15th Annual Edenton Music and Water Festival
brought to you by Scotch Hall Preserve

Free – Boat Rides, Paddling, Wooden Boat Show, Roving Musician’s, Richmond Triumph Register Car Club, Maritime Speakers, Joy the Clown – May 31-June 1st

Edenton, NC – Kick-off this year’s festival on Friday evening, May 31st with a Guided Paddle along Queen Anne and Pembroke Creeks at 6:30 pm or if paddling is not your favorite activity, join the Edenton Historical Commission at the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse for the Speaker’s Forum on 18th Century Sailors at 6:30 pm and as a $15 adult/$5 student ticket holder you are eligible for a sailing on the Periauger at either 4 or 5 pm weather permitting.

The Festival rolls into Saturday, June 1st with many new features in celebration of Edenton’s 300th a hand-made Wooden Boat Show and Exhibit by our very own Edenton Boat Builders with some in the harbor and others along the shore such as International Sailing Class Optimist Dinghies and a 14 ft. Lap Street Row Boat to name a few that can be seen. Another first in place will be the Richmond TRIUMPH Register Car Club with TR 2s – 8s from the 50’s – 80’s parked along South Broad Street. Among our tried and true come backs will be Paddling with the Periauger, Boat Rides along the Bay, Joy the Clown, Sharks Teeth Digging, Edenton Steamers Interactive Games, Inflatables and the Student Art Exhibit in the Town Council Chambers throughout the day.

The Main Stage has many wonderful performers scheduled: 10 am – Skye Fortenbery & Cody Rea; 10:30 am – Patrick Rose; 11:00 am – Amy Peters; 11:30 am – Drew Armstrong; 12:00 noon – Chuck Hodges; 12:30 pm – Caston Young; 1:00 pm – Sojourner Band; 2:00 pm – Clay and Thomas Willis; 2:30 pm – Old Fish Hatchery Records; and 3:00 pm – CONNECTED from Elizabeth City State University making for an outstanding day of entertainment.

For those that like a tasty treat, we will have Ice Cream, Funnel Cakes, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Farmer’s Market Items, Snow Cones and Walking Tacos. The Chowan Arts Council has many of their fine Artists at Work and with so many talented entertainers, Roving Musicians along South Broad will complement the Destination Downtown Sidewalk Sale mid-day so plan on making “One of Americas Prettiest Towns” as recognized by Forbes.com your destination and enjoy what Edenton has to offer on and off the water overlooking Edenton Bay!

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For the Edenton City Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Edenton City Marina

May 20, 2013

NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatUS Press Room at http://www.BoatUS.com/pressroom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

MEDIA ALERT:
Boat Owners Association of The United States
Asks Florida Boaters to Speak up on Florida HB 4001

Repeal of the Ethanol Mandate, Keep Options for Boaters

WHAT: A Florida state law passed in 2008 mandates that all gasoline sold in the state contain 9% to 10% ethanol. Although there is an exception for fuel sold for use in boats, this law has made finding ethanol-free fuel more difficult. HB 4001, which would repeal the sunshine state’s ethanol mandate, has passed the Florida Legislature and now awaits Governor Scott’s signature. In order to keep boaters and angler’s ability to buy ethanol-free fuel for their boat and other small engines, we urge boat owners to ask the Governor to sign HB 4001.

WHY: Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) recognizes that renewable fuels are an important part of our nation’s overall energy future and that boaters over the past few years have had some challenges with ethanol. While there can be honest differences of opinion over the merits of using corn-based ethanol as a renewable fuel source, it is clear that many boaters still want options.

A few important items to consider:

There are over 850,000 registered boats in Florida, most of which use gasoline.
Recreational boating is a $10 billion per year industry in the state and employs 40,633 people.
Although boat owners can currently find ethanol-free fuel in some marinas, the state mandate has made it more difficult to find it at gas stations and convenience stores.
While gasoline with ethanol may cost less than ethanol-free gasoline, it also contains less energy, requiring more trips to the pump.

HOW: Please contact Governor Scott to urge him to sign HB 4001. Go to http://www.capwiz.com/boatus/issues/alert/?alertid=62676576&type=SW to easily send Governor Scott a message.

WHO: BoatUS fights against unfair federal taxes, fees and regulations that single out boat owners and works with state agencies to promote boating laws that make sense. In addition to being the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters, BoatUS provides its half a million members with services such as 24-hour on water boat towing as well as roadside assistance for boat trailers and tow vehicles, feature-packed boat insurance programs, money-saving benefits that include marina and West Marine shopping discounts, and vital information that improves the boating, fishing and sailing lifestyle. Its member-funded non-profit BoatUS Foundation is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Go to http://www.BoatUS.com for more.

Shoaling North of Ben Sawyer - Click for Chartview

From earlier reports and as Captain Mullins confirms, the water gets thin between AICW markers #111 and #119, north of the Waterway’s entrance into Charleston Harbor. These waters have been designated an SSECN Problem Stretch and caution should be exercised through the AICW channel past the Ben Sawyer Bridge and the Isle of Palms.

AICW abeam of Breech Inlet:
I’ve written about this area before but I am noticing an increasing number of sailboats aground during low tide. It is in the area where 3 creeks wash from Breach Inlet into the AICW. There are 2 green day marks north of the Ben Sawyer bridge and this bad stretch is shoaling between them. You can make it in a 5 ft. draft boat, but you must weave and bob a little to get through.
Philip W. Mullins (Phil)
S/V Katash

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the AICW North of Ben Sawyer Bridge to Isle of Palms Bridge

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

Lake Boca Raton - Click for Chartview

Boca Raton Anchorage on the northeastern section of Lake Boca Raton, east of flashing daybeacon #65, and, as reported earlier (see link below), the preferred entrance channel seems to be on the north side of marker #65.

Moving north, Lake Boca Raton is a great anchorage – beware the hordes on weekends but few remain overnight – nice public dock you can use for your dinghy at Silver Palm Park adjacent to the first bridge heading north on the ICW tucked
into the NW corner – not much nearby but a few stores and again the great beaches.
Peter TenHaagen, Transition

Click Here To View An Earlier Posting on Lake Boca Raton

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Eastern Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For Boca Raton Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Boca Raton Anchorage

Dynamite Hole - Click for Chartview

Dynamite Hole is a marked channel opening in the south jetty, at the ocean side entrance to Charleston Harbor. The shoaling location is described below by Captain Mullins.

May 1, 2013
There is a large shoal that has grown on the seaward side of Ft.Sumter adjacent to the Dynamite Hole area. We found it and spent 6 hours high and dry and had to be pulled off by Tow Boat US. There has always been a shoal about half way out from the ship channel while trying to go through Dynamite Hole, but it has been about half way between the green side of the channel and the cut itself. Now, this shoal has extended to about 100 ft. to starboard of the green channel marker while making passage offshore. We were not trying to go through Dynamite Hole when we hit, but were just to starboard of the green channel marker.
We hit it under full sail and hit 4 times before we stopped on a falling tide.
It is not marked by any buoys or signs and is not shown as a danger area on my GPS charts.
The prudent sailor should stay in the shipping channel until at lease half way through the jetties going to sea.
Philip W. Mullins (Phil)
S/V Katash
Isle of Palms, SC

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dynamite Hole

Dowry Creek Marina - Click for Chartview

Dowry Creek Marina is a fine family owned and family run marina that has received MANY laudatory reviews here on the Cruisers’ Net. This facility lies off the AICW/Pungo River, north of Belhaven.

This is one of my favorite places to stop whenever heading north or south from Albemarle Plantation. Staff is very friendly and knowledgable. Rates are good and there is a lovely club house where there is a social hour each evening. Loaner cars are available for trips into town.
Bill Denison

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

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dowry Creek Marina

Hey Claiborne:
I really like your anchoring guides. However, I think you have some flaws in the entry you have for Cowen Creek. (Mile 544.5 on the Beaufort River, between Beaufort SC and Hilton Head). I’d like to suggest some corrections on this one.
1). I think it’s misleading to talk about “negotiating several unmarked shoals”. Yes, if you’re coming from the north, you must go far enough south to clear Cowen spit. If you watch your chartplotter, the entrance to Cowen Creek is wide and deep with NO UNMARKED SHOALS. Take a look at the wider area chart, and this should be self-evident. From the south, it’s a no-brainer. Coming from the north, you’re in good shape if you go far enough south to go around the south side of the old range light charted at 32 degrees 20.12N, 80 degrees 39.34W. Do that, and it’s a wide and deep water entrance with no issues.
2). Your little anchor symbol on the chart photo is way upstream in the creek. Yes, it gets narrower up there, but it’s all protected and nearly always flat water once you’re in the creek. Most cruising boats don’t go that far up to anchor. I’ve seen 3 or 4 cruising boats anchored in the area 32 degrees 21.64N, 80 degrees 38.89W. ( Middle of the creek, abeam of the “o” in “Cowen Cr” label on the chart.)
3). Optionally… there’s another anchorage area for someone who really wants a “Hurricane Hole”. It’s the straight stretch of the creek, t32 degrees 22.99N, 80degrees 38.54W. There is deep water all the way there so it allows even a sailboat to reach these areas, going past private docks on Distant Island and around a double set of bends. It is really protected. .
FYI… ( my credentials for sharing this…) I’m a full time live-aboard cruiser, and spend half of my time living in the Beaufort area and half time cruising on a 38′ sailboat. Cowen Creek is a nice, nearby wilderness anchorage, a few minutes away from the marina. It’s where I take “visitors” when they come to visit my wife and I, and they want to spend a night on the sailboat anchored out. (Smile!).
Rapid Roy
S/V “Gideon”

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Cowen Creek

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Cowen Creek

Bennett Brothers Yachts has the best “in my opinion” on the east coast GAI am a member of the Cape Fear Marina and have two 50 foot slips. This Cape Fear/Bennett Bros. is a definite hurricane hole and well protected. Just my 2 cents. Come on up but make sure you call them ahead of time….. it can get populated fast….. 910-772-9277.
GM

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bennett Brothers Yachts/Cape Fear Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bennett Brothers Yachts/Cape Fear Marina

Claiborne:
As promised, we stopped at Inlet Marina in St. Augustine Thursday. We checked out the prices on fuel at Comachee Cove, Conch House and the Municipal Marina. Inlet’s price with the usual discounts was .10 – .20/gal less than the others. They do have the best price of any St. Augustine marina on the ICW. Still, it was .15 higher than the price in Jacksonville.
The fuel dock is located on the east side of the ICW between the Villano bridge and the fishing pier, which makes entering look somewhat intimidating. However, there is deep water all the way in and out to both bridges, so maneuvering with our 54′ boat was relatively easy. Dockmaster Jay and his staff are on hand to assist. I would not hesitate to take anything up to 80′ into the dock, although I would be sure to have adequate help on hand if the tide is running or there is a strong wind with a westerly component.
The Publix supermarket is within walking distance, as is the Villano beach on the ocean. There is a good restaurant with Tiki bar on site, and the entire place is dog friendly, which was very important to us. Although the marina does not have transient slip Jay will allow boats to tie up at the fuel dock overnight for $25. There is no electric. There is water, but it does have a strong sulphur odor. The town of Villano provides a free 100′ floating dock located just south of the fishing pier next to Inlet Marina. There are no services, but boats are allowed to tie up all day to visit the town and the beach. Overnights are not technically allowed, but Jay says it is not enforced.
In my opinion, Inlet Marina and the town of Villano Beach are a good place to stop for a day to take on some fuel, re-provision and relax on the beach or at the restaurant.
Bill Root

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Inlet Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Inlet Marina

Marina Jacks - Click for Chartview

Marina Operations/Marina Jacks abuts the east-northeastern shores, to the northeast of red unlighted daybeacon #8A in Sarasota Bay, in the heart of downtown Sarasota, Florida.
The mooring field, which is the subject of Captain Power’s report below, has been controversial, first, because it displaced a very popular anchorage, and secondly, some claim its cost benefit ratio to the city of Sarasota is very much a negative concept. On the other hand, there was a legitimate problem with abandoned and derelict vessels in the old anchorage.
Sarasota IS one of the Florida Pilot Mooring Field Program sites, so the regulations surrounding their mooring field are legal, at least according to Florida state law. Federal law is another matter entirely, but that’s another discussion for another day!

After much controversy in Sarasota, Marina Jacks opened its mooring ball field about a year ago. We recently used the field. The marina management, staff, and facilities are first rate. It is located right downtown with numerous restaurants nearby and a Whole Foods within easy walking distance. The only drawback is that out of the 35 balls, only 3 are set aside for transients. They do take reservations but you will have to move on if your ball is reserved before you want to leave. The daily rate is $20. You can still anchor outside of the field boundaries but it is a lengthy ride to the dinghy dock.
David S. Power
s/v Two If By Sea

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Marina Operations/Marina Jacks

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Marina Operations/Marina Jacks