The Staniel Cay airstrip has been closed since April, so this is good news for visitors to Staniel Cay. Staniel Cay Yacht Club continues to get very high marks from cruisers, as in /?p=126893, because, after all, they are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!!

Subject: Thank You: Airstrip Open!
Dear Staniel Cay Airport Supporters,
THANK YOU! Together, we did it! Our collective voice (and your many signatures!) encouraged action, and we are thrilled to report the re-opening of the Staniel Cay airport as of yesterday! The official notice can be seen at http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-news-updates/Staniel_Cay_Airport_Re-Opened_to_Air_Traffic45182.shtml

Once again, thank you so very much for your support and collective efforts. We look forward to welcoming you back to Staniel ‘“ as you land on our new and improved home airstrip!
Brooks Miller & Stephen Miller
on behalf of
Concerned Citizens of Staniel Cay & Vicinity
P.S. Our apologies for any duplication in emails as news of this exciting accomplishment spreads.

Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits. Monty and Sara Lewis are well known in this area for their personal research and reporting, as well as their concern for the Bahama local communities. If you can contribute, please do!

Posted: 05 Nov 2015 06:42 PM PST
We are all aware of the devastation caused to the southern Bahamas by Hurricane Joaquin. Long Island, Rum Cay, Crooked & Acklins were by far the most damaged with the storm sitting over southern Long Island for 36 hours straight with winds topping 135 mph.

Prior to the tragedy, I had started a drive to bring much needed school supplies to Long Island with the guidance & assistance of Ms. Dawn Simmons of the Ministry of Tourism (Salt Pond) along with local educators. Below is a list as sent to me prior to the storm.

School Supplies for Long Island & Other Disaster Relief

Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits. Monty and Sara Lewis are well known in this area for their personal research and reporting. Their launch of “Bahamas Chatter” and real time cruising information via their web site, www.explorercharts.com is extremely valuable.

New Schedule for Weather Broadcasts
Posted: 02 Nov 2015 05:26 AM PST
Wx Update, SCHEDULE, //WL2K R/ Sat31, 11a

New schedule for SSB Voice Nets & simultaneous Internet Webcasts
Tonight the US undergoes its semiannual time change ritual, so beginning Monday, November 2, there will be a few minor changes to timing of SSB Voice Nets:
Please visit the following link to download pdf files with the schedule and map:
http://mwxc.com/news/?p=199

In plain text, here’s the scoop:
E Caribbean & offshore vessels S of 30N moving toward E Caribbean: 7:00am AST (6am EST / 1100 utc) on 4.045 USB & 8.137 USB.
Bahamas, Florida, and other areas within 200mi of Florida: 6:30am EST (1130 utc) on 4.045 USB & 8.137 USB.
US E Coast & offshore vessels N of 30N (Georgia & SouthCarolina may do better on Bahamas/Florida Net): 7:30am EST (1230 utc / 8:30am AST) on 8.137 USB & 12.350 USB.
Caribbean W of 72W into E Pacific: 1330 utc (9:30am AST / 8:30am EST) on 8.137 USB & 12.350 USB.
After traffic is finished on the W Caribbean Net, I’ll make a final sweep to the ESE / E / NE from Florida to pick-up any traffic missed earlier in the morning.

NEW NET IN THE EVENINGs:
Any Subscribing Vessel to our SSB Voice Nets is welcome to participate in our new evening Net at 2200 utc (5pm EST / 6pm AST). However, the protocol will be different for this Net, since it’s not targeted at any specific group of Islands as are our morning Nets.
Sometime between 2145 utc ‘“ 2200 utc, on either 8.137 USB or 12.350 USB, please say your vessel name & approximate location (name an Island you’re close to, or Lat/Lon rounded to the nearest degree). When I hear you, I will acknowledge you, and let you know I have you on the list for traffic. If I do not acknowledge you, then I don’t hear you, so try the other channel or ask for someone to relay your vessel name & location.
At about 2200 utc I’ll start working vessels on my list, grouped logically, and with my antennas pointed in your direction.
One bit of confusion for the first 2 weeks of November is I’ll have to handle Salty Dawg vessels on 8.152 USB & 12.350 USB for maybe 30 minutes beginning at 2200 utc’¦but as soon as I’m done with them, I’ll begin working my list of Subscribing Vessels on the traffic list on 8.137 USB & 12.350 USB.
FOR NOW, all the above schedule remains 6 days/week (Daily except Sundays).
Thank you for your continuing support!’¦Chris Parker.

Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits. Monty and Sara Lewis are well known in this area for their personal research and reporting. Their launch of “Bahamas Chatter” and real time cruising information via their web site, www.explorercharts.com is extremely valuable.

Bahamas Chatter: “New Fuel and Dockage Survey October 29, 2015” plus 9 more
New Fuel and Dockage Survey October 29, 2015
More Theft In Georgetown
George Town Cruisers’ Regatta
Hurricane Relief
Long Island hurricane damage
Vet question
Video from Long Island, Bahamas
Protect Your Explorer Chartbooks
July 19, 2015 from the International Space Station ‘“ Exumas
Staniel Cay Airport Update

August 17, 2015

As a courtesy to Staniel Cay Yacht Club, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, we forward this letter of explanation regarding current available air service to the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

From: Staniel Cay Yacht Club
Date: 08/16/2015 8:35 AM (GMT-05:00)

Subject: Staniel Airstrip Follow-up – What the airstrip closure means to our guests and passengers

To all of our concerned SCYC guests and Watermakers Air passengers who received our recent email or saw the online petition to repair and reopen the Staniel Cay Airstrip…

We’re very sorry for causing some undue confusion and concern about this matter.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO CANCEL YOUR TRIPS!

The Staniel Cay airstrip has been closed since April but planes have been flying into the neighboring island of Blackpoint since the day it closed and guests are being ferried by boat to Staniel Cay (a 10-15 minute trip). We’ve been doing this for 4 months now so the process is very efficient.

Complimentary boat shuttle arriving Saturday morning…

…at the SCYC dock.

As you can see, this is a fairly painless process for our guests.

The letter that we forwarded to you in the petition was written by the community of Staniel Cay, who are, as you’d imagine, experiencing a great deal of inconvenience and who are rightly worried about folks who live here that require regular medical attention, etc. And of course, businesses (including ours) are incurring significant expense to deal with this issue… hence the letter.

However, we have taken great pains to make sure that our guests do not notice this change (for example, extending breakfast hours for our morning arrivals). In short, except for the boat ride, your trip will not be affected in any way. We are operating just like we always have and nothing about your trip or stay on Staniel should be impacted in any sort of negative way due to the airport closure.

The full-time residents of Staniel Cay are asking your support to have the Staniel Cay Airport repaired and re-opened. If you cruise to the Exumas, it is obviously in your interest to have the airport in useable condition. Follow the links below and register your support ASAP.

“Bahamas Chatter” is a newly launched feature of Lewis Offshore, LLC and Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! See /?p=148421.

Bahamas Chatter: Staniel Cay (Exumas) Airport
Posted: 13 Aug 2015 02:07 PM PDT
Dear Staniel Cay Supporter:

You can take action to help! On August 12, we delivered a petition letter to the Prime Minister of the Bahamas and other key officials, urging the Government to repair and reopen the Staniel Cay airport immediately. The hard copy petition is signed by 164 people ‘“ nearly all Staniel Cay residents (locals and foreign homeowners alike), business owners and every private island between here and the Exuma Park headquarters.

Of course, many more people and entities are affected by the airport closure as well. We now seek widespread signatures from the many other supporters of Staniel Cay: extended families of Staniel Cay locals; families and guests of homeowners; families and clients of business owners; private cay owners/operators/families/staff/guests; boaters and cruisers; SCYC and rental home guests; private pilots; charter companies; pilot organizations; fly-in tour groups; suppliers; tourism agencies; and any other person or entity who experiences the negative impact of the Staniel Cay airport closure and urges its immediate repair/reopening. We have established an online petition to reach as many affected persons as possible.

Please go to http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/staniel-airport to read the August 12th letter from Concerned Citizens of Staniel Cay & Vicinity and SIGN YOUR NAME IN SUPPORT. Please sign as soon as possible so we can cite a strong number of online signatures. (If you are seeing this belatedly, we still welcome your signature as we will continue to cite growing numbers in ongoing efforts with officials.) Please continue to visit the site for updates and any further calls to action.

PLEASE FORWARD this information to your own contacts and networks of Staniel Cay-related persons/businesses to encourage their online signatures as well. We sincerely apologize for duplicate emails you may receive as word of this important initiative spreads.

Huge thanks to all signers! To all of you who love Staniel Cay, thank you for your continued support of this special Cay, and let’s get our airport up and running again!

Thank you!

Dawn Spivey & Brooks Miller

Our thanks to Skipper Norman Quinn for sending this video and this warning: DO NOT FEED THE PIGS!

Our friends Vern and Rose on M/V Roamalot reported a serious accident at Pig Beach on Big Major Cay in the Exumas. While feeding the pigs, one of the largest pigs attacked and bit Rose pulling her right out of their dingy and nearly severing her thumb from her hand. She flew back to a Fort Lauderdale hospital where she underwent emergency hand surgery to repair three breaks and severed tendons in her thumb. Just a word of warning to cruisers in the Staniel Cay area…do not feed the pigs, especially in shallow water where they can jump into the boat and attack.

Staniel Cay where the pigs swim and here’s a candid shot of a fellow who went ashore without food for the pigs and the chase is on.

Here is a website for those of you who have opted to remain in the Bahamas for the summer:

http://www.bahamas.com/islands/abacos

Welcome to The Abacos. Calm waters, warm breezes and panoramic beauty make this 120-mile’“long chain of islands a boating and sailing paradise. But it’s not just the sea that attracts travelers from around the world. Those who prefer to explore by land will find championship golf courses on Treasure Cay, charming colonial towns on Green Turtle and Elbow Cays, and countless hotels, restaurants and bars throughout The Abacos.

The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is pleased to let the cruising community know that we are partnering with Lewis Offshore, LLC’s Explorer Chartbooks to share timely and useful information concerning cruising in the Bahamas. “Explorer Chartbooks” have long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits. Monty and Sara Lewis are well known in this area for their personal research and reporting. Their launch of “Bahamas Chatter” and real time cruising information via their web site, www.explorercharts.com has been well received. Extending this valuable information to “The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net” will expand their offering coverage in the best interest of the cruising community to make for safe and enjoyable cruising – supporting the notion of “know before you go”.
We look forward to hearing from you, our readers, as to how we can make this partnership more valuable for you.
We are pleased and look forward to working with Monty, Sara and the Lewis Offshore, LLC.

CLICK HERE For ExplorerCharts May 15 Dockage and Fuel Survey.

This request for bridge clearance by Skipper Charles was prompted by a discussion of the Grand Lucayan Waterway back in 2010, /?p=31487. If you have recent experience dealing with bridge height in the Waterway, let us hear from you! The Grand Lucayan Waterway is a north/south passage that allows boaters to travel from Dover Sound, which is on the north side of Grand Bahama, to the Northwest Providence Channel on the southern side of the island. The Casuarina Bridge crosses the waterway with a charted 27-foot fixed vertical clearance.

What is the real clearance of the bridge on the Lucaya waterway?
Charles

Now that many of you are in southern waters and maybe headed for the Bahamas, don’t miss this opportunity to link with the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club. Check them out (see /?p=144940) and learn of the many exciting benefits a membership can bring and all the enjoyment it can add to your time in and around Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas. Drop a note to the club’s commodore, John F. Conley, at: commodore@rmhyc.com, or their membership Commodore, Valerie Nucci, at: benefits@rmhyc.com
Keep us posted on all your fun times.

January 12 at 4:32pm
RMHYC members receive a discount on our anchorage books.
Chuck Baier and Susan Landry

Our thanks to friends Chuck and Susan for sending this article by Natario McKensie in Tribune242. From the Bahamas Trust Chairman’s remarks, you can see that he doesn’t think much of transients from the US.

Could we soon be paying to anchor in the Bahamas? It’s not as far fetched as you might think.
Chuck Baier and Susan Landry

Trust Chief: Anchorage Fees Must Be Nationwide

By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter

The Bahamas National Trust’s (BNT) chairman has called for anchorage fees to be imposed in mooring spots throughout the Bahamas.

Addressing the ninth annual Exuma Business Outlook conference, Eric Carey noted that while the BNT had implemented anchorage fees at the Exuma Land & Sea Park to cover its annual operating expenses and upgrade infrastructure, the initiative was one he believed should be implemented in other areas.

`We need to think about doing these sorts of initiatives in other areas like Elizabeth Harbour off of Black Point, Staniel Cay and Nassau Harbour,’ he said.

`They come down there they anchor and they pay absolutely nothing and they come fully stocked. Half of the time they don’t even spend $5 in the Bahamas and what do they eat? Our fish,’ said Mr Carey.

For the rest of the article, go to:

http://www.tribune242.com/news/2014/oct/24/trust-chief-anchorage-fees-must-be-nationwide/

Please give a big welcome to Royal Marsh Harbor Yacht Club, the newest SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! RMHYC has already attracted a number of SSECN readers to its membership who report a wealth of activities through club membership. A wonderful way to get truly involved in the spirit of the Abacos! Be sure to tell them SSECN sent you!

RMHYC is a yacht club based in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, an island group in the northern Bahamas. Boaters, both power and sail, as well as land-based members, enjoy the gin-clear waters surrounding the Sea of Abaco and participate in many social activities.
Year after year, members from all over the United States and Canada spend the winter at several local marinas and the pristine anchorages of the Sea of Abaco. Once you arrive in Abaco you won’t want to leave!
Membership provides the opportunity to participate in incredibly varied activities and far reaching discounts. You may choose to participate in any activity or none at all, but nearly everyone enjoys our membership discounts!

The standard one-year membership includes annual dues of $30 and a one-time initiation fee of $120, which includes a Club Burgee, that will be mailed to your primary address. If a person pays between October 1st and December 30th, their dues will be considered paid for both the current and following year. For more information, go to http://www.rmhyc.com/

And on your voyage south, be sure to take along “The Great Book of Anchorages, Bahamas” by Susan Landry and Chuck Baier. See /?p=122059