Government Dock, Rum Cay, Bahamas

Rum Cay, Bahamas
Rich Estes
Aboard: Island Maid

2010 Weekly Winners

	In the Everglades	Great Implosion / ICW	Winter of 2010 in NC	Strutting His Stuff
“A” Dock Resident	Sunset at Boca Grande	Florida Keys Spirit	Ready for Battle	Settled for the Evening

2009 Weekly Winners

What are You Looking At?	Minim Creek, South Carolina	Duplin River Anchorage	Lady Caroline
Dismal Swamp Center	Heading South!	Mist Falling on Cedars	River Dog
East of the Gulf Stream	Tonging for Oysters	Shrimper in the fog	Swimming With Sharks
Ending to a Perfect Day	Long Island, Bahamas	Card Sound, Key Largo	Departure, Elizabeth City
Pine Island Sunrise	Sunset at Vero Beach	Smack Fishing at Dusk	Pine Island FL
V 22 Sighting	Georgia Sunrise	St. Augustine Sunrise	Sailing on the Chesapeake
Steinhatchee Anchorage	Exuma Sound Sunset	Infinity Pool	Little Pipe Cay Lighthouse
Conch Salad Tonight	Serenity	Nassau Potters Cay	Waiting for the Tide
Little Shark River	Sunset Between Cruises	Southbound to the Marquesas	Coming in for a Landing
Winding Creek	Hopetown Lighthouse	A Porpose Driven Luff	Flaked Sails
Nauti Bird	Fiery Sarasota Sunset	Perfect Day, Abacos	Evening Messanger
Red Sky at Night	Flying Dolphin	Star Fish, Star Bright	Sunset at Guana Cay

We are spending 4 nights in the mooring field at Naples adjacent to Naples Town Dock. Pull up to the Naples Town Dock and they will pump your holding tank: they wanted to put a seal on my black water over board. I then explained to the attendant that we on the Canadian Great Lakes banned the discharge of sewage from pleasure craft back in the late 50’s or early 60’s: and that all my overboard systems had been disconected decades ago. Great price $10.00 per night, a short dingy ride from shopping and restaurants. Max stay is 4 days in response to the live aboard problem Fl has. This type of ordance is some what akin to trying to fixing your watch with a sledge hammer.

We have stayed in the mooring field at Ft Myers Beach just across from the shrimp fleet and Ballard’s Fuel: $13.00 per night included is a dingy dock on the Ft Myers Beach side with good resturants. The Mooring Ball office is located just under the bridg adjacent to the Matanza Inn and resturaunt, recomended.
Bevferg

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For The Fort Myers Beach Mooring Field

Subject: Cruiser’s Appreciation Day
Cruising News: The Town Of Ft. Myers Beach is hosting the 3rd annual \”Cruiser\’s Appreciation Day\” on Saturday, March 27th beginning at noon. All boats in the mooring area will receive free food and drinks. Last year we had over 100 people in attendance. Let\’s break that record!!!!! C U on the 27th.
George Pacharis

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Salty Sams Marina

I recommend Plantation Yacht Club Marina in Islamorada for anyone with a boat that doesn’t draw more than 5′ and who wants good protection from these blasted fronts in the Keys. The mangrove breakwater makes the whitecaps out on Florida Bay a non-issue. John is their terrific dockmaster with an amusing sense of humor. A marina slip includes all the amenities of Founders’ Park: a sheltered beach with showers; bocce, volleyball, and tennis courts; a huge pool; a dog park; a community band shell with free concerts; picnic tables and gas grills that work; locked showers and lundry room for marina residents; and cable and pump outs at EVERY slip, a real luxury. Fuel prices are great too.
Pete & Mary Ann

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina

Claiborne,
Unfortunately we were not able to take our annual pilgrimage south this winter so decided to spend the season at the New Bern Grand Marina (aka Sheraton, aka Hilton, aka Skysail). We were just notified that they are lowering the dockage rate to $6.25 per foot for the months of March, April and May. Also, if you arrive during those months the rate will be extended through the end of 2010 if you decide to stay longer. Looks like the marina is trying to make up for some feathers they ruffled a couple of years ago when they jacked up the rates and unsuccessfully tried to go condo with the marina.
New Bern is a great town. We have really enjoyed our visits here over the years. And to top it off, they are having their 300th year anniversary this year with all sorts of festivities. Don’t know if we will be here this summer but it should be a good time.
Captain Richard and Penny Beesley
s/v Viking Rose

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Galley Stores Marina

Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For New Bern Grand Marina

Spent the last two nights here because of cold temps and high winds. We were placed on the outside close to the fuel pumps. Aside from a very strong current and water slapping the boat a bit at night, we had no problems. Dock hands and office staff are top notch. We used the courtesy car to get groceries and a few sundries. The laundry room was clean and the machines in great shape. Restaurants and shopping is right next door to the marina, within 100 yards of the docks.
Larry Morrow

Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Downtown Marina of Beaufort

Just dropped the in the exact location of the anchor on the above chart. It’s dead low tide and we are in 14.4 feet. Added another 9 feet to the depth to figure out how much chain to let out for the high tide. Winds are on our nose at 18K and slack current. Nice views of some pretty houses and docks. Pleanty of room where we are for about 3-4 40 foot boats with 100 ft of rode each.
Larry Morrow

Click Here To View the Georgia Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Herb River Anchorage

We were stuck in Venice anchored in Roberts Bay in front of the expensive homes sharing thier view when the Sheriff stopped by our boat to ask us a few questions. This was the first few days in March 2010 when those terrible north winds were blowing at over 30 knots, a front was on the way with expected cloud to water lightning, possible tornados and water spots which is what the Sheriff and I discussed. He was concerned for our safety and most helpful, even suggesting that we move over to the free dock and tie up to be a bit more secure. He said the city wouldn’t bother us considering the weather conditions. Well we moved to the free dock and it still has a sign limiting the time you can tie up there to 18 hours in a ten day period. Now as to why I’m writing this: The water nazi still lives but is now driving a yellow cab! Here is what happened. We called a taxi to go down on Venice Avenue where we spent a few hundred dollars on meals and goodies to send to grandkids. When we returning to our boat in a cab, we were talking with the cab driver and we mentioned that the sheriff said we should tie up until the storm was over and the cabbie got real quiet (up until this part of the conversation he had been most friendly)until he dropped us off at Higel Park. Not 5 minutes after the cabbie left there was a siren and a police car pulled up and a fellow got out with a camera and proceeded to take a picture of the name on the stern of our boat. He didn’t say a word to us, just took the picture and left. So did we. We got the ‘H” out of there. The water nazi is still operating in Venice, now he is driving a yellow cab and he will still report you even after giving him a good tip. Wish I hadn’t given him that tip, would have felt a lot better if I had stiffed him!
Total time at the dock? Less than 5 hours, no other boats present. Have to wonder what they are thinking at this point; no dockmaster, no mooring balls, just a beautiful city waiting to be explored and an ordinance that will keep some boaters from a wonderful experience and who loses? The city of Venice and their shopkeepers, restaurants, grocery stores, etc.
Please note, We love Venice! The people are great, the city is beautiful and that is the only negative we have ever experienced here. We are a shallow draft vessel and usually anchor in 2 to 3 feet of water in Roberts Bay. We shall return!
Capt. Phil & Capt. Linda
“BloMee” (Sailing Catamaran)