Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with saltwater in their veins will subscribe. $7 per month or $56 for the year; you may cancel at any time.
Britain’s standards-setting organization for recreational boating, the Royal Yachting Association, believes the phrase “man overboard!” is unwelcoming to folks who identify as women or non-binary. When a London newspaper reported this, it caused a ruckus in the maritime community, which ridiculed this notion as over-the-top woke.
RYA then trotted out poor Richard Falk on a backpedaling mission (despite possibility that the a concept might trigger disabled people who cannot ride a bike).
Falk, who is director of Training and Qualifications, said the RYA encourages the continued use of “man overboard” in actual MOB situations. But when you are discussing the rescue later in the clubhouse, say, you should consider “person in water” as a more inclusive substitute. No need to mention seaMANship either.
So, not trying to replace MOB with PIW. Not yet. That’s Falk’s story, and he’s sticking to it.
Loose Cannon sought comment from an expert on nautical speak, Popeye the Sailorman. He was fresh from rescuing someone who had fallen overboard, a jamoke going by the pronoun “Wimpy.”
The news from RYA caught Popeye by surprise.
“Oh my gorshk! I yam disgupitated,” Popeye said, unsure why the YMCA was “sticking their big nose” into sailboat business.
No, not YMCA, it’s the RYA…in England, he was told.
Seeing as this is the direction we’re going, shouldn’t you shorten your last name to just “Sailor” in the interest of gender sensitivity, Popeye was asked?
“I yam what I yam, an’ that’s all I yam. I yam Popeye the Sailorman,” he insisted.
“I canst stands dems limey bucrappery. Sees me why Brutannia rulers no waves no more no how.”
Then, he mumbled something about “spinich” and hung up the phone.
LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Every so often 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.
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with saltwater in their veins will subscribe. $7 per month or $56 for the year; you may cancel at any time.
James Bulger was master of the Hell’s Winter, which he used to raise holy hell down island.
Let’s start in 1665. After stints in His Majesty’s prison, Captain James Bulger sailed from Boston aboard a captured Spanish galleon renamed Hell’s Winter. Bulger intended to use the ship to make mischief on the Spanish Main. He would not face justice for what he was about to do for another 46 years.
He and his crew robbed their way through the Caribbean. They forced merchants and shippers to pay protection money, killing rivals and innocent civilians alike. Bulger’s greatest accomplishment, however, was a secret deal he made with the British Navy.
The deal was supposed to ensure that the Navy would leave Bulger and his men alone in exchange for information about rival pirate bands. While Bulger did provide some intelligence to the Navy, the naval officers with whom he was dealing became so compromised that Bulger was able to use them to ascertain royal warship schedules and learn about important changes in British government policy. He, not they, pulled the strings.
At one point, he supplied weapons to support a murderous criminal uprising against the government of one of the islands. Bulger got his hands on an opium shipment and got half the island of New Providence addicted before the supply ran out.
And the killing never stopped. Mostly, he shot people with his pistols, but not always. Bulger once used an sailmaker’s awl to stab to death a disobedient crewman. He strangled the first mate’s mistress because he suspected her of being an informant.
His crew noticed that the boss had an odd habit. After killing someone—the mistress, for example—Bulger would retire to his cabin to take a nap.
Eventually, the British Navy disassociated itself with Bulger, and the officers he had co-opted faced criminal charges. Realizing that his business model had been shattered, Bulger took the substantial treasure he had accumulated and went into hiding. It took the British 16 years to find him and return him to Boston to face trial.
Whitey’s mugshot, at right, is recreated as the 17th Century buccaneer “James Bulger.” Whitey was boss of the Winter Hill Gang, which operated for decades in Boston.
Not Really
Naw. There was no real “pirate” named James Bulger. That was actually the story of Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, who was the second most wanted man in the United States at the time when Osama Bin Laden was number one. I chose Whitey for my pirate example because he is good stand-in for the real pirates of the Caribbean—and because I am a snob. My home state of Massachusetts is a place of superlatives, including in the psychopathic-criminal category.
Which describes many, if not most pirate bosses back then.
Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Jack Sparrow in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean” is pure genius, but so is his role as Bulger in “Black Mass.” Had they been contemporaries, Whitey would have happily strangled the likeable Jack Sparrow and then gone for a nap.
Get the picture? Whitey Bulger was a murdering psychopath. Depp didn’t play Jack Sparrow that way, but if he had, it would have been historically accurate.
Here I will quote an expert on piracy. Brandon Prins is a professor of Political Science at the University of Tennessee. In an article published in The Conversation on July 14, Prins wrote:
Depp’s pirate portrayal was inspired by seafaring bandits in older make-believe tales, such as Long John Silver in “Treasure Island,” Captain Hook in “Peter Pan,” or sailor Edmond Dantès in “The Count of Monte Cristo.”
Pirates in these stories were mischievous but also glamorous, courageous and mostly kindhearted. They wore flashy costumes. They had missing limbs, like Captain Cook’s iron hook for a left hand and Long John Silver’s wooden peg leg. They buried treasure chests of gold and silver, forced enemies to walk the plank and had talking parrots as shipboard companions. They flew the Jolly Roger skull and crossbones flag from the ship’s mast to frighten enemies…
While fun, these portrayals of pirates are mostly invented.
As far as treasure, sure they got their hands on some gold and silver, but much of their time was spent just trying to feed themselves.
There’s this book “The Pirates of Panama: A True Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Sir Henry Morgan and Other Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish Main.” It was written in 1674 by John Esquemeling, described as “one of the buccaneers present at those tragedies.”
Against the backdrop of daring deeds, etc. was the fact that the pirates were often starving. They failed at one of the most important principles of siege warfare: They would run out of food before the people in the city they surrounded. Eventually, they would agree to leave if the people in the city would just give them some food to eat.
Yep. They came for the gold and rubies and left with a ham sandwich. How glamorous is that?
You’re not 11 years old anymore. So, FFS, please don’t talk like a pirate. And quit playing pirate dress-up. Pirates were horrible human beings. They were hanged for a reason.
LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Every so often 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
We have a pair of tropical waves with potential for development over the next few days. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has a ‘code red’ area for both of these features. Both of them have the potential to affect South Carolina.
At least Gabrielle behaved as expected over the last few days and passed east of Bermuda; its next stop will be the Azores, followed by a trip to Europe.
Our two features of interest in the tropics have been designated as invest areas by NHC, with the one to the east called AL93 and the one to the west called AL94. Satellite imagery shows that AL93 is getting better organized with a spin evident and thunderstorms starting to wrap around it, so it’s likely to become a tropical cyclone soon.
Visible satellite imagery of the Atlantic Basin shows Gabrielle moving toward the Azores and the two tropical waves of interest over the western Atlantic and Caribbean Sea.
Image Source: University of Wisconsin RealEarth
NHC assigns a 90 percent chance of development to AL93 within the next two days. That looks reasonable; it will probably be named Humberto soon. For AL94, the development odds are 30 percent over the next two days and 80 percent over the next seven days. The next name on this year’s list after Humberto is Imelda.
We’ll have to monitor both closely, but the one most likely to affect us directly is AL94. However, there is a ton of uncertainty right now due to the complex weather pattern developing near the East Coast. In addition to the two tropical waves that could soon be two named storms, we have an upper-level low spinning east of the Bahamas and a storm over the nation’s midsection that will push into the Southeast and stall over the next few days. Computer models struggle with this level of complexity, and so we are presented with a wide range of reasonable possibilities by the models.
AL93, Humberto-to-be, is likely going to remain well offshore, taking an Erin-like track between the Carolina coast and Bermuda. Impacts to us likely will be limited to rough seas and surf along our coast. However, its behavior, including how strong it gets, will be a significant factor in what happens with AL94, perhaps Imelda eventually. If AL93 ramps up quickly and becomes a hurricane, it could prevent AL94 from developing or maybe eat it for lunch on Saturday or Sunday. A weaker storm would make it more likely that AL94 develops, but it might also help steer it away from the Southeast Coast. A weak and further east track of AL93 would allow AL94 to become more of a force to be reckoned with.
Then we must consider what might happen with AL94. Possibilities include a track toward us, but a last-minute turn to the east due to interactions with the storm to the east, or being pulled into the Carolinas early next week by the storm moving in from the nation’s midsection, or possibly even stalling near our coast for a while. There’s also a chance that it will remain disorganized and never get its act together.
As much as I hate to say this, the possibilities range from no significant impacts in South Carolina to a hurricane early next week. The weather pattern is too complicated to say definitively what will happen with AL94. However, I thought it was best to let y’all know that something’s up since we’re 5-6 days from potential effects here in South Carolina.
I hope this turns out to be a false alarm, but we have some real risk, so it’s better to be aware and be prepared. Ensure your general disaster preparation is in place, especially if you live along our coast. As always, you can find storm prep advice at hurricane.sc.
Frank Strait Severe Weather Liaison S.C. State Climate Office
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 260 D. Epting Lane West Columbia, SC, 29172
This email was sent to curtis.hoff@cruisersnet.net using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: South Carolina DNR ·1000 Assembly Street · Columbia, SC 29201
Attention all concerned boaters! In conjunction with Notice to Navigation: 2025-020 (Possible floating tussock hazard to navigation in the Okeechobee Waterway near Route 2) a very large floating tussock (approximately 10 acres) was blown into the channel last night near Route 2. The navigation channel is temporarily closed until our team can remove it. We are asking for patience, while we remove the material using mechanical means (heavy equipment).
The City of Gulfport and Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always has a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Original Gulfport Walking Tour: 9/25
Thursday, September 25 at 5:30 pm at the Gulfport History Museum Tickets can be purchased on the day of from 5-5:30 pm on the Museum’s front porch.Join Gulfport Arts & Heritage on a stroll through history in the heart of Gulfport. This reworked tour is led by David Anderson of Discover Florida Tours and lasts for approximately 1.5 hours.
$15 for non-members, free for GAH members. Registration is required. Register here!
Fall is officially here, and we’re beyond excited to witness and experience all of the vibrant autumn colors along the historic Dismal Swamp Canal.
We look forward to seeing our amazing boating community this fall along the waterway. Right is an image of a power boat from this week, traveling south.
We hope you’ll make plans to join the Dismal Swamp State Park on Oct. 18th from 10 am-2 pm to celebrate the swamp’s natural & cultural heritage, along with lots of fun displays, activities, food trucks, bounce house, and reptiles from OBX Lizard Land! (Poster below)
**A FREE 5K Fun Run/Walk will begin at 9 am on the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail (paved)- no registration or fees required. Participants will have to sign a waiver & will receive a special Dismal Day souvenir!
For more info on the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, located at MM 28, please check out our Dismal Swamp boating info handout as well as our website at: https://www.dismalswampwelcomecenter.com/
Sarah
Sarah Hill, TMP Director, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center Chairperson, Camden County Tourism Development Authority2356 US Hwy 17 North, South Mills, NC 27976
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with saltwater in their veins will subscribe. $7 per month or $56 for the year; you may cancel at any time.
LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Every so often 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
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with saltwater in their veins will subscribe. $7 per month or $56 for the year; you may cancel at any time.
Bellagave tequila comes in two flavors, one for each of the girls on the foredeck.
Nothing against rum. That’s for sure. But if you’ve been sailing long enough—with its culture of sundowners and tiki bars—you may be feeling a bit rummed out. Especially if you’ve been doing your sailing down-island, where the rum can be cheaper than the Coke to mix with it.
After a few years of noodling around the marketplace,Loose Cannon has finally found a sponsor—a tequila brand named Bellagave. Sure, you can throw it back as a shot, but it is eminently sippable (ask me how I know) and therefore perfect for an evening of swapping lies in the cockpit.
My second choice was shoes, but I always favored a beer or liquor brand for sponsorship. I knew neither shoes nor booze would ever create a conflict-of-interest. My writing is about “boats, builders and waterways,” not cocktails. Also, with journalistic independence as a core principle, Loose Cannon was never going to become a venue for advertising, which is why Bellagave is a sole sponsorship.
As I modestly said to a partner in the company, a Renaissance man named Hale Hedley, “You are Pope. I am Michelangelo.”
Bellagave is relatively new to the market and comes in two varieties—one infused with the flavor of coconut; the other, mango-jalapeño. Hedley described the latter as “sweet, hot and alive with motion,” and compared sipping it to a northbound passage in the Gulf Stream: “Unexpected speed, a rush of heat and a finish that lingers long after you’ve dropped the hook.”
That description rings true, expecially the lingering-finish part. I find that tequilas have the most complex flavor of any liquor. Maybe, it’s because of tequila’s complicated manufacturing process, or maybe not. Not an expert, I just drink it.
Expect to read regular suggestions on how to fashion tropical cocktails a la Bellagave, and reminding you of its sponsorship of the news—always at the end of said news, never an interruption.
Meanwhile, please travel to the Bellagave sales website and order one bottle of each and see what you think. For free shipping, use the promo code LCFREESHIP (which saves you $19.95).
LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Every so often 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 Message From Our Director: Lessons From Our Outer Banks National Parks
Every time I visit one of our Outer Banks national parks, I’m reminded just how much history, beauty, and resilience are woven into these landscapes. From the beaches of Cape Hatteras, to the monument at Wright Brothers, to the grounds of Fort Raleigh, these places tell the story of America in a way no textbook ever could.
At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, we are reminded of both the fragility and endurance of nature. No doubt, Hurricane Erin dealt a blow to the Outer Banks, specifically to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. Despite the impacts of Hurricane Erin, wildlife on the Seashore push on as they have for millennia. And the approach of fall has ushered in a lesser-known phenomenon as a diversity of bird species pause here on their fall migration along the Atlantic Flyway. Within the world of birding, the Outer Banks is a true birding destination!
At Wright Brothers National Memorial, we are inspired by human imagination and determination. Standing at the base of the Wright Brothers Monument, you can almost feel the December wind that lifted the brothers’ “flyer” into the air for the first time. I recently visited the flight line at the park, which memorializes the path of the first heavier-than-air, powered flights. If you have not visited the historic flight line, I encourage you to do so. To me, the flight line memorializes one of the most impactful moments in human history. The Wright brothers’ story is a reminder that even the biggest dreams can take flight with persistence and courage.
And at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, we encounter the mysteries and struggles of our nation’s beginnings. The “Lost Colony” remains one of America’s intriguing stories, but Fort Raleigh is also a place of hope, where the Freedmen’s Colony became a beacon of resilienceand a community for those seeking freedom during and after the Civil War.
Together, these three parks represent the heart of the Outer Banks and are an essential part of America’s heritage. With your support, we work to ensure that these stories of nature, innovation, and perseverance are protected for generations to come.
As we look ahead, we are excited about the work your generosity makes possible: protecting sea turtle habitat along Cape Hatteras, engaging students and families in the story of first flight at Wright Brothers, and preserving the rich cultural legacies of Fort Raleigh.
Thank you for your support of our Outer Banks national parks. Every time you visit, share your story of why these places are special to you, or give to Outer Banks Forever, you are helping our parks thrive!
Did you know that when you shop in our park stores, you’re supporting Outer Banks Forever?
Our Meet Our Store Staff series introduces you to the incredible people who support our Outer Banks national parks through retail operations!
This month, we’re pleased to introduce you to Kelly Hartman, Assistant Store Manager at Wright Brothers National Memorial!
Kelly’s days are busy as she receives product into the store, organizes and manages inventory in the warehouse, and interacts with customers from all over the world.
In her free time, Kelly enjoys traveling to other National Park Service sites, walking, hiking, swimming, and meeting new people!
This content is brought to you by our National Park Service partners.
Born into slavery, Rev. London R. Ferebee (as depicted by the silhouette at right) came to the Roanoke Island Freedmen’s Colony as a self-emancipated, fourteen-year-old young man and sought an education.
His natural intelligence and strong spirit led him to become an educator, reverend, politician, and leader for his community in post-Civil War eastern North Carolina.
Rev. Ferebee’s story is featured as part of the Freedom Trail at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island. On your next visit to Fort Raleigh, we encourage you to stop and reflect at the First Light of Freedom Memorial, attend a ranger program about the Freedmen’s Colony, and explore the newly enhanced Freedom Trail to learn more about the freedom seekers who risked everything to find a safe haven and rebuild their lives on Roanoke Island during and after the Civil War, and how their stories and legacies continue to shape our community – and our nation – today.
While the summer season is winding down, our parks’ ranger programs are still going strong!
Climb the Bodie Island Lighthouse, learn more about the brothers who were determined to fly, and reflect on the resilience of the men, women, and children who bravely sought freedom on Roanoke Island –and much more.
Check out our parks’ calendars below to see all the ranger programs offered now through Oct. 13!
NCBBA’s next beach cleanup will take place at Ramp 23 (Salvo) on Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The cleanup will last from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, contact Tom Brueckner, Adopt A Beach and Adopt A Highway Director for NCBBA, at Tom.Brueckner@ncbba.org or click here.
Pints for Parks – Public Lands Day
We invite you to join us and our friends at Swells’a Brewing for a Pints for Parks event to celebrate National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 27! The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Feel free to invite your friends, coworkers, family members, and neighbors to join you! We hope to see you there!
PS: Entry to Wright Brothers National Memorial is FREE on National Public Lands Day!
Parks Forever Fund
Our Outer Banks national parks continue to face challenges like adapting to a changing coastline, preserving the many historic structures they manage, and budget and staffing cuts at a time when they continue to see high levels of visitors.
When you make a gift to our Parks Forever Fund, you support important initiatives like:
Education and preservation through the creation of internships that engage the next generation in protecting our parks and the stories they tell, increasing our parks’ capacity to provide amazing experiences for you and your loved ones.
Restoration and conservation of our unique barrier islands through much-needed invasive plant species removal.
Enhancing the visitor experience by funding projects that address the needs of visitors of all ages and abilities, so everyone can learn about and enjoy the rich history and beauty of these places.
Helping us sustain our operations so we can support our parks for years to come!
We’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to these generous donors who have supported our Parks Forever Fund!
Zara Anderson Sally & Charles Ayers Susan & Jim Bacon Alexandra Bauer Betty Beamon Barbara Benwell Dr. Deborah Best Malcolm & Patty Brown Tony Bruno Thomas & Debra Cafferty Sarah Campbell Martha Caswell Jim & Sue Clark Brenda Cummins Harold Daub Carolyn Driggs Jeff Eggleston Robert Elkins Nicole & Levi Erickson Stacy Ferreira Richard Ghione Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy Christie & Mike Graf Nick Graham John & Lynn Hasteadt Mary Hickling Carol & Nev Jackson David Johnson Dennis Jones Stephen Jones & Rebecca Burcher Jones Lisa Joyner Friends of Kitty Hawk Rotary Holly Kimbrell Ronald Knur
Marianne Krzywicki Cat & Charlie Lineberry Stephanie Madalena Paul & Robin Mann Jim & Betty Mast Eddie Masterka Donna McCaslin Greg & Sally McDaniel Jack & Paul Mertens Shelley & David Olsen Dr. Paul & Mrs. Amy Orser Helen Pierce Rodney Poole Michael Porter Sandra & Ed Potocki Aimee Purcell Michael Reddy-Miller William Pendleton Sandridge, Jr. Jean Scott Cathy & Thomas Shirley Leslie Skowronek Hope Smith Nikki Stevens Rebecca Stiles Marie Sullivan Sun Realty David Tannahill Joseph Temming Monica Thibodeau Peggy & Bruce Wackelin Anne & John Walker Shannon Winakur Kathy Wisiackas Elaine Wood
Intracoastal Yacht Sales, a long-time Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net Sponsor, has a beautiful 2006 Fleming Yachts 65 available for sale. I can personally attest to the Fleming brand, having owned the 55 version for over nine years. Flemings are beautiful classic yachts, well-made and designed for long-range ocean cruising. Fleming Yachts’ tagline is “The Ultimate Cruising Yacht“, and they live up to it from my experience. I can also attest to Intracoastal Yacht sales. They were my broker for my latest boat purchase, and they were great to work with.
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