Picnic Island Anchorage is found off the eastern and northeastern shores of Picnic Island, which itself lies just south, southeast of the ICW/Miserable Mile’s unlighted daybeacon #8.
Good for a lunch hook but it is hard to hold here as the current will rip through here. Better holding and less wave action (boats navigating the miserable mile wake) is to the north. I have used the Merwin key anchorage many times and for week long anchoring . 26°30.184’N,82°2.867’W safe journey fair winds 2 U. RJ Schwandner
Punta Rassa Cove Anchorage will be found on the deep water east of the gap between flashing daybeacons #13 and #14, bordering on the western reaches of shallow Punta Rassa Cove, north of the Sanibel Island Causeway Bridge.
Same as Donn Brown (above [see /?p=4920]), if you’re tired or want an early start to sail south, great spot to drop the hook. The alternative is on the back side of Kitchel Key little more protective. Safe journey fair winds 2 U. RJ Schwandner
We heartily recommend a visit to Manteo, NC, with its really good restaurants, plentiful shopping and access to multiple historical attractions. And, you simply can’t do better than to coil your lines at SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Manteo Waterfront Marina. Tell Captain Carl we sent you!!!
Cruisers who have not visited Manteo in the past fifteen years will hardly recognize the waterfront or the downtown district. The city docks have been completely rebuilt and expanded and the downtown is filled with interesting shops, restaurants, shoreside businesses of all descriptions with classical-style buildings that await exploration by visiting cruisers. The Manteo Waterfront Marina was constructed as part of Manteo’s redevelopment for the celebration of America’s 400th Anniversary, but its history starts long before the pleasure boats and boardwalk. The waterfront in Manteo acted as the hub of industry and commerce in Dare County for many years. There were oil tanks and fishing boats dotting the old wharfs and fish houses. There was an ice plant to package fish for transport, where Roanoke Island Festival Park now hosts concerts and performances. What was once the center of life in Dare County with busy court days and mail arriving by ship is now host to a quiet marina, maritime history center, and a replica of the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. The Manteo Waterfront Marina, situated on Doughs Creek, is one of three marinas in Shallowbag Bay and the best escape from a hard northeast wind on the north end of Roanoke Island. A short pleasurable cruise following the alternate route Manteo Waterfront Marina is approximately five miles off the ICW. Numerous boatyards and service providers are close by and can be contacted with information provided by Dockmaster, Carl Jordan. It needs to be noted, that Carl runs a `tight ship’ for Manteo Waterfront Marina and is a wealth of local knowledge as to what is happening in the area. Visiting cruisers’ can rest assured they are in excellent hands while staying in his marina. Manteo Waterfront Marina welcomes transient cruisers. This quaint marina has 53 slips and can accommodate vessels up to 150′. Power (30, 50, and 100 amp) service is available along with water, cable and wifi. There is a well-kept comfort station with laundry services, shower facilities, and boater’s library with varied titles. A pump station is available with fuel docks close by. The amenities at Manteo Waterfront Marina are complemented by colorful landscaping set against idyllic Doughs Creek. Few will find a visit here to be anything less than appealing. There is over a mile of public boardwalk with on ground grilling facilities and dining area set up to host clubs. There are restaurants and shops steps from the marina and the grocery store is a quarter of a mile away. Roanoke Island is also host to numerous attractions. The Lost Colony, the longest running outdoor drama in the country, plays nightly from May through August. North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is open daily and features numerous exhibits. Also on Roanoke Island are Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the Elizabethan Gardens and the Alligator River National Wildlife Visitors Center. See where your seafood really comes from by visiting the very southern end of Roanoke Island and pick up todays catch straight from the docks.
A quick drive over the Washington Baum Bridge and you are at the beaches of the northern Outer Banks. There are many sites to visit and restaurants. Be sure to catch the sunset from Jockey’s Ridge State Park and don’t miss the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Wright Brothers at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
We had the privilege to stay here for a week a couple years ago. Wonderful town and excellent marina staff. The Lost Colony Brewery is not to be missed if you like craft beer. One of our favorite stops in 8 years of cruising along the east coast. We had absolutely no issue with the entrance channel and neither will you if you follow the well-documented instructions and watch the video (5 ft draft).
Manteo Waterfront Marina is, by far, my favorite marina! I always try to plan 2 trips there per year, and Carl and George take great care of their customers. The whole charming town is right there at your doorstep, and within mere minutes you can be enjoying a world class cappucino, replenishing your supplies at the ship’s store or just browsing the wonderful shops. Lunch at the Full Moon Cafe has incredible food and fabulous home brewery beers. Don’t miss this special town and very special marina. Captain Carol, Big Kahuna
Our thanks to Rich Gano for sending this note-worthy news item. We are grateful that the FWC officer survived the shootout, which occurred on the waters of St. Andrews Bay and not in a marina. Panama City is home to two SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS, St. Andrews Marina and Panama City Marina.
It appears that the FWC officer was responding to a disturbance of some sort on the boat the two criminals were aboard, and when he pulled up, one of them disappeared into the boat’s cabin and then reappeared with a gun. Seems he may have had a drug-related warrant out on him in a northern tier state and knew that an identity check would land him in jail. So, of course, murder was the right choice for him, duh. Seems to me that if you want to remain below the radar, you don’t create disturbances on the water. A Panama City Beach police officer was killed (first ever) by a criminal on the run from a northern tier state 11 years ago during what the cop thought was a routine traffic stop.
In the current case, a gun battle ensued during which the officer ended up in the water, and even reloaded while in the soup firing at the criminals as they hijacked his patrol boat and tried to run him down before running the boat ashore and briefly escaping into a residential area where at least one resident confronted them with a gun.
Don’t be surprised if FWC guys are a bit cautious when they pull you over these days. Rich Gano
Rich, Thank you for sharing the article on the FWC officer shooting in Panama City. Goodness, what a life we are living. To me, the article confirms that we are all living in this world together. For those T&T of us, we are blessed to be on the water doing what we love but we need to be mindful of events which surround us. Us likeminded T&T folks need to stay in communication, be vigilant and become proactive when we see something of concern. Best to all and safe Trawlering! D Boone MY Ramaela
A thought provoking article from South Florida SunSentinel as posted by Florida Wildlife Commission on August 6th.
In the wake of sad outdoors stories in the headlines the past several weeks, people who know what they’re talking about have shared their ideas to prevent future tragedies. Regarding the disappearance of two 14-year-old boys who went out Jupiter Inlet in a 19-foot boat, everyone I have talked to has a story about getting into trouble while he or she was boating. Contrary to the assertions of many uninformed commentators, the size of the boat was not the issue. South Floridians safely fish and dive offshore in boats that small and smaller. The real issue was the sea and weather conditions when the boys headed out.
When they have friends aboard, ask them to review safety items in the boat with their friends. Try to have them realize their skill levels, Schmidt wrote, adding that the boat should have life jackets that fit and the kids should know how to use them. Make sure the boat has a VHF radio that works and a cell phone (but tell them don’t let it distract you on the water). Show kids where the fire extinguisher is kept and teach them how to properly use it. Do the same with the flare kit and sound-producing devices such as air horns and, if the boat has one, the EPIRB.
Discuss what to do in an emergency, like possibly staying with the boat or using any other thing that floats. Everyone on the boat should have a basic understanding of its safety items and how to use them, Schmidt wrote. I feel everyone over 12 years old on board should be able to use the boat’s communication devices and, in an emergency, start and drive the boat. Make sure the boat they use is in good condition and help them with researching the weather conditions. Show them how you make a float plan, share it with someone on shore and stick to it.
In Sarasota last month, two friends were spearfishing when one accidentally shot the other in the head. The injured 21-year-old was taken off life support by his family. Tom Campbell, an experienced diver and spearfisherman, told me that such accidents can’t happen when a speargun is pointed in a safe direction. Campbell added that he only uses a speargun with a safety. Although you can’t rely exclusively on a gun’s safety, it does add another layer of protection. Some spearfishers don’t like safeties because it takes a moment or two to get the speargun ready to shoot. But Campbell said it doesn’t bother him if having a safety sometimes costs him a shot at a fish.
He also made an excellent point about divers who struggle to load their spearguns because it’s difficult for them to pull back the two rubber bands on their guns. Campbell suggested those divers should switch to having three bands, which would be easier to pull back, which means there would be a far less chance of the gun accidentally firing. Bad news out of Biscayne National Park for anglers about a large no-fishing zone has drawn the attention of the U.S. Congress. Last week, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, whose district includes the park, introduced the Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act (H.R. 3310). Her bill has 30 co-sponsors, 18 of them from Florida, but only two from South Florida Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Curbelo. The bill would ensure that federal and state agencies collaborate in the development of any new fishing access restrictions in areas where state marine waters and national park or national marine sanctuary boundaries overlap.
Over the past 15 years, I have prodded the National Park Service to increase their outreach and work together with all stakeholders in the process of developing a new General Management Plan, said Ros-Lehtinen in a statement. However, the stubborn and unsupported inclusion of a no-fishing zone in the park’s final proposal seems to be the result of a process that treats collaboration like a check box on a form, rather than as a serious dialogue between partners. That’s not right, and we should demand better from our federal government.
The diverse supporters of the bill include the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the American Sportfishing Association, Coastal Conservation Association, Florida Keys Commercial Fisherman’s Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association and Organized Fishermen of Florida.
One of our newest SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS, Gulfport Municipal Marina has recently undergone renovations and also has a nearby mooring field. The marina and harbor are found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay and are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
We at Gulfport Municipal Marina are proud to announce that we have teamed up with Dockwa, a state-of-the-art reservation management system making big waves in the boating world.
From now on, you can easily make reservations at Gulfport Municipal Marina along with 100+ other premium locations using your smart phone or computer. It’s simple: Download their app in the ITunes Store or the Google Play Store, or visit www.dockwa.com.
Our new partnership with Dockwa will help you get more use out of your boat and make your life easier.
Just Tap.Book.Dock. If you have any questions, feel free to let us know.
There’s no mooring field yet at Gulfport, just the same old free anchorage. The City Commission appears to be divided over whether to delay the project.
Maybe it’s a sign of our economic times, but loss of any items, valuable or not, will certainly put a damper on a beautiful day in the Keys. This report is from South Dade News Leader.
$5,000 Bounty For Keys Marine Thieves
Posted: Thursday, August 6, 2015 3:55 pm | Updated: 4:15 pm, Thu Aug 6, 2015. Frank Maradiaga Marine thefts are on the rise in Monroe County. Pillaging water crafts and docks for expensive (and easily portable) gear has become an opportunistic gold mine for criminals. To help curb this rising problem the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys are collectively offering $5,000 dollars for any information that leads to an arrest. That’s $2500 from Crime Stoppers and another $2500 from the Sheriff’s Office. `We really need some help on these cases,’ said Sheriff Rick Ramsay in a statement. `We are doing everything we can possibly do, but we really need people to come forward and help us nail these criminals.’ Thefts can include cherry and costly GPS systems or simple fishing equipment. Basically anything that isn’t tied down and looks appealing. The Sheriff department says they have been `inundated’ with reports of high-end electronics and thefts of lower units. Police say the thefts are occurring countywide but are largely concentrated in the Middle and Lower Keys. From a department release: `Equipment is being taken from boats in residential canals, parked on the street on trailers and from boats stored at marinas. The investigations of these thefts is complicated by the fact that many victims are part time residents who don’t discover they have been victimized for days or even weeks. Additionally, the equipment being stolen is relatively easy to remove, to transport and to sell.’ Photos and some video clips from surveillance equipment are being circulated in the hopes that someone will be able to identify these alleged thieves. `There are people out there who know what is going on. They know who is responsible. We want those people to pick up the phone and report it. You don’t have to tell us who you are. And we will pay you well for your information,’ said Sheriff Ramsay. `It is a win-win for the person who calls. They can make a substantial sum of money and the suspect or suspects they report will never know who turned them in.’ If you think you have the goods on these thieves contact the Sheriff’s Office at 305-481-8060. The Crime Stoppers hotline is 1-800-346-TIPS.
BoatUS is the premiere boating advocate in the US and A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States 880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
(L to R) TowBoatUS Mystic Capt. Jeff Dziedzic shakes hands with US Coast Guard Captain Ed Cubanski, Commander Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound.
First TowBoatUS Port in the Nation Certified to Assist in US Coast Guard Search and Rescue Efforts
MYSTIC, Conn., August 6, 2015 ‘“ Like all boaters, the crew of TowBoatUS Mystic, a 24-hour, on water recreational boat towing and assistance company, will render Good Samaritan aid when asked. And now when the US Coast Guard asks for help in locating lost boaters, the privately-owned towing company will be able to lend a better ‘˜Good Sam’ hand at finding them. That’s due to TowBoatUS Mystic’s completion in May of a pilot Search-and-Rescue (SAR) training program developed by USCG Sector Long Island Sound that certifies non-US Coast Guard assets such as on water towing companies, police and fire departments or harbormasters for SAR response.
In a ceremony today at USCG Station New London to acknowledge TowBoatUS Mystic’s completion of the Coast Guard Search and Rescue Procedures and Boat Operations Course for the New London Port Security Group, Capt. Jeff Dziedzic of TowBoatUS Mystic signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with US Coast Guard Captain Ed Cubanski, Commander Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound.
Said Capt. Dziedzic, `We’ll always render emergency aid. We’re not in the rescue business ‘” it’s just something you do as a fellow boater. This unique US Coast Guard course creates a cooperative environment and gets all of us on the same page with SAR protocols, communications and operations. The signing of the MOA represents a great achievement for my company as it sets a precedent of training and safety standards which greatly benefits the boating community and port partners. This voluntary, public-private working relationship it creates will ultimately help save lives and property during search and rescue missions.’
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About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):
BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with over a half million members. We are the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill and fight for their rights. We help ensure a roadside breakdown doesn’t end a boating or fishing trip before it begins, and on the water, we bring boaters safely back to the launch ramp or dock when their boat won’t, day or night. The BoatUS Insurance Program gives boat owners the specialized coverage and superior service they need, and we help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the non-profit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.
A new divers-down buoy was just introduced in March of this year, see /?p=147183.
FWC encourages recognition and use of the divers-down flags/buoys
Whether diving in Pensacola, scalloping in the Big Bend, lobstering in the Florida Keys or seeing the sights below the water’s surface in one of the many rivers in the Sunshine State, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to remind divers to use a divers-down flag or buoy whenever they are snorkeling or scuba diving.
The divers-down symbol is rectangular or square and red in color with a white diagonal stripe. A divers-down flag displayed on a boat must be at least 20 inches by 24 inches and displayed at a high point where it can be observed from 360 degrees around the vessel. A buoy may not be used or displayed from a vessel. A divers-down flag or buoy, displayed from the water, must be at least 12 inches by 12 inches. A flag must have a wire or other stiffener to hold it open and a buoy can be three- or four-sided.
All divers must prominently display a divers-down flag or buoy in the area in which the diving occurs.
`Proper use and understanding of what a divers-down symbol means is critical,’ said Lt. Seth Wagner with the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section. `It is meant to alert boaters to the presence of people under the water’s surface and to give them plenty of room.’
All vessels must make reasonable effort to stay at least 100 feet away from a divers-down flag or buoy within a river, inlet or channel. In open waters, vessels must make reasonable effort to stay 300 feet away. For safety, divers should stay within those same distances of their displayed flag or buoy. A vessel that approaches closer must be fully off plane and at idle speed.
`Divers share the responsibility of boating safety with the boat operators,’ Wagner said. `Diving without the divers-down symbol displayed or using it for reasons other than to inform of the presence of divers is unlawful.’
The flag or buoy should only be displayed when divers are ready to enter the water or are in the water. When divers or snorkelers exit the water, it must be taken down.
More information on divers-down flag requirements is available online at MyFWC.com/Boating by clicking on `Boating Regulations.’
Key West Bight City Marina occupies a good portion of the rear (southeasterly shores) of Key West Bight.
We have stayed at Key West Bight Marina for three years in a row. Each we time we stay for about 5 or 6 months. The staff is great. The marina has great water and is close to downtown. We highly recommend this place. Radler
“No charge” – sweet words to any boater! These guys are building a solid reputation, one boater at a time. Bravo Burkey Marine Group!
We feel the same way! These big diesel guys helped us over the phone telling us what to look for and once we located the problem they talked us through the repair at no charge. (After hours) We are fans! Ted Davis
Recently used a repair firm to handle an engine shut down situation which was quite scary. The mechanics from bigdieselmarine.com aka Burkey \Marine Group came out right away “as stated several times elsewhere” they handled our big problem easily with minimal cost and lost time! We are passing it on as we should! The number for Big Diesel direct is 772-215-7663 Tim Daily
We arrived in Stuart Florida with engine problems at Sailfish Marina and were told to call Greg Burkey Marine group. After contacting Burkey Marine aka Big Diesel Marine we were on our way soon! Happy to pass on the number to our community Burkey Marine group at 772-215-7663 burkeymarinegroup@gmail I feel safe recommending them!
You will think you are seeing things when this unmanned inflatable passes you. Wonder how it will deal with jet skis?
Google Maps Goes Coastal with Unmanned Boat
A new high-tech unmanned vessel, launched with the help of Google, will use innovative technologies from the boatbuilding and mapping fields to map shorelines and raise awareness of the impacts of global sea level rise.
Originally designed to be worn by backpackers, Google’s proprietary Street View Trekker camera system was provided on loan to the San Francisco Baykeeper organization, allowing them to create bay-level maps. It plans to use the imagery collected’”nearly 500 miles of coastline ranging from San Jose to Antioch, California’”on its website and for educational purposes. It will also help illustrate the threats posed by global sea level change to critical wetlands.
Electric motor developer Torqeedo said it was chosen to power the craft as clean, powerful and efficient propulsion was a high priority.
“It’s a Google Boat,” said staff scientist for the San Francisco Baykeeper organization, Ian Wren. The small, remote-controlled catamaran, a Wave Adapted Modular Vehicle (WAM-V) designed by Marine Advanced Research, features a modified hull design that flexes to adjust to the water’s surface and provides ultimate stability. Baykeeper’s WAM-V sports twin Torqeedo Cruise 4kW electric outboard motors rigged with Power 26-104 lithium batteries. The boat is able to run for hours with a nearly zero environmental footprint, thanks to onboard traditional and solar charging capabilities.
“A lot of people know about sea level rise,” said Sejal Choksi, an environmental lawyer and Baykeeper’s interim director. “We are hoping these images will really bring the reality home to the public, that they will look at pictures of places they know and say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is going to be underwater.'”
The Google Trekker, WAM-V and Torqeedo technology has also recently completed a mapping project of American Samoa. ‘¢ Google ‘¢ Ian Wren ‘¢ Sejal Choksi
We all know that California is sinking due to plate techtonics so do they really expect to sell this rising sea level due to climate change to non-Californians?
The conflict between All Aboard Florida RR system and the Florida waterways continues to be a source of discord for spokespersons of both industries. Much discussion has followed the introduction of the controversial plan to increase the daily number of trains crossing primary water routes. Is this article just more political promises? It’s hard to imagine how increased RR bridge activity will not impact the flow of water traffic.
Florida officials vow rail plan won’t hurt marine industry Posted on July 29th, 2015 Greg Stuart (left), director of the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., and Marine Industries Association of South Florida executive director Phil Purcell are shown at the meeting. Greg Stuart (left), executive director of the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., and Marine Industries Association of South Florida executive director Phil Purcell are shown at the meeting.
U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., and Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization director Greg Stuart vowed that they will not put the marine industry at risk at a meeting last week with stakeholders in All Aboard Florida.
Representatives of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, the Coast Guard, the Broward County Commission, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, All Aboard Florida and Florida East Coast Industries also attended the meeting. It was held to get an update on the railroad test regulations being implemented at the FEC rail bridge over the New River.
Greg Stuart, executive director of the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, promised that his organization will not allow for the degradation of the bridge and the capacity of the marine facilities west of it.
`We recognize the need to improve it if we want to add more,’ he told attendees.
Frankel commended the Coast Guard for its efforts and vowed to stay committed to the marine industry and finding a solution. `I’m optimistic we can do it,’ she said.
The test regulations in place require that the bridge not be closed more than a combined 60 minutes during any 120-minute time period. If the test regulations are successful, the Coast Guard has indicated they will become permanent.
Coast Guard Bridge Administrator Barry Dragon said communication has been the biggest problem in the past and that the regulations, which require various means of communication, have helped the service get a handle on it.
A review of Coast Guard logs shows that since the test regulations began, the average time the bridge has been down is 1 hour and 45 minutes during a 12-hour period for 17 minutes each time.
Representatives from All Aboard Florida and Florida East Coast Industries, the parent company of All Aboard Florida, said their goal is predictability and communication. Starting in 2017, they estimate that AAF’s 32 trains will add 12 minutes to every hour that the rail bridge is closed between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., totaling an additional three hours during the day, and that they will implement a website and/or an app that will communicate the times of the closings.
`We both want to grow and grow successfully,’ said Jose Gonzalez, senior vice president of Florida East Coast Industries.
They also discussed short- and long-term initiatives to move freight west to U.S. 27. The Florida East Coast Industries said eight of the 14 trains that run through the county, mostly at night, could eventually be diverted to CSX tracks. The MIASF pointed out that this would help car traffic, but the trains still would cross the New River at another point.
All agreed that during the next five to seven years growth in Florida, combined with freight and additional commuters on the FEC corridor, will require a second, higher bridge over the New River to elevate commuter trains, ensure predictability and protect the marine industry. Both the MPO and Frankel committed to finding funds for the bridge.
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Comments from Cruisers (1)
Rick Emerson- July 31, 2015 - 2:00 pm
I believe Col. Sherman T. Potter of M*A*S*H said it best: “Bullpucky!” Yet again Florida shows its disregard for boaters.
Because of The Spirit of South Carolina, built by hundreds of volunteers and based in Charleston, tall ships are of particular interest to Charlestonians. One will not be surprised to learn of an invitation to visit Charleston being extended to Oliver Hazard Perry in the near future.
Maiden Voyage: SSV Oliver Hazard Perry Sets Sail NEWPORT, RI (July 17, 2015) ‘“ Rhode Island’s 200-foot Official Sailing Education Vessel SSV Oliver Hazard Perry sailed for the first time yesterday in Narragansett Bay after she left the Hinckley Boat Yard in Portsmouth, R.I. to begin a journey up the coast to join the Tall Ships Portland 2015 festival. Anyone on or near East Bay Passage between seven and eight a.m. saw a truly amazing spectacle when four of the ship’s 20 sails were unfurled, one-by-one as crew members climbed aloft to set free the lines that secured them to the yards.
Rhode Island’s 200-foot Official Sailing Education Vessel SSV Oliver Hazard Perry sailed for the first time yesterday in Narragansett Bay. (All photos credit Onne van der Wal)
Rhode Island’s 200-foot Official Sailing Education Vessel SSV Oliver Hazard Perry sailed for the first time yesterday in Narragansett Bay. (All photos credit Onne van der Wal) Available for download in high resolution by clicking the photo
`This is a huge milestone,’ said Jess Wurzbacher, Executive Director of the non-profit Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI), `over the past seven years all of her movements have been under the control of tugs. The wind was blowing 12-15 knots out of the north to make it a nice downwind run out of the Bay, so it was great to watch the sails harness some of that power ‘“ it is what we have all been waiting to see for years.’
SSV Oliver Hazard Perry is the first ocean-going full-rigged ship built in America in over a century. She also is this country’s largest privately-funded, actively sailing Tall Ship, one of only 75 Tall Ships in the world designated by Sail Training International as Class A.
On July 3rd SSV Oliver Hazard Perry was dockside at the Newport Shipyard for the `Homeport Rhode Island’ gala. The annual fundraising event celebrated the unprecedented $16 million economic development project, which has supported hundreds of jobs in the Rhode Island marine industry. It raised $122,000 while also honoring the non-profit organization’s Board Chairman Bart Dunbar for his unfailing devotion to OHPRI’s Education-at-Sea mission.
cid:image003.jpg@01D0C0A0.EEAE3900 Supporters gathered at Newport Shipyard for Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island’s `Homeport Rhode Island’ Gala on Friday, July 3. (All photos credit Al Weems, alweemsphoto.com) Available for download in high resolution by clicking the photo
With orange being the color theme, most of the 450 guests were decked out in their orange best. The signature drink, the `Dunbar Fizz,’ also was orange, and wait staff from Blackstone Catering sported orange bow ties. Cocktail hour included tours of the ship, passed hors d’oeuvres and offerings from a fresh seafood bar, while dinner was served under a giant tent with orange globe lights.
At the event, Dunbar acknowledged all of OHPRI’s supporters, and especially Admiral Tom Weschler, OHPRI’s Chairman Emeritus, who was in attendance, with helping the organization realize its dreams. `We are far from finished with fundraising,’ said Dunbar, explaining that the focus will soon turn to the ship’s Education at Sea programs, `but it is a huge milestone to have the ship completed and going through its final inspections and preparations for accommodating students of all ages.’
Rhode Island’s Tall Ship will serve the youth from all states with its Education at Sea programs. It is the first ocean-going full-rigged ship built in America in over a century.
This article comes to us from our friends at BoatNation.com.
Surviving a Close Encounter with a Shark The best way to avoid a shark attack is to simply stay out of the ocean. On the other hand, it’s difficult to resist a dip in the water on a warm day. If you do decide to go for a swim, keep the following tips in mind. You may not be able to prevent an attack, but you may be able to minimize your injuries. Believe it or not, unprovoked shark attacks on humans are rare with an average of around 75 per year, resulting in about 10 deaths worldwide. You have a greater chance of dying from a bee sting or being hit by lightning.
Avoid being in the water from sunset to sunrise. This is when sharks are most active.
Avoid being in the water near where people are fishing.
Also avoid swimming during or after storms, which can make the water cloudy and churn up the fish that sharks feed on. They won’t be able to tell if you’re human or prey. The same applies to river mouths – where the water can be muddy.
Avoid peeing in the water. It’s not just blood that they are attracted to. Sharks are attracted to urine. A lot of cases of surfers and divers, that have been attacked by sharks, have been preceded by the need to urinate. Another good idea if you need to pee in the water, wetsuit or not, is to let it go in the white water. Action from the waves gives it a better mix, and it’s not as likely to attract the sharks nose
Do not swim if you have a bleeding cut or abrasion. Sharks sense blood and are attracted to even a tiny amount in the water. Sorry ladies, stay out of the water if you are having your period.
Don’t take your eyes off the shark. Don’t turn your back on the shark as you move. Remember, it’s important to keep the shark in view. Make eye contact when possible and try to keep your eyes on the shark at all times. Sharks like to attack from behind. Keeping your eyes on the shark may help to avoid an attack. In open water, get back-to-back with another swimmer or diver so that you can see, and defend against, an attack from any direction. If possible, Slowly back up against a reef, piling, or rock outcropping – any solid obstruction ‘“ so that the shark can’t circle around behind you. This way you only have to defend attacks in front of you.
Stay in a group. People on their own are more likely to be attacked than large groups. Don’t wander too far from the shoreline.The further you are from the shore, the further you are from help. Choose your attire carefully. Avoid wearing shiny jewellery, because the reflected light resembles the shimmer of fish scales. Also don’t wear brightly-coloured or patterned clothing, because sharks see contrast particularly well. Special striped wetsuits which look like poisonous, black and white banded sea snakes are being tested which warn a shark that a diver or surfer isn’t safe to eat.
Stay still and remain calm if you spot a shark. Most sharks are just curious and will leave on their own. Attacks are very rare.
If you are attacked, fight back. If you are targeted by a shark, the general rule is, do whatever it takes to get away – but do it calmly. Try to fight back and startle it. The best place to hit is its nose. Also try to claw at its eyes and grab its gills, two of the most sensitive areas on a shark. Make sure you’re able to defend your front and sides and use a weapon like a surf board if possible, don’t use your hands. If you are bitten, stop the bleeding and get help as soon as possible.
Special thanks to George H. Burgess, senior biologist in Ichthyology at the Florida Museum of Natural History
Stay Safe and Happy Boating! Ashley and the Crew at BoatNation.com
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According to this article from Trade Only Today, boats cruising to Cuba would find refueling difficult and only the basic facilities at existing marinas. Still for those of you with the craving for new waters and new ports, the prospect of taking your boat to Cuba must be absolutely mouth-watering.
U.S.-Cuban ties could be boon to marine industry Posted on July 20th, 2015
After 54 years of animosity, the United States and Cuba formally restored diplomatic ties.
This morning, the United States opened an embassy in Havana and Cuba opened an embassy in Washington, D.C.
In truth, both countries had for years already been running robust interest sections in both capitals. Today, however, both of those missions were upgraded.
This afternoon, the Cuban flag will be raised on the grounds of the Cuban Embassy in Washington for the first time since 1961, according to National Public Radio.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Havana to raise the American flag at the U.S. Embassy there at a later date.
Starting today, U.S. officials said, the Cuban government will pull back some of the tight cordon of security that had surrounded America’s diplomatic mission in Havana and no longer will record the names of Cubans entering the building, according to CNN.
The Cuban and American heads of their respective interest sections will became charges d’affaires until ambassadors are named.
`A new stage will begin, long and complex, on the road toward normalization,’ Cuban President Raul Castro said in a televised address last week to the Cuban people. `Which will require the will to find solutions to the problems that have accumulated over more than five decades and hurt ties between our nations and peoples.’
The National Marine Manufacturers Association recently announced a third and final exploratory trip to Cuba, set for December.
Cuba has 11 million residents, and if it were a U.S. state it would rank seventh in population, according to the NMMA. Cuba has 1,400 miles of coastline similar to the Florida Keys ‘” if the Cuban Keys were superimposed on the Atlantic Seaboard, they would stretch from Miami to New York.
The NMMA said Cuba also has more than 100 freshwater lakes suitable for boating. Built by the Soviets from the 1960s through the 1980s, the 3- to 5-mile lakes irrigate rice fields and teem with largemouth bass. That means 95 percent of Cubans live within five miles of boating waters.
In December, NMMA export director Julie Balzano told Trade Only about the association’s second visit to the Caribbean’s largest island.
`If and when U.S. boaters would be allowed to go to Cuba by boat, I think probably there is enough infrastructure in place at the moment, though I think it would be basic for American boaters visiting Cuba,’ she told Trade Only at the time. `I think they struggle a bit with fueling stations in marinas,’ for example.
`Cuba, just the country itself, is struggling with infrastructure,’ she said. `If tourism grows, they’re going to struggle with hotel occupancy and eateries. It’s still a challenge to get basic items in Cuba.’
The island, though, has a lot to offer boaters in terms of its beauty. `It’s lush and green and mountainous, and the waters are crystal-blue,’ Balzano said.
Spoon River Restaurant has only been in business for two years and is open seven days a week. They are located just off the waterfront and are listed as: Spoon River Artworks and Market 263 Pamlico St, Belhaven, NC ‘Ž (252) 945-3899 And their Facebook address is: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spoon-River-Artworks-and-Market/471584979558789 There are several opportunities for dockage near Spoon River: Belhaven Waterway Marina, Belhaven Town Dock and Belhaven/Pantego Creek Anchorage. Our thanks to Skipper Whitehead for reminding us of this excellent restaurant!
We had dinner at Spoon River last night and it was undoubtedly the best meal we have ever enjoyed. The menu choices and the food are excellent. The waitstaff are excellent and well trained. All in all a very pleasant evening. I would give them five stars! Carol Whitehead
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