A new exhibit at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum reminds us that a vicious German U-boat campaign in the early months of World War II had once raged offshore the barrier islands, setting the sea ablaze and filling the air with explosions.
A simulated view through a submarine’s periscope is included in the new exhibit at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. Photo: Catherine Kozak
The Dare County Boat Builders Foundation is a non-profit, 501c3 organization dedicated to preserving Dare County’s boat building heritage by actively supporting the students and families within its community.
The increasing number of bridge closings due to increased rail traffic has been a concern for some time. See All Aboard Florida Protest by Jim Healy. The St Lucie FEC RR bridge with 6 ft vertical clearance crosses the Okeechobee Waterway and connects Britt Point with Stuart. See Concerned. The Loxahatchee RR bascule bridge crosses the AICW at MM 1005. See Replacement.
The nautilus’s lineage made it through all five of Earth’s previous mass extinctions. But can it survive the Anthropocene?
A tentacled fuzzy nautilus swims in the deep waters off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Though the nautilus is well known in some ways, it’s also mysterious; researchers studying it hope to get a handle on how it’s responding to impacts of the Anthropocene. Photo by Peter Ward
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $5 a month or $42 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
Key Lime Sailing Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always has very special offers for their visitors! Key Lime Sailing Club is a unique slice of KEYS ENJOYMENT…give it a try and let us hear about your experience.
The 4th of July is the day we celebrate our freedom and the brave men and women who fought for it. It’s a day to thank those who sacrificed their lives so that we could live in a land of hope, opportunity, and equality.
It’s also an opportunity for us to be grateful for all the blessings in our lives. We should take time today to remember what this country has given us: an opportunity to pursue our dreams, the chance at a better life, and the potential for success.
Happy 4th of July!
Save on ASA Sailing Lessons
This is a sailing lesson deal for those who wish to learn or upgrade their sailing skills.
We are happy to announce our new ASA online Hybrid sailing lessons from today until July 4th. For this special offer, watch this video by Capt. G until the end and get the coupon code. (Valid for new bookings)
Learn from our award-winning sailing instructors and start sailing on your own safely and with confidence! Don’t miss out on this offer!
Summer is here, and it’s time to plan your next vacation. Key Largo is the perfect place for a summer getaway. With our beautiful beaches, tropical weather, and endless things to do, you’ll never want to leave!
Here are our available cottages up to September:
Book at Key Lime now! Cottage rental includes unlimited use of a 22’ sailboat (for qualified sailors), kayaks, paddle boards, water toys, bicycles, snorkel and fishing gear at no extra cost.
Visit our website www.keylimesailingclub.com and send us a Request to Book! You can also call or text our reservation specialist at 305-451-3438 almost any time day or night!
Cruise in Style aboard our 37′ Leopard Catamaran
The luxury catamaran boat for rent is the perfect way to enjoy your vacation in the Florida Keys. Imagine waking up and seeing the blue calm waters of Key Largo, imagine enjoying a cocktail and watching the beautiful sunset on the water.
This is an opportunity to experience something different – something that will make your vacation one of a kind and unforgettable.
You can charter this vessel for day trips or book it for overnight stays. Call 305-451-3438 for more info.
*Please note: This is only for adults with boating experience. Children and pets not allowed.
Try “Glamping” in our Lifeguard Towers
When you see a lifeguard tower, have you ever wondered how it feels to live in one?
The lifeguard towers are a perfect place to stay if you want to get away from the city but still be close enough to explore all of Florida’s natural beauty. You’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated afterward.
Currently listed on AirBnb, the lifeguard towers are open for overnight or weekly camping by the Florida Everglades and provide an ultimate glamping experience. You can enjoy free use of kayaks, paddle boards, and fishing gear.
You can book your reservation thru AirBnb or call us at 305-247-8730 to book directly.
Win Stays at Key Lime Sailing Club
To our past and present guests: Here’s a chance to come back and vacation at KLSC for free! Send us pictures of your stay here and win a free 3-night stay by participating in our 12th Annual KLSC Photo Contest. Check here for details.
Got a talent for video making? Enter our 9th Annual KLSC Video Contest and get a chance to win a free 5-night stay! Check here for details.
We at Key Largo Cottages at Key Lime Sailing Club love our guests and we would love to see you back again for another fun-filled and relaxing Florida Keys vacation!
Enjoy a Snorkel or Sunset Cruise both bay side and ocean side as well as sailboat rentals from 22 foot to 68 foot through Morning Star Sailing Charters. Call us at 305-451-7057.
All Private Charters booked before July 15th for the months of November and December, 2022 will receive 10% off the Base Fare!
Book Now and SAVE!
All Private Charters booked before July 15th for the months of November and December, 2022 will receive 10% off the Base Fare!
GET INSPIRED
Private Charter on N633AH
With a private charter flight on Makers Air, the dream of traveling in style is still alive and well. We invite you to join us for a truly memorable travel experience.
N633AH is a custom interior Cessna Grand Caravan EX with Executive Oasis Club seating up to eight (8) passengers, unlike any in the region. With six overstuffed white leather executive seats, one (1) Divan seat for two, and executive tables, this aircraft is the perfect solution to business or pleasure travel. With its island-chic luxurious feel, your vacation will begin the moment you board.
AMPLE CARGO SPACE
Private Charter Services aboard our Executive Commuter Aircraft
Traveling with Makers Air to the Bahamas or throughout Florida will leave you feeling like royalty without the complexity of traditional air travel.
With four (4) Executive Commuter Models in our fleet, we have options to accommodate the luggage that comes with a family vacation, or even the fishing gear needed to finally catch the big one!
Trade crowded terminals for a boutique lounge with complimentary pre-flight bites and beverages so you can start vacationing pronto.
Our dedicated provisions, cargo and freight service offers frequent, reliable service to all our scheduled destinations in the Bahamas and private freight charters to any destination from our base in Fort Lauderdale.
SCDNR courtesy boat inspections set for July 4th holiday weekend
Officers will perform quick but thorough safety inspections at boat landings across the state July 2, July 3 and July 4
In an effort to keep people and waterways safe during the Independence Day holiday, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Law Enforcement Division will once again be conducting courtesy boat inspections at some public boat landings around the state. The Fourth of July weekend is the year’s busiest weekend on state waters, and officers want to do everything possible to keep boaters out of harm’s way.
SCDNR officers will perform quick but thorough inspections for required safety equipment and proper boat and motor registration. Those who are not in compliance with safety regulations or registration requirements will not be ticketed during the complimentary inspections. Instead, they will be given an opportunity to correct the problem before they launch their boat. SCDNR officers will also be available to answer questions and give boaters tips on how to stay safe on the water.
Additional courtesy boat inspections will also be hosted later in July.
To report boating violations such as reckless operation or an intoxicated boat operator, call the SCDNR toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-922-5431. For a copy of South Carolina’s boating regulations, to find out about local boating safety courses or to obtain a free float plan form, contact the SCDNR Boating Safety Office at 1-800-277-4301 or visit the Boater Education page.
Courtesy inspection sites for July 2, July 3 and July 4:
Date
Landing
Time
County
7/2/2022
Bass Pro Shop – ICW
10am-Noon
Horry
7/2/2022
Lake Murray Dam
10am-Noon
Lexington
7/2/2022
South Cove Park – Lake Keowee
10am-Noon
Oconee
7/2/2022
Ebenezer Park Landing – Lake Wylie
10am-Noon
York
7/3/2022
Riverfork Boat Ramp – Lake Hartwell
10am-Noon
Anderson
7/3/2022
Alex Harvin Landing – Lake Marion
10am-Noon
Clarendon
7/3/2022
Bennetts Pt Boat Ramp – ICW
10am-Noon
Colleton
7/3/2022
East Bay Street Boat Ramp – ICW
10am-Noon
Georgetown
7/3/2022
Clearwater Cove – Lake Wateree
10am-Noon
Kershaw
7/3/2022
Galivants Ferry Landing – Little Pee Dee
10am-Noon
Marion
7/4/2022
Remleys Pt Boat Ramp – CHS Harbor
10am-Noon
Charleston
7/4/2022
Greenwood State Park – Lake Greenwood
10am-Noon
Greenwood
7/4/2022
Society Hill Landing – Great PeeDee River
10am-Noon
Marlboro
7/4/2022
Billy Dreher Island State Park
10am-Noon
Newberry
7/4/2022
Twelve Mile Park – Lake Hartwell
10am-Noon
Pickens
7/4/2022
Ebenezer Park Landing – Lake Wylie
10am-Noon
York
SCDNR law enforcement officers will offer courtesy boat inspections throughout the state during the July 4th weekend.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Rembert C. Dennis Building 1000 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Whether you are planning to visit the Outer Banks this summer, or live here and want to get to know our islands a little better, we hope you’ll make time to appreciate and rediscover our parks.
Our sincerest thanks to Greg and Barbara Allard for once again sharing their thoughts and beautiful photography from their Bahamas cruises. These photos and descriptions will have you aching to follow in Meander‘s wake! For more this excellent photography, type Allard in our Homepage search window for letters from previous cruises. For more on the OWW, see Greg Allard on the Okeechobee Waterway, June 14, 2022.
Hello everyone – This will be our last Letter from our 2022 cruise to the Bahamas. After two years of not visiting the Bahamas due to the pandemic, we were thrilled to return in March.
This trip was not without its challenges, as it was one of the windiest times in the Bahamas that we can recall.
“People who live on continents get into the habit of regarding the ocean as journey’s end, the full stop at the end of the trek. For people who live on islands, the sea is always the beginning. It’s the ferry to the mainland, the escape route from the boredom and narrowness of home.”
Towards the end of May, a larger than usual number of fishing boats, center consoles and larger sportfish boats, appeared in the Bahamas from the U.S. This group had landed a beautiful yellowfin tuna. From the opposite side of the fish, they have already cut out the two large fillets which are on the table in the foreground.
Any time fish are being cleaned, sharks show up for the discarded pieces. The shark on the right is a nurse shark, relatively harmless as sharks go. However the shark on the left is a bull shark, one of the most aggressive sharks; Bahamians fear them. The bull shark has a wound on the right side of his head, likely from a spear. It is illegal to take sharks in the Bahamas.
Children on the way to school. All children in the Bahamas wear uniforms to school. With the troubled educational system in our own country, this would not seem to be a bad idea. No flaunting of expensive or trendy clothes. Every child, regardless of economic status, starts off at least on the same foot.
Bahamian Steve Johnson, the manager of the Great Harbour Marina. A hands-on accomplished professional, as well as an all around good guy.
Takiya, our waitress for lunch at the very good local restaurant Coolie Mae’s. A great smile and a terrific personality.
Once the hurricane season arrives on June 1st , cruisers in the Bahamas need to have a plan. If you are several hundred miles from the U.S., some very fast boats can “run home” if a hurricane threatens; other cruising boats do not have the speed to outrun such storms, and must find a safe harbor, dock, or anchorage. We watched as Alex, the first named storm of the season, developed into a Tropical Storm and passed over Florida. The eastern edge of Alex produced winds where we were to over 40 knots.
So it was time for us to say goodbye to the beautiful islands of the Bahamas, and begin our voyage back to the U.S. For us that meant two long passages over open ocean waters, each trip about 9-10 hours total. You can’t just leave on any day; you have to constantly monitor the weather, in particular the wind, waves and thunderstorms. Sometimes the actual weather doesn’t match the forecast, and it gets a bit “salty”, a euphemism for nasty and rough. If I am ever reincarnated, I want to come back as a weather forecaster, where I can be wrong 50% of the time, and still be paid.
After a successful passage back to the east coast of Florida, we cross to the west coast using the Lake Okeechobee Waterway. In 1937 the government created a waterway to cross the center of Florida by using the St. Lucie River (on the east coast of FL), Lake Okeechobee (a large lake in the center of the state), and the Caloosahatchee River (on the west coast). Five locks had to be built, since the lake is about 15’ above sea level, and as the boats traverse the Waterway, they have to be lifted up the level of the lake, and then down on the other side. In some places the rivers were just too small and shallow so they had to be dredged and many portions were converted into straight canals. By using the Lake Okeechobee Waterway, we save about 150 miles, instead of going around the southern end of Florida (through the Keys) and then up the west coast. With the current cost of diesel, that means a savings for us of about $1,000. The Waterway itself delivers a time-warp view of old Florida, and it’s a fascinating place.
Along the St. Lucie river portion of the Waterway, we stayed for an evening at the Indiantown Marina, a true “old Florida” boatyard. There are literally hundreds of boats stored there, on land. Some are being worked on, and are in nice condition. Others, many others, like the one in the above photo, are well past ever again going to sea.
Here is a close-up of the bow of the boat in the prior picture. The boat is made of steel, and as you can see there is “some” rust in the area of the anchor pulpit. Surprised it just hasn’t fallen off.
Along the St. Lucie, we came upon this eagle. The eagles are returning to this area, and to many other places in Florida.
We were docked in the Caloosahatchee River, part of the western Waterway, when a huge thunderstorm came through; thirty minutes later, this was the view.
____________
As you know, we avoid politics in these Letters; our purpose is to let you meet the people we encounter, and to see some of the beautiful places where we cruise.
That being said, we will end this year’s Letters with this wonderful quote:
“Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.” ― Mark Twain
We hope you have enjoyed these Letters and we are pleased that you could join us on this journey.
Warmest regards.
Greg and Barbara M/V Meander
Copyright Greg Allard 2022 FV: 6/21/2022
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Comments from Cruisers (1)
Joseph Nekola- June 24, 2022 - 11:40 am
Greg, I thoroughly enjoy your missives and look forward to reading them both here and in our DeFever Cruisers site.
Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club is a premier yacht club in the Abacos and A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR! If you cruise to Abacos and Marsh Harbour area, you should consider joining this great group of like minded cruisers.
We are currently experiencing a problem with our web site domain name. In the short term you can access the Club web site using the following sub-domain name:
Once again, Greg Allard shares his photography and insights in a way that delights the eye and also provides current local knowledge about a transit that many of you must make to head north and for many of you who are making the voyage for the first time. Thank you Greg!
Okeechobee Update – June 14 2022
-Greg Allard, M/V Meander
The level of the Okeechobee lake has been good, and rising with recent rains. We are in the middle of a westerly crossing now, stopped at Moore Haven. The US Army Corp of Engineers report for today shows the depth in Navigation Route #1 at 6.96’ In my experience this means that is the shallowest depth is in the buoyed cut which runs from Clewiston out into the lake. What we saw confirmed that depth. If you take that route, be certain to stay in the channel; some of the ATONS are far apart, and with a little wind you could be unknowingly pushed out of the channel. The edge of the channel is rock, not mud.
There was no sign of green slime or algae. However, the Okeechobee waterway has a good many patches, masses, almost “islands” of water hyacinth drifting around. These are tightly tangled webs. One boater, who came through the Ortona lock yesterday, reported that the lock was filled with them, and some of them wrapped around his props, almost stalling the engines.
Most of the time, in open water, you can steer around these “islands”, but yesterday, at both the Indiantown and Moore Haven railway bridges the floating masses blocked the passage. See photos below.
We have a strategy: when we are forced to go through a bunch of these floating masses, we approach slowly, look for the weakest spot, and then apply a little power to gain momentum; then, before contact, we immediately put the boat into neutral, and let the momentum of the boat push us through the mass. We do not go into forward again until the stern is entirely clear. We do have cutters on our shafts, but do not know if they are effective on the hyacinths. Don’t want to know.
In these times of high gas and diesel prices, if a cruiser wants to reach the east coast of Florida, taking the Okeechobee Waterway can save miles, time and fuel costs. Plus, it is a trip like no other.
At the Moore Haven railway bridge. The good news, the bridge was open, not always the case. The bad news: almost completely blocked with water hyacinth.
A “modest” size clump goes floating by.
A view at the Indiantown railway bridge (near the marina); not as dense, but enough loose ones floating around to mess up the engine water intakes. After passing through such an area, suggest you check the engine strainer basket at any sign of the engine(s) running warmer than usual.
A close up of one of the densely tangled patches.
The hyacinths will come and go but the appeal of the Okeechobee will remain. It is like a step back in time, a true time-warp, across central Florida. On a power post along the St Lucie stretch, we spotted this eagle, who had certainly spotted us too.
Just east of the Moore Haven lock are these intriguing cedar sentinels.
Enjoy the Okeechobee
Greg Allard
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Comments from Cruisers (1)
Gene Fuller- June 22, 2022 - 2:34 pm
Just came across the lake and to Fort Myers on June 21 and 22. Lots of water hyacinth along the shore, but none at all in the main channel or in the locks. Probably varies day by day.
The South Carolina barrier island just 30 minutes from Charleston may just be the area’s best-kept secret and, of course, is home to CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, Isle of Palms Marina.
If you are concerned about lightning strikes, these two articles will be of interest. Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $5 a month or $42 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $5 a month or $42 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
TopSide Marinas is a family owned marina company that is looking to buy and operate marinas – they are not a broker – and they would love to meet marina owners who are ready to sell. TopSide Marinas is A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!
TopSide Marinas recently acquired its third marina, North Point Yacht Club, located on Lake Belton in Temple, TX. The team saw great potential at this marina and the beautiful Lake Belton.
Our sincerest thanks to Greg and Barbara Allard for once again sharing their thoughts and beautiful photography from their Bahamas cruises. These photos and descriptions will have you aching to follow in Meander‘s wake! For more this excellent photography, type Allard in our Homepage search window for letters from previous cruises.
Greg Allard
May 30, 2022, 11:31 AM (2 days ago)
Hello everyone – Here is our third Letter from the Bahamas for 2022.
We included this photo in our Letter from 2015; it was taken a short while after this fishing boat, Summer Place from Nassau, Bahamas, had been driven aground while trying to run from a hurricane. In normal circumstances, this boat could have been salvaged and put back into service, but the complexity of the project and the estimated costs would have far exceeded its value; it would have been almost impossible (without extraordinary expense) to have the necessary barges and equipment reach the site, because of the shallow water.
The sea is unrelenting. This is a recent photo of the same wreck, showing the effects of seven years of time, tide, gales and hurricanes. There is an upside – a sunken boat such as this slowly becomes a reef, attracting all kinds of small fish and sea life, which in turn attract larger ones. As we circled the wreck, we saw an 8’ shark who had come for dinner.
Kingsley K. Charles – His eyes say it all – windows to his soul.
Every so often you encounter someone who fits the category of “One of the most interesting persons I’ve met.” He is known as “King” and he’s a native of Great Harbour Cay; his parents live here, and they had eight children. Some of his brothers and sisters now live in Nassau, Freeport, and a couple are in the U.S.
He is far from typical. His father, a minister, wanted him to be a lawyer, and he received a scholarship with help from an ex-pat on the island whose company provided it. He attended Liberty University in Virginia for three years, then began working in a bank and eventually for a brokerage company, all in the U.S. While in the U.S. he married and moved to Nashville, but the union did not work. At one point in his life he toured around the world.
He returned to Nassau, and began serious work on the passion of his life which is music. He is an extremely talented and creative musician, who then worked in Nassau for three years in the industry, including the creation of an album, which he has not finished. He was engaged to a Bahamian woman in Nassau, but that broke off.
So many young men and women who grow up on small Bahamian out-islands follow a pattern: when they finish high school (or before), they leave the island and do not return. This is where King differs: after his music work in Nassau, he said that he “Wanted to come home” to Great Harbour Cay. He mentions “home” often; this is his home. This is where he feels most grounded.
He just turned 40, is smart-smart, reads philosophy and has a high level of intellectual curiosity. He is looking for his next path in life, but he is not in a hurry.
Currently he is the Assistant General Manager at the marina on Great Harbour, a job he does extremely well.
And finally, he is a truly nice and good person. It has been a pleasure to know him.
King, performing a number of his own songs at a Friday night bar-b-que event at the marina.
Most of our photos are taken with a Nikon D7000, a superb professional level camera. But our back-up camera is….an Apple iPhone. It has one big advantage over the Nikon – it is light, goes in your pocket (so it’s always with you); plus it takes really good photos in most situations. It also has a panoramic feature: press the button, and start to pan slowly from left to right, standing in one spot and only moving the phone with your hands and arms. This photo shows a 180 degree view. When you are done scanning, the camera seamlessly stitches the whole thing together into one photo.
The mailboat has arrived, the lifeline to the cay. Yes the water is shallow for such a large boat, which is why the captain prefers to arrive and dock at the upper half of the 3’ tide. Sometimes offloading takes too long, the boat starts to sit on the bottom, and it has to power its way back out. There is a mini-van on the midship deck, being transported to some island.
When the boat docks, dozens of trucks and cars descend on the government dock to take away their goods. It is organized bedlam. This pickup truck, heavily loaded with food, is one of the last to leave the dock area.
Few restaurants in the out-islands of the Bahamas look like a major American chain restaurant. This charming but unassuming place is called Brown’s Garden, and the owner Ronnie is the excellent chef. He has no inside tables, just a bar under the blue umbrella, and a table on the other side of the road, from which this picture was taken. Fortunately for the rooster and some nearby chickens there was no poultry on the menu.
Ronnie Brown. He served us some excellent cracked conch, and a delicious salad. Unfortunately we learned that the lease on “this old building” was soon to be up, and he would not be continuing his restaurant. The pandemic was particularly hard on him, as there were almost no visitors to the island, and the economy affected the locals who had less to spend on locally cooked meals.
He intends to return to his prior career in fishing.
One day, at the Beach Club, our waitress Clinique (whom you’ve met in prior Letters) offered for us to taste a dilly. A dilly?? It is a small fruit which grows on trees, and once it is ripe it is delicious. We’ve never had one before. It’s full name is Sapodilla. (We ate it so fast we forgot to take a picture of it, so this is not one of our photos.) You can see a full sized dilly under the open one.
This is Leonard Wright, who has a long and talented career in art. He recounts that while in school he was always drawing things, and was bopped on the head by the teacher more than once for “doodling and drawing” and being distracted from “real learning.” When he was young, he went for six months to a specialized art school in Freeport, on Grand Bahama, which is the only formal art training he received. He has self-taught to work in all media including painting, (oils, acrylic, water), drawing, glass etching and wood carving.
He is 59 years old, and has four children, two boys and two girls named Bernice, Bernette, Bernard and Jeremiah. He has a private pilot’s license. He and his wife are passionate about the need for their children to have an strong education. His oldest daughter just finished law school and is preparing to take the bar exam. Two of his others are in college, one studying construction and engineering, and the other electrical engineering/aerospace. His youngest son is in high school.
He has developed a fine specialty in creative engraving on bottles. His work is superb. A truly creative, well-spoken, talented and engaging man.
A Leonard Wright creation – a beautiful beach scene on a repurposed tequila bottle. My favorite is the hogfish in the lower right. This is only one of the three sides he engraved on this square bottle. After engraving, he uses a white engraving compound to highlight the drawings.
Two of the cruise ship lines have nearby islands they stop at, about five miles away. He and his wife have a small booth there, where he sells his beautiful engraved bottles to the passengers. He can customize existing ones, or create new designs in an hour or two. When they depart, I hope they appreciate that they have left the island with an authentic craft by an extraordinarily talented Bahamian artist.
A nice home, owned by the family that runs a good local restaurant, Coolie Mae’s.
There is still a great deal of poverty on these islands. This house looks better in the photo than it does in real life. Curious how the color of the car matches the building.
One day, while visiting Ruth Adderley-Rolle’s neat little Bahamian shop, this gentleman entered. He’s Chief Sherman, Assistant District Superintendent of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. He is the responsible for all of the Berry Islands, a large area with multiple islands stretching thirty miles from Great Harbour in the north to Chubb Cay in the south. He does so with 5-6 officers. He has been with the RBPF for twenty-five years. He rotates throughout the Bahamas on assignment, and his current one has him in the Berrys for two years. Police Officers here patrol unarmed, and their 4WD Jeep police vehicles don’t have flashing lights – and likely not even a siren. There are no traffic lights here, only a handful of stop signs
A few days later, while at the outdoor Beach Club tiki bar and restaurant, Chief Sherman remembered us, came over to our table and chatted with us for a good while. He was not in uniform, but likely was on-duty. He has an engaging personality and from our observations, has built strong relationships with the people he serves.
The next time you are boating in the U.S. and complain about how the Aids to Navigation (buoys and channel markers) are inadequate or improperly placed, remember this photo of what passes for a channel marker. These are quite common. The problem with this one is that there is shallow water all around it, for some distance. Perhaps it is just a reference point, and the locals know to “go 50 yards to the west.” In some of the larger harbors there are good channel markers, but this one adds local flavor, if not navigational aid.
There are hundreds of these private little beaches.
No words necessary.
Warmest regards,
Greg and Barbara
Copyright Greg Allard, 2022
Final – 5/30/2022
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Comments from Cruisers (1)
Alan V. Cecil. (M/V SIGMACHI)- June 4, 2022 - 12:25 am
The photos and the definitive explanations accompanying each of of them of this sojourn through the Berry Islands are non-pareil! Thanks for your generosity in sharing them!
Along with Watch and Warning designations, these alphabetical listings, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee and Zulu, are used to indicate the anticipated severity of an approaching storm. And while the port restrictions are directed primarily at commercial traffic, the same port conditions allow recreational boaters to gauge the level of risk from the storm. Obviously, the further along the alphabet, the more severe the forecast for a given port or coastline. The official hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30.
HURRICANE SEASON PORT CONDITIONS AND CATEGORIES Port Conditions are set by the Captain of the Port and are used to alert the maritime community to changes in port operations needed to prepare for the storm’s arrival.
PORT CONDITION WHISKEY: Gale force winds (34 knots or 39 mph) are predicted to arrive within 72 hours. Port Status: Open to all commercial and recreational traffic.
PORT CONDITION X-RAY: Gale force winds are predicted to arrive within 48 hours. Port Status: Open to all commercial and recreational traffic.
PORT CONDITION YANKEE: Gale force winds are predicted to arrive within 24 hours. Port status: Closed to inbound traffic and vessel traffic control measures in effect on vessel movements within the port.
PORT CONDITION ZULU: Gale force winds are predicted to arrive within 12 hours. Port Status: Closed to all inbound and outbound traffic.
PORT CONDITION RECOVERY: The storm is no longer a threat to the area, however, some damage may have occurred and response and recovery operations are in progress. Port status: Reopened to outbound traffic at the completion of the port survey. Vessel traffic control measures remain in effect on vessel movements within the port.
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