Harborwalk Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSORS, is only a boardwalk stroll away from Georgetown’s Historic District for history, entertainment, great food, and shopping. Harborwalk Marina is the third marina on your starboard side as you enter the very protected waters of Georgetown.
Due to last-minute cancellations, Harborwalk Marina has space available for winter layover dockage from December until April. Contact them at
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At top is Tanner Thomas. Below, Gavin Weisenburg. They face life in prison.
BELOW: Something from my research on Gonâve deserves to be a Tom Hanks mini-series. This is a memoir authored by one of the most fascinating non-commissioned officers ever to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps—Faustin Edmond Wirkus.
Now that two Texas knuckleheads have been indicted for plotting to invade Haiti with an mercenary army of homeless people—on a sailboat—we as a nation have to ask ourselves: When did we start putting people in prison for sharing a pathetic fantasy?
According to their indictment as international terrorists, Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, began planning their coup d etat in 2024. They plotted to take a Haitian island by force, murder all its men and then force the women and children to become their sex slaves.
Gonâve, the island in question, comprises 287 square miles and has a population of around 100,000 people. (Not to mention some thousands of machetes.)
Let’s consider an equally plausible scenario:
Inspired by the Three Stooges’ 1957 space voyage to planet Venus, Beavis and Butt-Head plot to hijack a NASA space shuttle and colonize the dark side of the Moon until they are thwarted by famed FBI agent Foghorn Leghorn.
Yeah…Equivalency.
Thomas and Weisenburg don’t know how to sail, and, according to the indictment, could not afford lessons, let alone the price of a boat. And, how big a boat would they have needed to accomodate their putative invasion force? Or was their unwashed army—to be recruited from the District of Columbia’s “unhoused” population—going to fly coach to Port-au-Prince and hop on the Gonâve ferry?
“If anyone’s initial reaction to the government’s sensational press release was, ‘That sounds crazy, wild, impossible, or beyond belief,’ I would encourage them to hold that thought,” said Attorney David Finn, representing Weisenburg.
This is Gonâve’s port city of Anse-à-Galet. It lies approximately 50 miles northwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The indictments were announced Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the charges being “conspiracy to murder, maim or kidnap in a foreign country” and a related “production of child pornography” count. If convicted, Thomas and Weisenburg face up to life in prison.
In court documents, prosecutors argued that the case was extraordinary because of its complexity:
The discovery in this case involves more than 55 GB of data, hundreds of pages of reports and records, thousands of text message communications, and hours of video footage from the execution of search warrants…Because the defendants are charged with an offense alleging acts of international terrorism, all significant pleadings and proposed resolutions must receive the approval of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
At this point, I am making a plea to a subset of the readership. I know some Loose Cannon subscribers are former prosecutors. My question to you is whether you can indict someone for plotting the impossible, the fantastical. Please share your thoughts in the comments or by direct message.
The words “in furtherance of the conspiracy” are how prosecutors introduce the overt acts that prove the plotters in question really meant it.
For example, Thomas joined the U.S. military in January “for the purpose of obtaining military training that would be use in carrying out their armed coup attack.” He chose the U.S. Air Force because of its famed Tire Machèt martial arts school. (Wait, you say the Air Force doesn’t train recruits in machete combat, or sailing, for that matter.)
But there was more:
Thomas, while in Air Force basic training, successfully changed his initial station assignment from Ramstein Air Base in Germany to Andrews Air Base in Maryland for the dual purposes of 1) remaining in the United States to facilitate the group s armed coup attack, and 2) being located near the District of Columbia to facilitate the recruitment of members of the area’s homeless population to serve as members of their unlawful expeditionary force.
Further evidence: In August 2024, Weisenburg enrolled in the North Texas Fire Academy because that’s where he thought he would learn “command-and-control protocols that would be useful during their armed coup attack.” He flunked out.
Then, in February, Weisenburg flew to Thailand because that’s where one goes to learn how to sail. However, when he got there he found that the cost of training exceeded his budget.
The indictment does not record either man ever having gone to Gonâve or Haiti proper to conduct a proper reconnaisance, even though travel to that country is doable despite general chaos.
Reality Check
Frank Virgintino has built or bought more than 20 marinas, mostly in the Northeastern U.S. (One of these was the Minneford Marina in City Island, New York, on the site of the former Minneford Yacht Yard, builder of several America’s Cup contenders.)
Virgintino began cruising the island of Hispaniola in the 1980s before hardly anyone else was doing so and has written several Caribbean cruising guides, including The Cruising Guide to Haiti, which covers the Gonâve port city of Anse-à-Galets.
Why would anyone choose to invade Gonâve? Virgintino said their motivation might be a result of Haiti’s general collapse combined with Gonâve’s history of isolation from and neglect by the central government:
Gonâve is like an adjunct to Haiti. People there don’t say they’re from Haiti. They say they’re from Gonâve in French or Creole. Right through the 1960s, the people of Gonâve lived with no electricity, no running water and no money. It’s an island that’s caught in a time warp. Maybe, it’s like 1985 right now.
If this story is true, they probably thought it would be easy to topple, since there is no central government in Haiti right now that is functioning, but I don’t believe the story. It sounds like a cover story for something else. I don’t believe that two guys could think they could go in on a sailboat and kill 45,000 men who have knives, guns and machetes.
In another example of “furtherance of conspiracy,” Thomas and Weisenburg “engaged in Haitian Creole language training for the purpose of facilitating their armed coup plot.” (Another cruising guide author based in the Dominican Republic, Bruce Van Sant once wrote, “Creole sounds to a non-speaker as if it only has syllables like la, ba, oo and oh. Haitians also have a penchant for dramatizing everything with real OH’s.”)
If you’ve gotten this far into the story, prepare to be rewarded—something from my research on Gonâve deserves to be a Tom Hanks mini-series. This is a forgotten memoir authored by one of the most fascinating non-commissioned officers ever to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps—Faustin Edmond Wirkus.
Wirkus’ unit was part a force of Marines that occupied Haiti for 19 years, beginning in July 1915. During his deployment Wirkus was engaged in fighting anti-government insurrectionists, at which he excelled, in part because he learned to speak the Haitian Creole language.
The Only Marine To Become a King
Before headlines about Thomas and Weisenburg, the only time Gonâve had ever made news in the U.S. may have been accounts of Wirkus’ adventures there. Which made me wonder whether part of the 55 GB of data in the goverment evidence against Thomas and Weisenburg is a copy of Wirkus’ 1931 book “White King of Gonâve,” which you can download here. The writing is superb and surprisingly modern to the ear.
In the 1920s, Gonâve’s population of 12,000 people was ruled by women, according to its longstanding tradition. Regional queens reported to the top queen, who, besides an air of absolute authority, was in Wirkus’ time distinguished by her ownership of a pair of shoes. Beneath a veneer of Catholism, the religion of the people was straight-up Voodoo, with which Wirkus had become fascinated.
In his late 20s, Sergeant Wirkus had been deputized as a lieutenant in the Haitian gendarmes and assigned to police Gonâve. There, he met the Voodoo queen herself, Ti Memenne, and they developed a relationship based on mutual respect and affection.
The central government did not recognize her authority, and the feeling was mutual. The problem was that Gonâve’s subsistence economy was based entirely on fishing and farming, and 100 percent of Gonâve’s land was government owned, which meant that all farmers were tenants.
The Port-au-Prince tax collectors assigned to the island became rich through corruption. Notoriously, once an individual farm became profitable, officials would evict the family, assign the property to someone else for a price and keep the money. In fact, they had basically been pocketing all the taxes they collected.
Wirkus saw this injustice and got the tax collectors fired—and himself appointed as the head collector. Under Wirkus’ fair administration, some tax revenue went to the central government but monies were also available for Gonâve itself, including for the construction of an airstrip still in use today.
As word spread, Wirkus’ popularity among Gonâve’s people soared. Queen Ti Memenne and her inner circle were also fascinated by the first name given to Wirkus by his Polish-American parents—Faustin—which also happened to be a prominent name in Haitian history. Faustin Soulouque had been emperor of Haiti for a decade until he was overthrown in 1859.
According to Gonâve legend, Faustin would someday return as ruler. Ti Memenne saw Wirkus as a reincarnation of the late emperor, but she had to make certain.
One late night, after a Voodoo celebration with Wirkus in attendance, Ti Memenne and her designated successor-queen led Wirkus by the hand to a seaside cave in which there lived a blind wiseman, who never had to wake up because he never went to sleep.
Ti Memenne hailed the old guy, who came out of his hole in the rock, gave Wirkus a sniff and essentially declared, “Yeah, that’s him alright.”
The next time Wirkus was invited to attend a ritual, he knew he was going to receive some sort of honor, but he was surprised by the size of the crowd. The event was full-on Voodoo—animal sacrifices, trance-like states, wild dancing and non-stop drumming. Here a Marine Corps historian takes up the story:
On the evening of 18 July 1926, Master Sergeant Faustin Wirkus was crowned king of La Gonâve in a Voodoo ceremony. As the drums beat the “Call of the King,” a rhythm designed specifically for Wirkus, he was carried from the Houmfort, or Voodoo temple. In the firelight, the blood of a sacrificed rooster marked his forehead and wrists. He wore the crown of Faustin I. Behind him walked Ti Memenne. The crowd shouted “Le Roi! Vive le Roi Faustin!”
In case you were wondering, Ti Memenne had a husband but the fact of marriage did not make him king. For the next three years, Wirkus—now Faustin II—ruled Gonâve with Ti Memenne, more like mother and son, even though she declared herself subordinate to him.
This whole spectacle created resentment among the Port-au-Prince kleptocracy, and by now Marine command must have worried that Wirkus might be getting too big for his baggy cavalry britches. In 1929, he was reassigned to duties on the Haitian mainland, thus ending a unique chapter in the history of the Corps.
The king and queen of Gonâve and her lady-in-waiting. Note the queen’s shoes, a symbol of her high status. Wirkus died in 1945 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Sometimes he tries to be funny. Subscribe for free to support the work. If you’ve been reading for a while—and you like it—consider upgrading to paid.
A longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, historic Edenton always has an exciting calendar of events and places to visit! Edenton is at the mouth of the Chowan River on the northwest shore of Albemarle Sound.
It is almost Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is a day for turkey, pumpkin pie, stuffing, and football (if that is your sort of thing). It’s a day to take a breath before the holiday season rush begins. And it’s a day to reflect on all the things we’re thankful for.
And, as I live and work in Edenton. And as I connect with people visiting this great area almost every day, there’s no shortage of things to be thankful for. So, today, in anticipation of the holiday, I would like to reflect a little on why I’m so thankful for Edenton. Because, frankly, there’s a lot to be thankful for.
Great weather
Here in Edenton, the winters are temperate, the fall is filled with perfect sweater weather, and spring greets us with an astonishing array of vibrant colors. Sure, the summer can get a little hot, but the Albemarle Sound keeps things surprisingly temperate, even in the hotter months. Throughout the year, people are visiting Edenton, and virtually no matter when they come, it’s good walking weather. Not every place in this country of ours has this. As the tourism director, I have the opportunity to speak to a lot of people from all around the country, who don’t have things nearly as nice as we do around here.
A thriving downtown community
One of the things that makes Edenton such an easy and wonderful place to visit is the thriving downtown community. In decades past, as commerce fled traditional downtowns for malls and mega-commercial complexes, residents and business owners in Edenton remained committed to Downtown Edenton.
Today, as many other communities struggle to recalibrate amid mall closures and changing commercial real estate trends, our downtown is vibrant, bustling, and driving the local economy. And, it’s growing, too. There is not only a vibrant food scene in downtown Edenton, but also a plethora of unique and interesting stores. Whether you are looking for a quick lunch, sit-down dinner, some after drinks, a great cigar, or antique shopping, there’s something for everyone.
One-of-a-kind history
History is our calling card, no doubt. As the home of governors, Supreme Court justices, and important Revolutionary War figures, and as one of the most important narratives of enslaved people that came out of the antebellum South, Edenton has some very important history. What is even more unusual is how well it has been preserved. Whether you are touring the 1886 Roanoke River Lightouse, the Penelope Barker House, Cupola House, the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse, or any of the other dozens of historically important locations, you’ll see that they stand in such great condition because generations of Edentonians have recognized their value and have kept them standing strong.
Stewards and caretakers
This generation of Edentonians, including myself, stands on the shoulders of generations of residents who worked tirelessly to preserve and care for the history here so it won’t be forgotten. My job is easy because so many people have come before me who have worked tirelessly to put Edenton on the map, create organizations dedicated to historical awareness and preservation, and make Edenton a well-regarded travel destination.
An abundance of interesting events
Whether you come in spring, summer, or fall, there is an abundance of events throughout Edenton and beyond. Many events, such as the Summer Concert Series or the Kickoff to Christmas, involve important partnerships among organizations. Others, like the Sunday street parties in Downtown Edenton, are newer and take place because new businesses have come to the area and want to engage with the community. These events and so many others bring many people to town, creating an engaging and exciting community.
An engaged local government
The year-over-year success and constant growth of our tourism industry doesn’t happen by accident. The fact that more and more people are visiting Edenton every year is a testament to the long-term investment of our local governments. Both Chowan County and the City of Edenton continue to invest in the experience and infrastructure of this community so it can remain an exciting and engaging place to visit.
Generations of residents have invested in this community.
I’ve mentioned this earlier, but the reason so many people visit Edenton is that many people in this town have been investing in this community for decades. Residents open up businesses to create opportunities for visitors to explore this area in interesting and unique ways. Government officials spend time and resources making Edenton the best version of itself it can be. And every organization in this town —from ours to the Chamber of Commerce to Destination Downtown Edenton, and so many others —has spent generations putting this town on the cutting edge of North Carolina tourism.
There is always plenty to do around Charlotte Harbor. While berthed at Fishermen’s Village Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, you are certain to enjoy visiting Western Florida’s beautiful Charlotte Harbor/Peace River.
Fishermen’s Village December Calendars of Entertainment/Events
December 2025 Sunset Beach Club Calendar December 2025 Fisherman’s Village Calendar
Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Explorer Charts “Chatter” Has a New Home!
Hello Bahamas Cruisers~~
We have a quick but exciting update from Explorer Chartbooks!
Our Bahamas Chatter Forum has now moved to “Groups”—a cleaner, faster, and more interactive space for all of us who love Bahamas cruising and exploration.
Why the Move?
Groups gives us:
A smoother, modern interface
Better notifications
Easier sharing of Bahamas updates and information
A more connected community experience
Visit the New Explorer Chartbooks Chatter Group
As a member of the original Bahamas Chatter Forum, you’ve automatically been subscribed to the new platform! Check it out here:
A few recent posts:
A 30 Year Voyage for Explorer Chartbooks
Aids to Navigation Update
Changes to 2025 Cruising Permit Customs Fees
We’d love to have you with us as we continue sharing cruising news and chartbook updates.
Thanks for being part of the Explorer Chartbooks community. See you in the new Group!
Escape to Cape Eleuthera Resort & Marina – the Bahamas’ best-kept secret for marina lovers, anglers, and underwater explorers. Discover 4,500 acres of pristine landscapes, three private beaches, and an oceanfront marina designed for deep-blue memories.
The full-service marina accommodates vessels up to 200 ft with 47 slips and 12 ft depth, making arrivals and departures effortless. From here, set off for world-class offshore fishing, shark dives, and snorkeling adventures with their trusted partners and onsite Dive Shop.
When it’s time to relax, lounge on private beaches, explore rolling landscapes, or unwind in ocean-view accommodations—from charming bungalows to panoramic villas. Then, savor Bahamian-inspired cuisine at their casual oceanside dining, where fresh flavors meet unforgettable sunsets.
This Christmas and New Year’s, join in for a true Bahamian holiday—complete with Junkanoo celebrations and dazzling fireworks over the marina.
Boaters receive $300 in credit when pre-booking a four-night consecutive stay at Cape Eleuthera Resort while also docking at their marina now through October 31, 2026 and booked by June 30, 2026. Blackout dates apply.
Founded in 1951 and recently fully refurbished, the ALYC is a full service Yacht Club and Marina offering diesel, gas, electricity, water, ice and bait with 20 air-conditioned Yacht Club and Bungalow rooms; all with private outdoor terraces and either pool & ocean or marina & harbour views.
Reminder that new legislation went into effect July 1, 2025 and impacts all boaters coming to and in The Bahamas.
Please review all the details before your next visit!
Key Lime Sailing Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always has very special offers for their visitors! Key Lime Sailing Club is a unique slice of KEYS ENJOYMENT…give it a try and let us hear about your experience.
Join Our Thanksgiving Dinner by the Water
Hi from Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages,
Thanksgiving is almost here and our Florida Keys beachfront celebration is ready for reservations. Every year our guests and KLSC staff gather for a relaxed Thanksgiving dinner by the beach. Amazing sunsets, calm bay views, and sometimes dolphin or manatee sightings create a fun and friendly setting where you can enjoy good food and meet new friends.
It sounds a little crazy, but we still have a few cottages left that can accommodate couples or families who want to enjoy a Florida Keys Thanksgiving on the beach.
Here is how it works
We will serve the turkey, the ham, and some sides for everyone to enjoy.
Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite side dish and some drinks to share.
Bring the people you love and enjoy a holiday you will never forget.
Check out this video clip from our last year’s Thanksgiving celebration to see what the experience is like.
If you would like to grab one of these remaining cottages for a Florida Keys Thanksgiving on the beach, reply to this email or call or text our reservations team at 305 451 3438 to book.
Submit Your Entries Now! Win Stays at KLSC
Hey Key Lime family and friends! Don’t miss your chance to join our Photo & Video Contest — time’s almost up! Submit your favorite Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages memories for a shot at a FREE 3-night stay (best photo) or a FREE 5-night stay (best video). You can enter as many times as you like!
Voting starts December 16, so share your entries, tell your friends, and get those votes ready. Need a little inspiration? Check out our Facebook page to see what past winners have created. Click this link for rules and terms.
To enter, reply to this email with your photos or video links. We’d love to see your memories and welcome you back to make even more.
Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages | 305-451-3438 | 99306 Overseas Highway, Key Largo Florida | www.keylimesailingclub.com
Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages | 99306 Overseas Highway | Key Largo, FL 33037 US
Watermakers reverse osmosis desalination equipment of Fort Lauderdale was developed by Joe Hocher, who also founded Staniel Cay Yacht Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR.
As a valued guest of Staniel Cay Yacht Club, you know that the best cruising seasons start with early planning. With the holidays right around the corner, now’s the ideal time to schedule your pre‑season watermaker upkeep and secure your berth — before the winter rush hits.
Why act now?
√ Pre‑season tune‑ups & early‑bird savings: A quick check of your systems now means fewer surprises when you’re ready to cast off — and if you book by December 1 (service completed by December 31, 2025), you’ll save 15 % using promo code GETAHEAD15.
√ Upgrade options & future‑proofing: Looking to enhance your boat’s fresh‑water system? We can map out upgrades now so they’re ready by spring. As the only U.S. distributor for Hydrasil AG+ by Octomarine — the leading tank‑treatment solution — we’ll keep your onboard water clean and safe. Considering a full system upgrade? Lock in current pricing on a new Watermaker unit today and upgrade to a newer machine to improve efficiency and output.
√ Fast parts & island logistics: Even if you’re cruising in the Bahamas or other remote islands, we can get genuine Watermaker parts and technicians to you quickly via our sister company, Maker’s Air. Their dedicated aircraft give us access to distant locales that other service providers can’t reach, so you’re never stuck waiting for parts or assistance.
Let’s get your vessel ready for sun‑soaked days at Staniel Cay and beyond!
Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
Why the Move?
Visit the New Explorer Chartbooks Chatter Group
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