and it seems to lie almost due east of Anclote River’s outermost channel marker, #1. I can’t imagine that this vessel will be allowed to stay in this disadvantageous position for long, but in the intervening period, all navigators bound for Anclote River should watch out for this potential hazard!
The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is declaring a temporary Navigational Alert for these waters.

FLORIDA-TAMPA BAY TO PORT RICHEY-ANCLOTE RIVER: Hazard to Navigation.
The Coast Guard received a report of an unmanned and unlit 19ft Aqua Sport white with light blue trim in the vicinity of Anclote River Entrance Light 1 (LLNR 26135) in GPS position 28-10.388N 082-49.682W. Mariners are to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11411

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Reported Position of the Abandoned Vessel Described Above

St. Petersburg was selected some time ago as one of five sites for the Florida Pilot Mooring Field Program. And, it was previously announced their mooring field would be located in the North Yacht Basin/Vinoy Basin, which borders on the northern side of the huge St. Petersburg Municipal Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) and just south of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort Marina.
Construction has begun on this mooring field, and, consequently, the city of St. Petersburg has asked all the anchored vessel in the Vinoy Basin to leave. HOWEVER, as you will discover below, there is still a way to dinghy ashore. You just have to pay for it!

Courtesy docking is available in the Northwest corner of the South Basin for visitors who don’t need to stay overnight in the South Basin. You pay for docking by the hour.
David Burnham

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the North Yacht/Vinoy Basin

The facility described below is not yet included in our Western Florida Marina Directory, but that will soon change. Its entrance cuts to the east, south of the Cortez Bridge.

Cortez cove boatyard is now under the management of Yachts Solutions. We are a full service yard, with expert fiberglass, Painting, major and minor repairs, antifouling application and all things boats. Please call us @ 941-761-4554 for any questions.
Tom McFadden

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Cortez Bridge and the Above Described Facility

Captain Burnham’s message below is somewhat cryptic, but if I read it rightly, the city of St. Petersburg, Florida is attempting to limit anchorage in their corporate waters to 3-days in a particular spot, and 9 days total, within any 30 day period. As such, these are possibly the most Draconian proposals put forward by any of the five municipalities/counties which are part of the Florida Pilot Mooring Field Program. Fortunately, there is still a LOT of public comment to be registered, and the FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission) must agree to all restrictions before they can be passed and enforced. As St. Augustine learned last fall, the FWC is very reluctant to approve such short term anchorage limits.
Notice that Captain Burhnham points out that the real bugaboo in all of this is derelict vessels. Can I say it just one more time. This IS a real problem in Florida, BUT this problem can be solved by enforcement of EXISTING marina salvage laws and MSD regulations. Why try and limit anchorage for everyone, when the very real derelict problem is being caused by a tiny minority of boat owners?

I attended the meeting and received a draft copy of the proposed changes to the City Code.
As written, it allows me to do things on a three day weekend that would really annoy most boaters and marina operators. It allows me to anchor within 200 feet of any marina or boat ramp and stay there for 3 days as long as I am not an obstruction or a “hazard to navigation”. It would seem to me that any anchored vessel is an obstruction to be avoided…
Within any 30 day period, I can anchor consecutively in the Central Yacht Basin, the South Yacht Basin, or Bayboro Harbor for 3 days each, allowing me a 9 day stay without mooring fees. There is no beginning time or ending time for my 72 hour stay at each location so if I drop anchor in the Basin after sundown and no one notices until the next morning, the first night is not counted in the 72 hours?
Last night’s public forum was a good meeting for the boating public to ask the city to clearify the intent of their proposal.
What St. Petersburg apparently wants is to prevent vessels from being abandoned by the few irresponsible owners who neglect vessel maintenance. As drafted, their proposal does not address this except to state that “hazardous” vessels are prohibited from anchoring in the waterways of St. Petersburg; which is not in agreement with Florida State Law in regards to navigation. “Hazardous” vessels means a vessel in danger of becoming a derelict for various subjective reasons listed.
If the proposal begins constructive dialog between the boating public who visit St. Pete and the city managers, then last night was a successful beginning.
David Burnham

After reading the above, we asked Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd, founder of BARR (Boater’s Anchoring Responsibility and Rights), to comment on the proposed St. Pete regulations. Her response appears below.

January 26th, 2012
by Charmaine Smith Ladd
csmithladd@marinersbarr.org
For your perusal and comments, the proposed ordinance draft for St. Petersburg:
http://marinersbarr.org/fpp/docs/st_petersburg/draftanchorrdinance-2012-01-26.pdf
Things to note: LIVEABOARDS will not be able to anchor anywhere within the City Limits of St. Petersburg, they MUST either take a mooring or a marina slip; NON-LIVEABOARDS (cruisers) effectively will be under a 72-hour limit for anchoring. The ordinance also reads: “No vessel shall anchor in the Port of St. Petersburg.” Very broad and very disturbing.

St. Petersburg – Scheduled Public Meetings:
February 16th at 3:00 pm – St. Petersburg City Council Meeting, 1st Reading
March 1st at 8:30 am – St. Petersburg City Council Meeting, Public Hearing
Location: Karen A. Steidinger Auditorium Fish & Wildlife Research Institute
100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Click Here To Read an Imporant and Much Lengthier Article by Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd Concerning the Developing St. Petersburg Anchoring Issue

The postings so far had me very concerned until I carefully read the proposed ordinance. While it prohibits anchoring of liveaboard vessels anywhere in the city limits, the 72 hour rule only applies within 200 feet of marinas and boat ramps and in the three basins and the Port basin downtown. It does not apply for cruisers (non-liveaboard vessels) in other anchorages in St. Pete like Coffeepot, the two bayous, or Maximo Point (a favorite of ours). The 72 hour limit does not apply to the entire peninsula or city limits!
If it passes approval by the FWC with the 72 hour limit intact, we will simply NEVER visit or spend our money in downtown St. Pete again. We will vote with our anchor and go to more cruiser friendly places! In it’s effort to deal with abandoned and derelict boats the City of St. Petersburg is telling cruisers that they are not welcome except for a short stay. They don’t treat tourists that way who arrive by car or plane instead of by boat.
There is no “safe harbor” provision in the proposed ordinance so the police can kick you out into a storm if they want. My guess is that the FWC will require a “safe harbor” provision be added.
Larry Sherman

And now, more from Captain Burnham on this issue. Many, many thanks for his fine reporting of this critical cruising issue:

My first comments were truly cryptic as they closely follow the draft proposal from the St. Petersburg City Code which in itself I found it to be cryptic in its intent.
The stated intent of Article 6 in Chapter 7 is to encourage the use of the new mooring field in the North Basin. Presently, only one of the 13 new moorings is occupied. Six boats are anchored behind the seawall in the South Basin, and 5 sailboats are at anchor in the Bayboro Basin south of the Port of St Petersburg.
These 11 sailboats are all in good condition and within their rights under Florida State Laws of Navigation even though they appear to be within the “City Limits”. I have not found how far the St. Petersburg city limits extend into Tampa Bay, but they do go from the Clearwater/St. Petersburg Airport all the way around the Pinellas peninsula to Boca Ciega Bay with the exception of the City of Gulfport!
If all 11 sailboats moved to the mooring field, their daily rate would be 14 dollars if under 41 feet in length and 17 dollars if 41 feet to 60 feet. This is significantly less than the average 80 dollar daily rate for a 40 foot vessel at the Transient Dock. If any of these cruisers rent a vehicle while on a mooring and wish to park it at the marina overnight, the daily fee is $2.80.
During the peak winter season, 2 months is the maximum length of stay on the moorings but you can return after 15 days if there is a mooring still available.
The proposed 72 hour time limit for anchoring in any Basin in the city limits will only serve to push the cruisers over to Gulfport which does not yet have an established mooring field in Boca Ciega Bay or other more curtious anchorages in the Tampa Bay area.
The FWC officers are more concerned with abandoned boats, not the well kept cruiser, and preventing boats from becoming derelicts with the associated hazards.
The term “live aboard” is used differently in the boating community and causes confusion. Until the boaters accept the term “live aboard” to mean a vessel that is NOT used for navigation (think boat house instead of houseboat) and has no means of propulsion, cruisers staying on their boats will be unsure of the proposed rule’s intent.
The Port of St. Petersburg, south of the city airport, where all the U.S. Coast Guard and commercial ships are berthed is not a suitable anchorage for smaller cruising boats.
David Burnham

While I am not familiar with the local geography of the S. Pete waters I am a cruiser-resident of nearby Plant City, Hillsborough County, Florida, and have occupied and cruised continuously aboard my vessel for 8-1/2 years. Our vessel is currently in a mooring field in San Blas Islands of Panama.
Like the City of St. Pete, we “full-time” cruisers are also unhappy with derelict vessels. They are a hazard to navigation, safety and the environment. In inclement weather conditions they can, and have, drifted loose from their “anchored” position and damaged other vessels. If not maintained in a reasonably clean and preserved condition, they negatively impact our enjoyment of the waters in which we choose to anchor.
I believe there should be a distinction between 1) derelict vessels, 2) vessels that are “stored” on the water, i.e., not capable of safe navigation, and 3) vessels that are anchored/moored and capable of safe navigation. And I would argue that an unoccupied vessel is not capable of safe navigation.
Boat ownership is a responsibility that includes being a safe and considerate “neighbor” to nearby vessels and property, and to their owners and occupants.
There is no reason to penalize a responsible owner-occupant of a cruising vessel who chooses to anchor safely for extended periods in an urban waterway.
On the other hand, I also believe that nearby vessels and property should have protection from “derelict” and/or “stored” vessels when they present hazards to their neighbors. The longer a non-navigable, or unoccupied vessel remains at anchor, the greater hazard it represents. Storms create a great danger that such vessels will come loose and damage other vessels or property. Ill-kept, non-maintained vessels are a public hazard and nuisance. I realize that “nuisance” is hard to define, but city codes have addressed this with respect to real estate, so there is precedent in regulating such matters in a community-acceptable manner.
I think the City of St. Petersburg should consider the above discussion in its regulation and re-write the proposed ordinance to allow for responsible, long-term anchoring for occupied vessels.
Carl Gaines

I have spent many enjoyable hours anchored in St. Pete’s Vinoy Basin, the North Harbour, when I first started cruising south. While there, I met cruisers from as far north as Nova Scotia and as far south as the eastern Caribbean. Not a derelict vessel in sight. Never a problem.
Now, because the city would not enforce laws available to it to deal with a half dozen near-derelict vessels in the Basin, I’m forbidden to ever again anchor there, because they’ve put moorings in?
Let me be blunt, because I’m fed up with this crap from the state of FL.
I’ve just spent three very pleasant weeks in Brunswick Ga., 35 miles north of Florida. It was nice to feel welcomed.
When I leave here tomorrow, the goal is to remain offshore as much and as long as I can, until I can get to the Bahamas, and to hell with Florida.
All of it, every bit of it. I don’t need their attitude towards me, my boat and my needs, because Florida officials cannot deal with their drunks and druggies living on derelict boats in a manner responsible to those who would visit, spend money and respect their state.
Since I singlehand, I’ll have to come inshore to rest. But I intend to buy enough fuel and food here in Brunswick, GA so that I don’t spend a cent in their damned state.
Wally Moran

Well, I don’t visit cities where boaters are not welcome, nor do my MANY boating friends – AND WE DON”T SPEND OUR CONSIDERABLE MONEY THERE! WAKE UP MERCHANTS!!!!!
August Trometer

The money spent by anchored cruisers is quite small in the grand scheme of things. And from the ordinance writers perspective, if you won’t even spend money on a mooring ball, let alone dockage, how much money will you spend ashore? Comparing cruisers to motorists doesn’t work, you can’t camp out in the rest stops or along the side of the road. You’ll need a better angle.
Livaboards are not the issue in St. Petes either. The Harborage marina openly welcomes livaboards, they have the city permits to allow it and have many amenities geared specifically to livaboards.
I think it is the derelict boats that is the heart of the matter. Can Cruisers Net or other organizations come up with a plan & assistance with facilitating the removal of the derelicts.
The other issue is “bum boats”. Those boats that are not ‘derelicts’ but do not look good at all. They are eyesores that do no good for the cause. Many (but not all) would love to see a beautiful boat at anchor in the harbor, but seeing an eyesore exacerbates this sort of issue. Hard to say what could be done. Personal responsibility can’t be legislated but it is contributing to the problem. The solution…kick em all out.
Ted

Editor’s Response – Ted, if you will look at my earlier editorial, “Whence Come the Anchorage Regulations” at http://cruisersnet.net/?p=4958, you will see that we have come up with a scheme to get rid of derelicts, and it requires no new laws, nor does it harass the cruising community. Of course, many others have noted these same solutions. It’s not just the SSECN!

As a resident of St Petersburg and its environs (now Treasure Island) since 1986, and before that at Stetson Law School in the late 50′s, I have always thought of our city as a boater friendly town, certainly a very prominent sailing city with a world renown yacht club. I applaud the decision to install moorings in the Vinoy Basin where the holding has always been poor, but to link that to a limit on anchoring, whether deemed a reasonable period or not, is unreasonable – clearly the elephant getting its nose in the door as a precursor for more regulations. Address the problem of derelict boats, but keep St Pete boater friendly.
Charles (Chuck) Waygood

A 72-hour limit in a 30-day period is ridiculously short. It would mean that someone couldn’t visit two weekends in a row, unless they anchored in one of the other locations. It would mean someone couldn’t anchor there during the entire boat show. A prohibition of “liveaboards” anchoring at all is simple prejudice, and I suspect would instantly be ruled against in a court of law. Even though the Florida definition of “liveaboard” is narrow that doesn’t mean they suddenly become second-class citizens. This ordinance severely impacts legitimate transient cruisers, will do little to deal with the truly hazardous boats, and painst St. Petersburg as an unfriendly place that does not want boaters to visit.
John Kettlewell

I agree with Captain Linda completely. As long as you can keep off the bottom while entering this anchorage from the unofficial Marco Island to Naples waterway, this is one of the best places to drop the hook in southwestern Florida. Follow the link below to the anchor down spot’s listing in our Western Florida Anchorage Directory for more information.

During the week, you can have your own private Gulf side beach in this little piece of paradise. This is a very quiet anchorage in the evening. Some shoaling of the long channel coming in but our 6 foot draft s/v made it eventually on a rising mid tide.
Linda

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For the Little Marco Island Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Little Marco Island Anchorage

We had two earlier reports here on the Cruisers’ Net that marker #11, on the Capri Pass channel was off station, and issued an SSECN Navigation Alert for these waters (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=77958). Captain George’s report below confirms that this marker is still not where it should be as of 1/16/02!

As of 1/16/2012 this marker is still off station and is very near marker #2 as entering from seaward. In the daytime it is not that confusing, but coming in at night, tired from a long passage and unfamiliar with Capri Pass could cause some confusion.
Thanks
George
s/v John Galt

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Position of Marker #11 at Capri Pass

In February of 2010, we had a posting here on the Cruisers’ Net concerning a “new” marina in Everglades City, knows as Everglades Isle Marina (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=27196). Since that time, no other input has been received concerning this facility, and my own travels have not taken me to this pleasant backwater. If anyone has recent knowledge concerning this facility, PLEASE respond to Captain Steve’s request for information below by clicking the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below.

Has anyone stayed at the Everglades Isle Marina? Is there enough depth to get in there and refuel with 39″ draw?
I want to stop at the Rod and Gun club on my way down from FMB to Key Largo and would love topped off tanks before heading south. I don’t see any other marinas in the area with gas.
Thanks,
Steve

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For the Rod and Gun Club

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Rod and Gun Club and the Everglades City Waterfront

“Cruisers Helping Cruisers” – here is a perfect example of how this Cruisers’ Net motto works at its BEST!
When we first posted the cherry picked extract from the Local Notice to Mariners (listed lastly below), it was very confusing. The verbal description of the anchored vessel’s position, “Between Clearwater Pass Channel LT 7 (LLNR 25700) and Clearwater Marina Channel DBN 5″ DIFFERED markedly from the provided Lat/Lon position, which plotted out to a point west of the Western Florida ICW’s path between markers #5 and #7, well SOUTH of Clearwater Pass.
So, in our 1/20/12 SSECN Alert, we asked for assistance from the Western Florida cruising community to help establish the real location of this potential obstruction to navigation. As usual, the response from our fellow cruisers has been exemplary, as will be seen below in the notes from Captains Bush and Thayer.
After reading their notes, the cause of the LNTM confusion became clear. It seems as if there were actually two sailcraft, one of which was temporarily where it was not supposed to be (in shallow water off the Clearwater Municipal Marina channel), and the other anchored but unlit, farther to the south, off the Western Florida ICW between markers #5 and #7.
WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT (as you will read below), that both vessels no longer pose a threat to navigation. The northern craft has been returned to its usual place, and the south side sailing vessel is now showing an anchor light, and will soon depart the area.
THANK YOU Western Florida cruising community!!!!

Claiborne,
There is lot more story to this abandoned, derelict sailboat report.
I live on Sand Key, about a half mile west of the reported GPS position, and have passed this anchored sailboat several times in the last two weeks on the way to the IWW for some local cruising. I can assure you that this is not a derelict ( two mast ketch style S/V which I would be proud to own) and has not been abandoned by the couple and a large black lab dog. I talked to the owners this Saturday ( 1-21-12) and this is what I found out.
First, to clarify the position. The GPS position reported in the USCG report is correct. The verbal description needs to be changed. I would describe the position being approx. 200 to 300 yards west of the Gulf IWW at MM 134 and between the lighted green marker G7 to the north and the green day marker G5 to the south This is a favorite anchoring spot of many local and pass thru cruising boaters. The original reference to Clearwater Pass and Clearwater Marina is wrong.
Sometime last week , the owners took their RIB to Clearwater and rented a car with the intention of returning to their anchored boat in the evening. But as many plans go wrong, they were broad sided by a red light running vehicle in Clearwater and were both hospitalized with non-life threating injuries (as best as I can deduce) for a few days. They were in no position to return to the boat that evening. The next day while still in the hospital, they contacted a friend to go to their sailboat and turn on the anchor light. For at least one night (day of the accident) and perhaps a second night until their friend got to the boat, the sailboat was anchored without any lights. This is what led to a report (probably by a local boater) of an unlighted , abandoned sailboat at the stated position. So for about one or two days, I guess you can say that a hazard existed.
The couple are now aboard their boat and have been for several days and plan to leave the Clearwater area on Monday (1-23-12) and continue their cruise southbound. They were not aware of the notice to mariners that their boat was classified as derelict, abandoned and a hazard.
I hope this helps to clear up what happened.
Tom Bush

I work on a Clearwater Bay tour boat two days a week. . . . there was an anchored sailboat aground on the northside of the Clearwater Marina channel which runs along the south side of Memorial Causeway, but it was in shallow water no where close to the channel. It was well west of the ICW across from the bird sanctuary island on the south side of the marina channel approximately even with green daymark 9. It had apparently broken away from the informal mooring area in front of Clearwater City Marina.
By Thursday it had been refloated and returned to the anchorage area.
Hope this helps.
John Thayer
P/V Anna Suzanne
Indian Rocks Beach, FL

FLORIDA-TAMPA BAY TO PORT RICHEY-CLEARWATER HARBOR-CLEARWATER PASS: Hazard to Navigation
The Coast Guard received a report of an anchored, unmanned and unlit 45ft white S/V in position 27-56.33N 082-49.46W. Between Clearwater Pass Channel LT 7 (LLNR 25700) and Clearwater Marina Channel DBN 5 (LLNR 25750) approximately 300 yards west of the Intracoastal Waterway. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution while transiting the area. Chart 11411

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Clearwater, Florida

Bimini Bay and Galati’s Yacht Basin are the very last stop for northbound vessels before venturing out into the wide waters of Tampa Bay. The marked entry channel into this sidewater has always been subject to shoaling, and I’m sure the dredging project described below is designed to relieve this problem. From 1/25/12 to the slated completion date of 2/29/12, cruisers should enter and exit Bimini Basin with extra caution.
The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is declaring a temporary Navigational Alert for these waters!

FLORIDA-WEST COAST-ANNA MARIA ISLAND: Dredging Operations.
Florida Dredge & Dock LLC, will commence dredging operations on or about January 25, 2012. Hydraulic dredging and beach nourishment operations will be performed at Bimini Bay/Key Royal Entrance Channel at north end of Anna Maria Island on the Intracoastal side. The dredge “GATOR POINT” and work boats Path Finder & Naple will work 24 hours per day 7 days per week until approximately February 29, 2012. There will be floating rubber and submerged polyethylene pipeline associated with the drege operation. Pipeline and vessels will be visibly lighted and marked. pipeline will traverse northerly from Bimini Bay and key Royale Entrance Channel to designated beach fill location. Pipeline will remain in route from the dredging area to disposal site. Mariners are urged to use extreme caution in the area and to transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake, and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. VHF-FM channels monitored: Channels 13, 16 and working channel 71. The dredge “GATOR POINT” cell phone 727-480-5074. Further information contact the project Manager, Mr. Prasong Buranakitipinyo, 904-451-3216 or the Project Superintendent, Mr. Chester Fletcher, 727-460-9039. Chart 11425

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Entrance to Bimini Bay

The brief discussion below is copied from the American Great Loop Cruisers’ Association forum. Really, there are at least three different routes from Marathon to Cape Sable and the Western Florida coastline (or the other way around), but the first message below refers to only the easternmost of the three, known as the Yachtsman’s Channel.
In the second message below, our good friend, Captain Chuck Baier, gives some good general advice about this passage!

This is actually the reverse of what you want to do but it gives you some perspective. There is a place called Yachtsman’s Channel which is accessible from Channel 5 which is well north of Marathon. In fact you could take the ICW all the way to Yachtsman.
From that channel you pass by Cape Sable and which is the edge of the gulf.
Name Not Provided

We have made that crossing several times. About the best advise I can give you is to wait for the weather. You don’t have any information that I can find on the type of boat you have, the draft or how fast you can travel so the question is hard to answer. Ideally you want to wait until any fronts forecast on the way are already through and the seas have settled down. You can wait at Indian Key or Shark River to be a little closer. If you have a slower trawler you will want 24 hours of wind and or seas NOT on the beam and 10 knots or less winds. We use 24 hour wind and wave reports from weatherfax rather than NOAA vhf forecasts to make our decision. Best advise I can think of is to not try and outrun any approaching fronts.
Chuck

Now, here’s a new one on us. A check for chart 11411 seems to indicate that the marina spoken of so glowingly below, is located on Spring Bayou, which runs off the southern shores of Anclote River, just west of downtown Tarpon Springs. For many years, this was a shallow body of water, and that is why our on-the-water research never led us to this facility.
That will soon be changed, however, as I will be on the scene here during the first part of February, 2012, and you can bet a visit to Turtle Cove Marina will be on the top of my list. In the meantime, if anyone who has visited here has MLW depth info, PLEASE click the “the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below, and share your information.

We are presently at the best marina we have encountered so far and that is saying something. Many friends had warned us about the perils of getting into the city dock and the poor facilities and then I saw a chance posting about a looper who had stumbled onto Turtle Cove Marina. I looked at it on Google Earth and said why not. You ease up the Anclote River to Red 50 and turn right just past the marker. Next take the first left and be sure to hug the boats on the port side through the turn as there is a shallow spot. You will dead end at Turtle Cove which has an artificial island in a cove with slips all around . Floating docks, great electrical. I have never seen better pedestals in a marina. It all looks brand new. Secure facility with locked gates. You get a key. They have a clubhouse and pool too. Gas at pumps and diesel with one day notice delivered direct to your boat by a truck that drives on the island and backs up to your slip. Ed is the owner and Peter is the dockmaster. The marina is one short block behind the town. No current, no wind, no problem. $1.50 per foot for loopers and BoatUS. Pumpouts at every slip. Can you believe this? And it is all a hidden treasure. You can call them at 727-934-2202. If you want to see it on Google Earth it is at 827 Roosevelt Blvd. I give it an A+.
Rusty and Jan Carlisle

I’ve always been a great fan of the [Tarpon Springs] municipal marina because it’s so close to the main drag on the island. However Turtle Cove sounds almost too good to be true. I know “the Judge” wouldn’t lie to us. After three times at the municipal dock, with its problems just to be close to “Hellas Greek Resturant” its Turtle Cove next time!!!
Thanks Judge!
Dave

Lisa and I are docked (for a week) at Turtle Cove Marina in Tarpon Springs Florida. Based on prior posts on this forum, I thought I’d add our two cents worth as it relates to our positive opinion. Turtle Cove is the place to be in Tarpon Springs if you like these amenities:
1. New floating docks
2. Free washer and dryer
3. Easy walk to sponge docks, restaurants and downtown
4. $1.50 per foot or discounted weekly stay (we’re paying .75 per foot for
a week)
5. Hot tub & swimming pool
6. Free pumps outs
7. Marina will also make arrangements for a fuel truck to come to your boat
8. Free truck and trailer storage (we have a trailerable Ranger Tug)
Jim & Lisa Favors
Ranger Tug R27 – Kismet

This is indeed a nice spot with wonderful amenities as described in the post below. Ed Spaeth the GM / owner is a very welcoming individual. It was a real treat to be met & welcomed by Ed & his team after our long crossing from Carrabelle.
Note that the approaches to this marina are not as difficult as it would appear from the posts below. Proceed up the Anclote River to red 50 and turn to Stbd and then closely hug the port shoreline passing closely to the vessels tied to shore. Avoid the shallows on the Stbd side of the channel as you enter.
There are a number of larger boats in the marina area that likely draw more than 5 feet.
From the marina it is a short walk into the center of town with grocery stores and bars. The floating dock area where we had tied up was very nice and new. It was however quite a long walk maybe 200 yards to the showers, laundry & clubhouse facilities
The rate of $ .75 per foot (per day?) for weekly stays for Loopers as posted below is incorrect. The correct rate is $7.50 per foot per week. That meant that instead of $199 per week for our 38 footer we were looking at $285 per week. We required a stay of between 2 & 3 weeks. On the very positive side If you pay for two weeks you can stay the next two free. Sort of like pay for 5 days stay for the next 2 free and equally pay for 2 weeks and stay free for the next two weeks I believe?
The Looper daily rate is 1.50 per day per foot which is a discounted rate from the normal $2.00 per foot per day rate
Here is a link to the marina’s site
http://www.turtlecove-marina.com/index2.html
Kismet

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Tarpon Springs and Spring Bayou

There are a number of Florida Flea Markets and Seafood Festivals coming up in the weeks ahead:

Tampa January 13-15
Vero Beach Jan 21-22
Palm Beach Feb 10-12
Sarasota March 31
Stuart April 27-29

Follow this link for full details. www.flnauticalfleamarket.com”

And one more:

Don’t forget the Upper Keys Flea Market, Feb 25th in Islamorada!
Capt. Sterling

We have just had another recent posting here on the Cruisers’ Net about marker #11 in Capri Pass being off station, extracted from the Local Notice to Mariners (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=77777). Captain Bob’s report below confirms this abberation! An SSECN Navigational Alert has already been declared for these waters. Follow the Chart View link below for more details.

Claiborne
Last week, December 30, my wife and I entered the Capri Pass into Marco Island and found next to the red marker #2, a green can bouy with #11 markings. The green can bouy was about 10 meters to the left of the #2 red marker while the #1 green marker was probably at least 70-90 meters to the left of the red marker #2.
When we left on January 1, the green can bouy had moved down near the #4 red marker. I hailed the Coast Guard on VHF channel 22A and was referred to a land line which I think was the Marco Island Fire Department–not really sure. I reported the situation but, having left the area, I have no idea if anything was done about this.
This marking can be very confusing to any vessel entering or leaving Capri Pass–especially if one is not familiar with the markings.
Bob Peterson,
Isles Yacht Club Fleet Captain

As of 1/16/2012 this marker is still off station and is very near marker #2 as entering from seaward. In the daytime it is not that confusing, but coming in at night, tired from a long passage and unfamiliar with Capri Pass could cause some confusion.
Thanks
s/v John Galt

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at the Position of Marker #11 at Capri Pass