The anchoring rights issues raised in Florida Senate Bill 1548 have thankfully been laid to rest, for now at least, as reported below by Kim Russo, Director of America’s Great Loop Cruising Association. See /?p=147397 for background information on SB 1548.
A belated Bravo to all individuals and organizations that facilitated the non-passage of any bill with anchoring restrictions. Keep your collective fingers crossed for a future non-passage!

The Florida Legislature adjourned today without making anchoring restrictions law in Florida! So anchorages in Florida, for now, remain open to overnight cruisers. Following is a release from Phil Johnson, the Chair of Seven Seas Cruising Association’s Concerned Cruisers’ Committee:

Release: 28 April 2015, Tallahassee Florida
The 2015 Florida Regular Legislative Session has come to a close. It occurred 3 days earlier than scheduled by way of the House adjourning. We are elated to report that the freedom to anchor in Coastal Florida waters remains intact. Not one bill was adopted that includes any bans on anchoring.

We applaud the way that the cruising and boating family came together this session, became organized, developed a clear strategy and then implemented it in a methodical, controlled way. We are proud of our association with
the Lobbing firm Capitol Access and Lobbyist Jerry Paul, Robert Shave, and Jamie Miller. We are also appreciative of our team mates at Boat US and especially Bonnie Basham.

Special thanks to the crew that worked so hard on this by attending the hearings and working the rigging from off-shore via their keyboards. At the risk of leaving someone out, We especially applaud the efforts of Judy Mkam, Kim Russo, Jim Neff, Mike Bodin, Phil Werndli, Jackie Werndli, G.W. `Casey’ Jones, Bob Burns, Sue Ross, Kingsley Ross, Sally Marcinek, Becky DeVillier, Eric Eiscle, Brian Davidson, Brian Schaefer, Glenn and Eddie Tuttle, Scott Berg, Ken Chumley, Jay Campbell, Dave Skolnick, Wally Moran, Mike Ahart, Mark Doyle. These, and so many others in the extended online community, are true Salt Water Heroes.

Remember, of course, that this annual process begins again tomorrow. There is an ongoing need to work through some of the problems raised by proponents of anchoring legislation. We will need to formulate a position on this and come to a reasonably amicable resolution so that this issue does not continue to a recurring threat. We are confident that we can do this in a way that does not eliminate the freedom to anchor throughout Florida’s coast. There will be a host of workshops held this summer and we will want our boating community to actively participate through their
visible attendance. Also, we will need to continue building our political strength and this will require that we provide some support for our growing list of legislative champions. If you have not donated to the Fund Me drive, now is the time to help us pay the bills for this effort.
http://www.Gofundme.com/Right2Anchor

It is safe to celebrate. To all those captains and sailors at anchor in Florida today (or contemplating it), raise a glass to toast Maritime Freedom!
Kim Russo
Director
America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association

Larry, In my opinion, the declaration that we have won regarding the Florida anchoring restriction Bill is a bit premature. The Bill was not passed because the Florida Legislature decided to close down early and go home. This Bill and many others are just sitting and waiting for the Legislature to reconvene. Once they return, the Bill could very well come up for immediate vote or the compromise House Bill could be adopted. So we shouldn’t crack the champagne corks just yet. The Bill was not defeated, it has simply not been voted on…YET?
Chuck Baier and Susan Landry
The Great Book Of Anchorages
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