Worth a Thousand Words!
This sign’s advice is the same advice Cruisers’ Net has so often given for a number of inlets and ICW/Inlet intersections.
Herald-Tribune Archive Photo – Big Pass, Sarasota, FL
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Warning of Severe Shoaling in Big Pass and New Pass, Sarasota, near GIWW Statute Mile 72
Our thanks to Jennifer Wilson for this linked report on Big Sarasota Pass which has been embroiled recently in a legal battle over dredging. Big Sarasota Pass, which has frequent channel shifts and shoals, connects the Gulf with the Gulf Waterway and the southern tip of Sarasota Bay. New Pass leads directly to the Sarasota waterfront and the entrance portion between the Entrance Light and Light 7 is constantly shifting and shoaling. Cruisers’ Net has long recommended that this pass not be used.
Boaters warned of Big Pass, New Pass hazards from The Herald Tribune
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Big Sarasota Pass
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of New PassBe the first to comment!
Bahamas Chatter: Anchoring Fees
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.
Bahamas Chatter: Anchoring Fees
Anchoring FeesPosted: 23 Mar 2018 08:38 AM PDT
We have received confirmation from Exuma Park that the anchoring fees are indeed being collected as of March 1, 2018.
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Bahamas Chatter: “Waterproof charts” plus 1 more
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.
Bahamas Chatter: ““Waterproof” charts” plus 1 more
“Waterproof” chartsPosted: 21 Mar 2018 06:53 AM PDT
My Explorer charts get wet fairly often.
Pages are ‘waterproof’ but the ink is definitely not.
As a result, my northern Abaco charts are nearly useless, having overlays on one page and blank on the other, as the ink lifts from one to the other facing pages.
Has anyone addressed this issue successfully in the past? Do Monty and Sarah sell replacement pages? It seems a real waste to have to buy another book for the sake of a few pages…
ANCHORING FEE OPPOSITION; original letter by CHARISMA
Posted: 20 Mar 2018 05:32 PM PDT
Hello fellow crusiers:
An unidentified boater from the Cruisers Net, well intentioned I’m sure, posted my letter below without my knowledge and moreover took the liberty of fictionalizing an opening paragraph. I believe many of you know that on 28 Feb, I was at my station as Net Controller in George Town…not in the land and sea park. Below is the original email letter to a friend, which I am totally happy to make public. Please feel free to copy and distribute, especially to BNT, BUT IN ITS COMPLETE AND ORIGINAL FORM. Thanks, Bill, sv CHARISM
Good morning, Joe:
Insofar as you may have a rapport with this man, perhaps you’d care to admonish him that there currently is NO mention of anchoring “fees” for vessels under ninety feet on the current park web site, Exumapark.org. I copied just now what is presented on that site and pasted it in at the conclusion of the Email.
I put fees in quotes, insofar as this charge to anchor a boat within these boundaries is tantamount to extortion. In my opinion if I anchor for the night and do not go ashore, then my activity places no strain upon the Park’s services or environs. Were I even so to float in the water to view fish and coral, what rationale is there to prevent me from doing this when I have paid my entry money allowing me, as per the Commonwealth, to physically be in any Bahamian location I so choose? Any effort to extract additional money for a particular area indistinguishable from surrounding environs is extortion, plain and simple, by definition, not opinion, and I shall not support it. Moreover, I intend to publish and circulate the above as broadly as media and conversation permits within the cruising community. The response to you from Joe in Nassau reveals his selective assessment that cruiser response is favorable; he is merely promoting the sound of his choir to advance an agenda. To the contrary the vast number of folks I canvas objectively, feel as me. That without published presentation of need, financial transparency, proper notification, and responsible methods of collection, anchoring “fees” in open Bahamian waters is a sham, and the use of the Park’s good name is being exploited. Therefore, neither I nor others with whom I have spoken will continue to anchor within Park boundaries, thereby averting conflict and discrimination we feel as a result of these sad circumstances. Furthermore, some of us who have freely contributed to the Park financially shall cease doing so. This new anchoring policy is ironically exploiting the very gift of nature it seeks to protect. Myself and others like me, and there are many, shall not be a part of it.
Please feel to forward this letter to anyone you do choose, including the Bahamas National Trust, and Exuma Land and Sea Park. I shall be doing so now to about one hundred fellow cruisers on my list.
Very truly yours,
Bill, s/v CHARISMA, Black Point, Exuma, 15 March, 2018
Captain W. Tice, USCG MASTER 100 TonBe the first to comment!
Florida Keys Budget for Pumpouts Slashed
Pumpout USA provides sewage pumpouts under a program to protect Florida Keys water quality. A shortfall in state funding this year could affect the program. Pumpout USA Pumpout USA
State slashes Keys money for boat sewage pumpouts
A state allocation of $500,000, matching last year’s state funding, to continue the free program for anchored liveaboards was cut to $277,650 in the newly approved Florida budget.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT from FlKeysNews.com
And notice how this budget cut was presented as “Good News”
The free mobile pump-out for vessels was funded at $227,000.
Legislative wrap: Good news for the Keys from Florida Keys WeeklyBe the first to comment!
Bahamas Chatter: Cheap fuel
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.
Bahamas Chatter: Cheap fuel
Cheap fuelPosted: 16 Mar 2018 04:54 AM PDT
I took on diesel today 3-15-18 at the St Georges Power Plant Russell Island outside of Spanish Wells. 200 gallons tax included was $3.65/gal. Mac, the fuel dock manager lost his cell. He got a new cell and the number is 242-557-7520. They pump fuel for the fishing fleet.
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Bahamas Chatter: “Exit clearance from states to enter Bahamas…??” plus 1 more
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.
Bahamas Chatter: “Exit clearance from states to enter Bahamas…??” plus 1 more
Exit clearance from states to enter Bahamas…??Posted: 13 Mar 2018 04:56 AM PDT
True or False…I just recently heard that Bahamian Customs is requiring U.S. Customs clearance from the states to enter the Bahamas. Is this just for Canadians or is it something new for US registered boats as well?
Posted: 12 Mar 2018 06:41 PM PDT
Just visited the Current, Eleuthera and they now have a small store with limited goods, cans, frozen meat, onions etc. but the owner does bring in good fresh fish to sell. Nice friendly folks in town. Stop by. There is a public road off the north beach. Nice anchorage in E to SE wind.
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2017 Progress Report from Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association
Cruisers’ Net is proud to be a supporting member of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association whose efforts toward improving navigation conditions in the Waterway are invaluable. See Brad Pickle and AIWA Recognized by BoatUS.
If you are not aware of the achievements of AIWA, please read this report and consider joining AIWA to support their efforts on behalf of all Waterway boaters. See membership application below.
Greetings from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA).
This year is going to be a very busy year for the AIWA in every state along the waterway and we are relying very heavily on the support of our members. Below is a list of some of our major accomplishments for 2017 and recent efforts in 2018.
• Worked with Congress and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to increase funding for the dredging of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW). As reported to our membership in June, our lobbying efforts led to over $15.6 million for AIWW funding for maintenance dredging in Fiscal Year 2017, which is an increase of almost 80% above the President’s budget for FY17. This is the highest amount the AIWW has received since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Bill). We also worked with all Corps Districts along the waterway to secure additional funding to address impacts caused by Hurricane Matthew in 2016. The additional funding for the AIWW is more than $30 million for waterway dredging in every state and brings the total to over $47 million in 2017.
• Looking forward to 2018 and 2019, we continue to receive increases in the amount of money included in the President’s Budget for the AIWW. In 2018, the President’s Budget included $14.455 million, and the recently released budget for FY19 has $19.139 million for the AIWW. These are much higher amounts than in the President’s Budget in FY17. Earlier this month, our Board of Directors met with sixteen Congressional Offices in Washington, D.C. to request funding for additional dredging needs for FY18 and FY19 and they are supportive
of our efforts. We also met with staff at Headquarters of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during the visit to highlight the importance of the AIWW.
• We presented our annual meeting to bring decision-makers and stakeholders together to discuss issues impacting the AIWW. This year’s annual meeting was on November 15-16, 2017 at the Blockade Runner Resort in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Some of the topics included: State of the Waterway and ongoing maintenance efforts after Hurricane Matthew and Irma, beneficial use of dredge materials including a pilot project in Georgia,
establishment of no-wake zones in the AIWW, waterway access, and real estate challenges and opportunities. We were also joined by Captain Bion Stewart, Wilmington Sector Commander for the U.S. Coast Guard, Kyle Ward of NOAA, and Amanda Rutherford of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration in addition to many other stakeholder groups. The event was a major success and we look forward to being in Charleston, SC in 2018.
• We are working with non-federal partners to establish non-federal funding for the dredging of the AIWW. Florida and North Carolina have established non-federal funding programs and we are raising awareness of the benefits of providing non-federal funding in South Carolina and Georgia. This will be critical in the long-term maintenance of Marine Highway 95.
• Participated in regional and national coalitions to increase awareness of AIWW issues. We are an active board member and on the Executive Committee of the National Waterways Conference, Inc., and partner with numerous other national organizations. In 2017, we presented at the Local Government Meeting and Annual Meeting of N.C. Beach Inlet and Waterway Association; the Institute for Trade and Transportation Studies; the Smart Rivers Conference; and were invited to be on a panel briefing in Washington, D.C for the Congressional Boating Caucus which consists of Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
• Continued outreach with other federal agencies such as the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard to support many efforts including the Marine Highways program and chart mapping efforts, especially in areas where maintenance dredging is needed.
• We published a newsletter of our efforts and distributed to the membership. Our most recent issue can be accessed from the News section on our website at https://atlanticintracoastal.org/news/. As you can see, we had a busy 2017 and are hitting the ground running in 2018. We want to thank you once again for the opportunity to partner with you as we advocate for waterway maintenance. We do not take our responsibilities lightly, and we hope that we can continue to work together to be the Voice of the Waterway into 2018 and beyond.
Respectfully,
Brad Pickel
Executive Director
5A Market Street Beaufort, SC 29906 (843) 379-1151
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Avoiding Shallotte and Lockwoods Folly Problem Stretches, NC AICW
Skipper Jim Lea offers an offshore route to avoid two Waterway Problem Stretches in NC. And Jim mentions Bald Head Island Marina, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
The best way to get through this area is to avoid it altogether by exiting the ICW via the Little River Inlet and enjoying a short relaxing sail across Long Bay to re-enter via the Cape Fear River. In eight trips up and down the ICW we have always done this outside hop. In addition, there is a beautiful anchorage off Bird Island at the mouth of the Little River Inlet, avoiding the usually crowded anchorage in Calabash Creek.
At the mouth of the Cape Fear River, the marina at Bald Head Island is an excellent stop.
Jim Lea
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem StretchClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem StretchClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bald Head Island Marina
2 Facebook Likes, 2 Facebook Reactions
Comments from Cruisers (4)
- Reply to "Fire
What is the distance on the outside run. Cape Fear to Little River.
- Reply to "Fire
What is the distance on that outside run. Cape Fear to Little River.
- Reply to Pamela
These areas were recently dredged. We saw good depths when we passed through in December 2017. Just in case someone prefers not to duck out.
- Reply to Cruisers'
Thanks Pamela.
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Bahamas Chatter: Crossing from St Lucie.
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.
Bahamas Chatter: Crossing from St Lucie.
Crossing from St Lucie.Posted: 10 Mar 2018 11:57 AM PST
Hey all!
Departing Vero Sunday mid day and looking to make the crossing to West End. Anyone else making the jump from St Lucie?
Any qualms with this weather window?
Smooth Sailing!
-SV Ruca
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