South Facing AICW Camera at Bings Landing - Courtesy of Flagler County

Our good friends, and frequent SSECN contributors, Captains Susan Landry and Chuck Baier (authors of “The Great Book of Anchorages” series, including the soon to be released Bahamas edition, http://www.tgboa.com), recently forwarded the link below. As you will see, this link leads to an article which appeared in the 8/27/13 edition of the “Daytona Beach News-Journal.” It relates that a series of eight web connected video cameras will soon be delivering LIVE video of the AICW, available to anyone with a web connection, as the Waterway passes through Flagler County. The 19 mile Flagler County section of the AICW lies south of St. Augustine, and north of Daytona Beach, including SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Marineland Marina.
We were so intrigued by this story that, after a bit of research, we found our way to Flagler County Manager, Carl Laundrie, who is in charge of this project. In an interview on 8/30/13, Mr. Laundrie told the SSECN that the system would likely be available to the on-line public “by the end of September.” This is somewhat at variance with the news story linked below, but, as this data comes directly from the proverbial “horse’s mouth,” we think the “end of September” dating is accurate.
Mr. Laundrie also told us that, when fully implemented, cruisers will be able to access a single URL address, and see thumbnails of all eight cameras. Clicking on any one image will bring up a full size view.
We have been promised that the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net will be one of the first to know when the public viewing URL is up and running. That address will appear here on the SSECN just as soon as it is available!
While some have made “Big Brother is Watching” noises about this story, we think this is a positive development for the cruising community. Remember, there has never been any such creature as having “too much” information when you are on the water, or planning a cruise on the water. The presence of the eight Flagler County webcams will be a good source of info for this stretch of the Eastern Florida AICW.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20130827/NEWS/130829523?p=1&tc=pg

Claiborne, When I first read the article I had mixed feelings. On one hand, we seem to be losing more and more privacy while out in public. On the other hand, if this could somehow improve safety on the water, as it hints, then I would be all for it. I suppose we will see if it makes any difference over time. But it’s still an interesting concept. I could go on line and see what the conditions are on the waterway before I haul up the anchor. There may be several benefits. Now if they could only rig one up in the middle of the Pamlico and Albemarle.
Chuck

Well, not everyone thinks the Waterway webcams are a good idea:

More surveillance Is there no end to living under the eyes of someone else’s cameras? I moved off land to get away from this kind of Nosey busybody BS. What we do on our our boats is Nonya business.
Rudolph