Twin Dolphin Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, sits perched on the southern shores of Manatee River, just short of the Highway 41 Business bridge. We get lots of praise for this fine marina and their commitment to facility upgrades, see FOCUS ON.
Sunset Beach Bungalows & Suites Available Mid-November
Start and end your days on Sunset Beach as you take in the breathtaking blue views of the Exuma Sound. Both bungalows and suites are located right on the beach and are
Our Sunset Beach Bungalows offer you a simple and elegant Bungalow comfortably accommodating 2 guests with your own private patio and terrace. Each Bungalow has 1 master bedroom, 1 luxe Bathroom, mini fridge with icemaker, filtered drinking water, coffee maker outdoor private patio and terrace with 2 Lounge chairs to take in the breathtaking sunsets.
Our Sunset Beach Suites offer you a simple, elegant, and spacious 2-Bedroom Suite with a comfortable living room, dining area and outdoor living space. Each Suite comfortably sleeps 4 guests with a well-appointed Master Bedroom with king bed and ensuite bathroom, 1 Guest bedroom with 2 full beds and an ensuite bathroom, an outdoor patio and terrace with chaise lounges to take in the magical sunsets. Rooms will be available mid-November so pre-book your stay at https://www.capeeleuthera.com.
Getting Ready For the Holidays
Looking for a holiday get away – Join us at the Cape for a Festive Bahamian Holiday! Receive a special welcome gift when you check in and we will have the following festivities for guests:
December 24th – Christmas Eve caroling with a local Bahamian Choir
December 25th – Christmas Dinner at Harbour Pointe
December 31st – Ring in the New Year with a traditional Bahamian Flair presented by our Chef, Junkanoo, Live Music & Fireworks.
January 1st – All day brunch with a complimentary mimosa
New Breakfast & Brunch
We are excited to announce that Harbour Pointe will now be open for Breakfast all week and we’ll have brunch on Sundays starting in November. Grab a coffee and pastry and enjoy the sunset or grab a refreshment when you get back from the water or a run.
Cape Eleuthera Partners With Maker’s Air
We desire to make your trip seamless and easy – Now you can receive 15% Off Maker’s Air travel when you stay with us in one of our new Sunset Beach accommodations. Use promo code “FLYCAPE” when booking with Makers Air or email them directly at capeeleuthera@makersair.com.
Photos by George Gozdz
Ft Lauderdale International Boat Show
Come Visit The Bahamas at FLIBS
It’s that time of year again! We invite you to come learn what’s new in the world of Bahamas boating at this year’s FLIBS.
We will have ABM team members at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Booth #23 in the main entrance tent.
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located in the heart of downtown Gulfport. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Weekly news & updates
October 23, 2023 | City of Gulfport, FL – Gateway to the Gulf Newsletter
The City of Gulfport Recreation Division’s Annual Halloween Decorations Contest is open to all Gulfport residents & businesses.
Registration is free!
Applications are available at the Gulfport Recreation Center, 5730 Shore Boulevard and City Hall, 2401 53rd Street. Deadline to enter is noon on Wednesday, October 25.
Fifty-three residents learned about City Services, local organizations, volunteer opportunities and more during A Welcome to Gulfport workshop at Scout Hall on October 13.
Gulfport Public Library| 5501 28th Ave. S. | 893-1074
Keep Calm and Carry Yarn – Mondays at 10:15 – Join us for a weekly knitting and crochet group! Bring your current project, start something new, learn a new skill, and meet other crafters! Don’t know how to knit or crochet? That’s ok, we can help you get started. Call 727-893-1074 for additional information.
Macabre Monday Movies
Monday, October 23rd | 1:00 p.m.
Gulfport Public Library| 5501 28th Ave. S. | 893-1074
Join us every Monday in October at 1:00PM for a terrifying film! From oldies-but-goldies to brand spooking new; they’ll be sure to put shivers up your spine!
Join us weekly at our open-air fresh market for the region’s freshest produce, arts & crafts from local creators and a fresh array of locally sourced botanicals along the shops and restaurants of scenic Beach Boulevard.
Put on your best costume and get ready to swing with all sorts of exciting characters! It’s Swing Time’s 21st Annual Halloween Costume Ball at the Gulfport Casino Swing Night!
For more information on the nights festivities, visit
Twin Dolphin Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, sits perched on the southern shores of Manatee River, just short of the Highway 41 Business bridge. We get lots of praise for this fine marina and their commitment to facility upgrades, see FOCUS ON.
Our thanks to Sean Welsh for this excellent, detailed explanation of bridge clearance boards.
Bridge Clearances Explained by Sean Welsh USCG licensed Master inland, Mate near coastal I was asked by the moderation team to write a few words about bridge clearance markings, after the comments on a recent post revealed that there is a lot of confusion on the subject. That seemed straightforward, but, as it turns out, it’s messy. That probably accounts for some of the confusion, so let me see if I can shed some light.
There is a standard for these markings, which are officially known as “Vertical Clearance Gauges” on the ICW and other federal waterways, codified in federal law as 33 CFR § 118.160. Among other things, this standard requires black markings on a white background, “foot marks” (horizontal lines of a specific size), specific spacing of numbers, location at the right side of the channel, and regular maintenance.
This Vertical Clearance Gauge complies with the regulations. “Foot marks” every foot show the clearance; on this board the numerals are next to the foot marks every other foot. This board reads just a hair over 65′, as the entire foot mark and a little white below it is visible.
If all bridges were marked according to this standard this would be an easy post to write. But the reality is that state or county road maintenance departments, railroads, and other bridge owners, and not the federal government, are actually responsible for installing markings on bridges, and there appears to be little consequence for these entities when they break federal law by straying from the standard. The bridge that prompted this post, the infamous Wilkerson Bridge in North Carolina, is one of the many non-compliant bridges and thus the source of much confusion.
My own photo. This board, not compliant with standards. This board reads a couple of inches more than 64′. It’s hard to read because non-compliant colors have been used and the agency has failed to “… maintain each gauge in good repair and legible condition.”
Apart from the markings being a noncompliant white on a green background, the gauges on this bridge also lack foot marks (horizontal lines) of any kind, and have numbers every foot. Since the numerals are 12" tall, this means each number abuts the numbers above and below it. This is by no means the only bridge with this type of marking, but it gets the most discussion here because the bridge is lower than ICW standards and is on a non- tidal stretch of waterway, making it a tight fit for many sailboats.
On this type of clearance gauge, the clearance to low steel is between the largest number that is completely visible (not covered by any water at all) and the next larger number that is wholly or partially under water. This is a critical point to remember, because the human brain wants to see the largest number that is “mostly” visible, and count upwards from there. Among other things, this is because we are conditioned to see numbers increase from lower to higher elevations, and on a bridge gauge it’s the other way around.
This stands in contrast to many standards-compliant gauges, where the numerals are often (but not always) next to, rather than above, the foot marks. When you see a gauge where the foot marks fall mid-numeral, it is the bottom edge of the mark, and not the bottom edge of the numeral itself, that shows the level.
On the ICW, most compliant numerals will be either 12 or 18 inches tall and spaced every two feet. But on bridges sized for ships or large tows, which need to be visible from much further away, you will find gauges where numerals may be spaced five or ten feet apart and are much larger in size. Compliant gauges, whether on fixed or movable bridges, show the clearance to “low steel” which is the lowest hard part of the bridge that is directly over the navigation channel. The edges of the channel are defined by the red channel limit lights, which are often on the fenders but sometimes hang below the span. If you stray outside these markers you may have lower clearance. Also, the “range lights” which are the green mid-channel lights that hang below the span, are not considered “low steel” and thus may hang down lower than the clearance measurement. If your clearance is close, pass between the range and the channel limits and do not take the range down the middle.
Having said that, once again there are some agencies out there installing non-compliant gauges and I have seen some, notably on drawbridges, which show the clearance “at center” as noted on the sign. When in doubt, call the bridge tender and ask. They are generally not allowed to tell you the clearance, but they can usually state whether the gauge reads low steel or center-span, and in the case of low steel gauges, how much additional clearance may be available center span.
While I am on the subject, now is a good time to remind everyone that bridge clearances marked on charts show the low steel clearance at “mean high water” (MHW) for tidal bridges, and at “normal pool” for river bridges. Actual clearance may be less; spring tides can be well above MHW and there may be freshet on top of that, and river pools vary greatly.
Bridges, their clearances, and movable bridge regulations and schedules can be found in the relevant edition of the Coast Pilot. Every skipper should carry the local Coast Pilot edition on board, available as a free download. Temporary clearance changes, for example due to construction work, can be found in the current issue of the Local Notices to Mariners (LNMs), which, again, every skipper should download and check as part of their voyage planning.
The total number of Atlantic tropical cyclones that strengthened from weak Category 1 storms into major hurricanes within a 36-hour window has more than doubled in the last 50 years, a new analysis finds.
Kitty Hawk’s oceanfront is shown not long after high tide while Hurricane Sandy was passing North Carolina Oct. 29, 2012, from the center line of N.C. 12, which is covered by sand, water and debris. Photo: NCDOT
Harborwalk Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSORS, is only a boardwalk stroll away from Georgetown’s Historic District for history, entertainment, great food and shopping. Harborwalk Marina is the third marina on your starboard side as you enter the protected waters of Georgetown.
Happy Halloween! Are you ready for sticky fingers, melting chocolate everywhere, and sugar crashes? Don’t go out trick or treating without Kanberra Wipes®. Perfect for before and after cleaning up the kids and keeping any surface clean and safe.
Receive free Kanberra Wipe with purchase over $49.99. Must add wipes to cart for discount to apply. Offer valid until November 3rd, 2023.
America’s most-decorated battleship from World War II helped win the war in the Pacific. Now, the USS North Carolina is fighting for resiliency amid rising water levels.
Second in our series: Frank Stick was looking to land more than a few bluefish when he visited the Outer Banks in the 1920s, the illustrator and sportsman saw opportunity here.
Frank Stick is shown fishing along the New Jersey coast in the 1920s. Photo courtesy of the Maud Hayes Stick Collection at the Outer Banks History Center/N.C. State Archives
New series: Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Gil Gaul dives into newspaper clippings, archives and other sources to reveal the complex story of the New Jersey artist, outdoorsman, developer and speculator who filled miles of Outer Banks beaches with vacation houses.
Palmetto Park Jam is your ticket to an afternoon of rhythm, soul, and unforgettable memories by the marsh at Palmetto Islands County Park this Sunday, October 15th! Immerse yourself in the legendary sounds of the Allman Brothers while discovering unique crafts from local vendors along with food and drinks. Gold Pass members get in free!
Harvest Festival
Clear your calendar for a bumper crop of fall fun! On November 4, our annual Harvest Festival will serve up a foot-stompin’, finger-licking, pumpkin-decorating, hayride-taking, kid-crafting afternoon that’s perfect for the entire family.
Be a Magic Maker!
Are you ready to sprinkle some extra holiday cheer this season?Join our team at the Holiday Festival of Lights. You can be a seasonal force behind a jolly good time for thousands of festival-goers! Come be a part of something tree-mendous.
Monarch Migration
Did you know? South Carolina is on the flight path for the annual monarch butterfly migration! On October 20, join a naturalist to learn more about these winged wonders, their extraordinary journey, and how you can play a part in important monarch tag and release research.
Last call!
Time to reel it in: October 21 marks the final Cast Off Fishing Tournament of 2023…and your last chance to catch the Big One! Grab your rod and tackle and head to the Mount Pleasant Pier to drop a line and claim your prize.
Tickets, please
You say: It’s not even Halloween! We say: It’s never too early to plan your visit to the Holiday Festival of Lights! Tickets for this year’s event are now available on our website, so you and your merry band of revelers can begin planning your annual evening under the lights!
Heads Up!
Palmetto Islands County Park will be closed until 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 15 so that we may host the Palmetto Park Jam. For ticketed guests, the park gates open at 11 a.m.
Joan Collins, second from right, and members of her family, from left, Patrick Jefferson, Deborah Jefferson, Marshall Collins, and far right, Sharon Warner, are shown onboard the deck of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge at the Baltimore Shipyard with Lt. Zackary Kearney, the vessel’s commander. Photo: Sharon Warner
Cruisers Net is proud to be a member of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association whose lobbying work is crucial to keeping the Waterway navigable and safe. Your membership dollars directly support their vital work. Please join and encourage your boating neighbors to do likewise, regardless of their homeport.
AIWAOctober 2023 Newsletter
All eyes on Washington, DC a they pass a Continuing Resolution and select a new Speaker of the House
With the recent movement by the House of Representatives to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, Congress has offered us all more questions than answers in the coming weeks. The good news for us is that Congress did pass a Continuing Resolution that has funded the government through November 17th.
For now, work continues on waterway projects with funding from FY23, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and additional supplemental funding. We look forward to progress on the FY24 appropriations bills prior to our annual meeting November 13-15, but we need to identify a new Speaker of the House first.
In the meantime, below is a chart showing the current funding for the AIWW/IWW and NJIWW in the president’s budget and House and Senate bills.
AIWA ANNUAL MEETING November 13-15, 2023 Wilmington, NC, Aloft HotelRegistration & Sponsorship Information
One month to go until the AIWA Annual Meeting on November 13-15.Early registration and the hotel room block ends on October 13.
The agenda has a number of great topics, but we wanted to highlight the keynote address by Colonel Brad Morgan, District Commander of the Wilmington District. We are excited about his participation and all of our federal partners!
In addition, we will host a panel led by Dr. Todd Bridges on Nature Based Solutions, and American Cruise Lines will share information about the recent completion of their coastal catamarans specifically designed for inland waterways. Plus much more!
More information is available on the annual meeting website here. Please make your plans soon to join us in Wilmington. We look forward to seeing you next month!
From our Partners at U.S. Coast Guard: Updated information regarding waterway closures at Causton Bluff Bridge near Thunderbolt, Georgia
Special Notation: In September, the AIWA and numerous waterway stakeholders were informed about closures to the waterway due to construction at the Causton Bluff Bridge near Thunderbolt, Georgia. Through meetings and communications with the Georgia DOT (GADOT), project contractors, and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the GADOT made modifications to their construction plan to allow for increased transiting times for recreational and commercial users. We are grateful to everyone who worked on the modifications and increased openings. Below is a notice from the USCG and graphic depicting the schedule for openings.
The Coast Guard is revising a temporary safety zone encompassing the Causton Bluff Bridge, on the Wilmington River, Savannah, GA. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters for the planned demolition and removal of structural components of the original bridge, in preparation of the construction of a new span. This rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a designated representative.
On September 15, 2023, the Coast Guard published a temporary interim rule (TIR) with requests for comment. The TIR established a temporary safety zone encompassing the Causton Bluff Bridge, on the Wilmington River, Savannah, GA. When the rule was published, the Coast Guard immediately began receiving comments on the safety zone posted on the docket and emails sent directly to the Coast Guard. In order to address the concerns raised by the commenters, the Coast Guard made the determination not to enforce the original TIR until an updated enforcement schedule could be published through a new TIR. This new TIR takes into consideration the 24 comments received thus far on the previous TIR and revises the existing safety zone to provide the public with a schedule that equitably balances the needs of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GA DOT) and the waterway users.
Dates: This temporary interim rule is effective without actual notice from October 3, 2023 through November 30, 2023. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from October 2, 2023, until October 3, 2023. Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before October 18, 2023.
Public Participation and Request for Comments: We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking and will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal Decision-Making Portal. To do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG–2023–0466 in the search box and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, look for this document in the Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment option. If you cannot submit your material by using the Federal Decision-Making Portal, call or email the person in the point of contact below for alternate instructions.
Point of Contact: If you have questions on this rule, call or email LTJG Anthony Harris, Office of Waterways Management, Marine Safety Unit Savannah, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 912–652–4353 ext. 240, Anthony.E.Harris@uscg.mil.
– U.S. Coast Guard District Seven
The graphic above shows the times when the Causton Bluff Bridge area will be closed for transiting (shown in red). The graphic was created by Ted Arisaka and has been reviewed by Georgia DOT for accuracy.
The AIWA is a national non-profit organization with the mission of securing funding and support for the maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. We are the only organization dedicated to ensuring the future of the AIWW and proudly represent all stakeholders of the waterway.
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