King Tide season starts this week. When to expect the highest high tide of the month
Nor’easters and gravity combine for annual fall flooding
There was flooding in St. Augustine in November as a King Tide coinciding with a nor’easter. (WJXT)
JACKSONVILLE, FLA – It’s that time during the start of fall when the highest tides of the year impact our area.
King tides are the extreme high tides that occur when the gravitational forces of the sun and moon align, resulting in the highest possible tides of the year.
Fall is prime time for these astronomical events in our region, with late September through November delivering the most pronounced tidal swings. These amplify flooding risk in low-lying areas—especially in coastal zones and the St. Johns.
This year’s Harvest Moon, rising closest to the autumnal equinox, adds extra lunar gravitational pull, supercharging tidal peaks. It will coincide with a developing nor’easter that is pushing water into the river from the onshore flow, resulting in tidally trapped water that I discussed last week.
Know Your High Tide Times: Be aware of when high tide is for your specific area so you know when to expect the highest water levels.
Week of September 11: Expected to bring the highest high tide of the month, reaching 6.57 feet above mean sea level (MSL) by 11:30 Thursday morning at the beaches.
Early October: The first full week continues the trend of high tide swings with frequent marsh inundation. Tides will reach 7 feet above MSL on October 8-9.
November 6: Notably, this is predicted to be the highest astronomical tide of the year at 7.19 feet above MSL at Jacksonville Beach. Expect substantial tidal flooding in vulnerable spots if rainfall or storm surge coincide.
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Hurricanes are a part of life for coastal communities, but what happens when the storms we thought we understood get a whole lot worse? Recently, a 2024 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences proposed something that might seem shocking: a new Category 6 for the most intense tropical cyclones, with wind speeds starting at 193 mph.
At first glance, this might seem like a natural step in the face of increasingly severe weather driven by climate change. But a closer look reveals a deeper conversation with a surprising twist: some experts say a new category might not actually help.
Current Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
The case for Category 6
Researchers behind the 2024 study argue that the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which currently maxes out at Category 5 (for any storm with sustained winds of 157 mph or greater), is no longer sufficient. Their motivation is to more accurately communicate the extreme risks associated with today’s most powerful storms.
If a Category 6 were adopted, it would be reserved for the most extreme events. In fact, based on data from 1980 to 2021, the 2024 study identified five storms that would have met the criteria:
Super Typhoon Haiyan (2013): Struck the Philippines with 196 mph winds.
Hurricane Patricia (2015): Reached peak winds of 215 mph at sea in the Eastern Pacific.
Super Typhoon Meranti (2016): Had winds of 196 mph between the Philippines and Taiwan.
Super Typhoon Goni (2020): Made landfall in the Philippines with winds estimated at 196 mph.
Super Typhoon Surigae (2021): Reached wind speeds of 196 mph over the ocean east of the Philippines.
The argument against a new category
Despite the scientific motivation, the National Hurricane Center has not adopted Category 6, citing concerns that it could complicate public messaging.
Catastrophic is still catastrophic: One key argument is that the difference in damage between a high-end Category 5 and a high-end Category 6 is not meaningfully different in terms of public action. Both result in catastrophic destruction that requires immediate evacuation from vulnerable areas.
Damage is already “total”: Robert Simpson, a co-creator of the scale, argued that Category 6 is unnecessary because Category 5 already represents “total destruction”. The scale was designed to measure potential damage, and that potential doesn’t escalate in a way that warrants a new category once winds surpass the Cat 5 threshold.
It’s also important to note that the Saffir-Simpson scale is currently only used for hurricanes in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific and 4 of the 5 noted storms in the study occurred in the western North Pacific and only one occurred in the eastern Pacific. To date, there have been no storms in the Atlantic that would have reached this level.
Global activity vs. increasing intensity.
So, what about climate change’s role in all of this? While you might assume we are seeing an overall increase in hurricane frequency, the reality is more nuanced. Data from climate scientist Ryan Maue, featured on climatlas.com/tropical, reveals no significant global trend in the number of hurricanes or major hurricanes over the long term. In fact, Maue has highlighted periods of notably low global hurricane activity. A 2022 study also found a decreasing trend in global hurricane numbers from 1990 to 2021.
The real story isn’t about more storms, but stronger ones. Climate change could fuel future more destructive hurricanes with stronger winds, higher storm surges, and heavier rainfall. Warmer ocean temperatures provide more energy for storms. This supercharges the storms, leading to increased intensity. Time will tell.
What does this mean for us?
The debate over Category 6 highlights a critical challenge: how do we best communicate the evolving risks of climate change? While adding a new category might sound alarming, it could also provide a more accurate picture of the intensity of a small minority of intense storms. For the Atlantic and East Pacific basins where the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is used, there has only been one storm that reached this category in the eastern Pacific, and none have yet reached this level in the Atlantic.
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This post contains interesting information for any U.S.-registered boat, especially if you are considering traveling to Cuba.
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe. $7 a month or $56 for the year, and you may cancel at any time.
This photo, attributed by various news sites to Dan Wagner, shows Maine Inland Fisheries officers examining a Sea-Doo Switch that overturned Saturday on a lake in northwestern Maine.
A third person has died in the latest example of a Sea-Doo Switch flipping forward with awful consequences. This time, it happened on a lake in Maine, and this time it involved an 18-foot model, not a 13-footer.
And, this time, the hybrid jetski-pontoon craft was not operating at or over capacity. That is, there were seven people onboard while the posted capacity is eight people (or 1,155 pounds).
Here’s how Maine’s Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Department, which is investigating the accident, described events:
The boat was traveling towards Flagstaff Lake, and when they were in front of the beach area of the Cathedral Pines Campground, the bow of their pontoon boat started to go under. The driver, John Morris, age 50 of Eustis, attempted to raise the bow, but it continued to go under and the boat flipped, throwing all seven passengers into the water approximately 180 feet from shore.
According to an employee at the Eustis campground, campers rushed out to save passengers who had become trapped—as in prior accidents—underneath the overturned Switch. Fisheries & Wildlife spokesman Mark Latti would not confirm that, saying he would wait for investigators to make the determination.
John Morris, who can be described as an outdoorsman, did not respond to a text message. According to Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident.
The family of Noor Nasir, 22, released this photo of her in a coma at a Maine hospital before she died overnight Tuesday-Wednesday.
Two of the passengers were pronounced dead at the scene—Farhana Nasir, 53, of Selden, New York and Kiran Akbar, 23, of Lake Grove, New York. The third victim, Noor Nasir, 22, also of New York was airlifted to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where she died early Wednesday.
CPR had been performed on all three at the scene, but they were not responsive, according to Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.
Latti would not say how Morris “attempted to raise the bow” once it began to go underwater, nor would he confirm whether the vessel was going slowly or decelerating, as was the case in 2024 Switch accidents in Virginia and Florida. He did say weather and lake conditions were not believed to be a factor.
Morris may indeed have been decelerating or driving slowly, however, given that he was passing in front of the Cathedral Pines Campground swimming area, and the boat was within Maine’s standing no-wake zone, which extends 200 feet from shore.
The Virginia accident took the life of a nine-year-old girl on Fourth of July, 2024 when the family’s 13-foot Switch overturned. Then, on Labor Day weekend 2024, a similar forward flip caused a 15-month-old Florida girl to nearly drown, leaving her with a lifelong “catastrophic anoxic brain injury.”
The Inland Fisheries & Wildlife news release answered a standard question raised by any boating accident: Were the people on board wearing lifejackets? In the Maine case, the answer was no. But it is worth noting that in both the Virginia and Florida accidents, the girls were wearing lifejackets, and that fact actually proved detrimental. Both were pinned to the floor of the overturned Switch by their buoyancy, making rescue more difficult and time consuming.
The Virginia family appears to have reached an out-of-court settlement with Switch manufacturer BRP. The William Grullon has filed a $30 million lawsuit against BRP, which is winding its way through Circuit Court in Jacksonville, Florida.
“They have a lot of explaining to do. So very sad for these families. This thing (the Switch) is like the Ford Pinto,” said Grullon lawyer Judd Rosen, responding to the latest accident. (The Pinto was a subcompact 1970s car that was the subject of 117 lawsuits alleging that a design defect allowed its gas tank to catch fire or explode even in low-impact rear-end collisions.)
Writing in the Grullon lawsuit against BRP, Rosen blamed water intrusion in the outer pontoons for Switch nosedives when decelerating:
Specifically, the defect in the subject Sea-Doo Switch was that it was designed in a manner where the vessel became unstable due to water shifting inside the pontoons during normal operation or changes of speed, water becoming trapped inside the pontoons such that it changed the buoyancy of the subject vessel, water becoming trapped inside the pontoons changing the center of gravity and stability of the vessel, an unstable design of the subject vessel such that it would lose buoyancy and become unstable during normal operation or changes in speed, defective and/or missing baffles inside the pontoons such that the vessel would become unstable as a result of foreseeable water intrusion.
This argument had echoed a theory advanced in Loose Cannon’s very first article on the Switch phenomenon:
In February, BRP announced a safety recall of all Switch models. “Improper distribution of passengers and cargo weight could overload the front of the watercraft and cause instability, nosediving and possibly lead to capsizing,” Sea-Doo said in the recall notice. “The condition worsens if water evacuation from the hull is not optimal. This could cause serious injuries or even death.”
The recall involved affixing a label warning against overloading the bow, and, according to owners on Facebook, the application of caulking on the outer hulls. BRP has also issued a new training video and updated the Switch manual, urging owners to review both. At one point, the manual warned owners not to try powering out of a nosedive, saying that accelerating would tend to plunge the bow down further.
The Switch in the Eustis accident was purchased in 2024 before the recall. Latti said investigators would determine whether it had undergone the recall work.
Latti also said his department’s investigators would not limit their inquiry to questions of human culpability but would report on whether they believed design factors contributed to the accident.
“There will be a very thorough investigation, and then we’ll do what we always do and sit down with the district attorney and determine any charges,” Latti said.
The Swich in the Maine accident before it was recovered by Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.
LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Sometimes he tries to be funny. Subscribe for free to support the work. If you’ve been reading for a while—and you like it—consider upgrading to paid.
Makers Air and Staniel Cay Yacht Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, offer convenient flights to the Bahamas.
Just in time for fall getaways, winter vacations, and spring breaks, The Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board $250 Air Creditis back — but only for a limited time!
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 the same, regardless of their home port.
AIWA Annual Meeting
Registration Now Open
November 18-20, 2025 Savannah, Georgia
The AIWA is pleased to announce registration is now open for our Annual Meeting on November 18-20 in Savannah, Georgia.
We have a number of success stories to share and upcoming projects to discuss as a part of our program, along with a range of topics of interest to all waterway stakeholders.
Invitations have been extended to our federal partners at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, and the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. We will have presentations on navigation successes along the waterway, and you can expect an update on activities and what to expect in Washington, D.C., along with a panel discussion from our dredging partners, and more.
Thanks to our supporting sponsors who make the annual meeting possible. Sponsor opportunities are available.
Learn more by visiting the annual meeting website to access registration and sponsorships.
The Annual Meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. A limited number of rooms are available for the discounted rate of $289 per night until October 17th.
We look forward to seeing you this November!
What We’re Watching in Washington
Congress considers appropriations bills, final days before fiscal year ends
With Congress returning from the August recess, they have a number of big ticket items to complete before the end of the fiscal year on September 30th. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like there is much of an appetite to fund the twelve appropriations bills at this time so we are looking at two likely scenarios. Congress will either pass a Continuing Resolution funding the federal government at the current levels, or the government will enter a shutdown. It is possible that both may occur and there’s no current clarity on which might happen first.
Looking forward
Below is a table outlining our recent success and updating the current state of waterway funding in the House bill. It is still a possibility that we could surpass the $220 million in waterway funding over the past five years with another successful funding cycle in 2026. However, we await further progress on how the appropriations process might proceed in Congress.
‘Navigational News’ from our partners at Aqua Map, and AIWA Member Robert (Bob) Sherer:Auto-routing (Route Planner in Aqua Map) is now available. The auto-routing function incorporates numerous safety checks and utilizes the latest NOAA and USACE survey data in planning routes. Features include:
• Only the latest NOAA charts are used for planning, updated weekly from NOAA’s chart database.
• Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) survey charts are used where available. This is especially valuable for the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), for entrances to harbors, and for rivers along the Great Loop.
• Trusted tracks or routes can be used in shoaling areas where even the USACE surveys don’t show the current water levels. For example, if part of your route lies on the Atlantic ICW, you can instruct Route Planner to follow the ‘Bob423’ track for the section of your route that lies on the ICW. Any trusted route or track can be used in this manner.
• The auto-routes can easily be manually edited to avoid hazards not evident on NOAA or USACE surveys.
• Hazards detected by Route Planner are highlighted for your examination.
• Starting and ending points can be chosen by name from a Points of Interest (POI) list or manually selected with a long press on the chart.
• The route distance, time, and fuel used are listed for the route.
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.
This post contains interesting information for any U.S.-registered boat, especially if you are considering traveling to Cuba.
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe. $7 a month or $56 for the year, and you may cancel at any time.
Three fishing vessels used by drug smugglers were seized and remain tied to mangroves at Luperon Bay in the Dominican Republic.
I started to write this story about Luperon Bay in the Dominican Republic two Mondays ago, but at 7:30 a.m. I got the message that Fernando Capellan’s luxury catamaran was destroyed by lightning.
That news changed the focus of my workday, as you can see:
The story I had been about to publish was actually good news for this popular hurricane refuge, and the fiery doom of Capi IV, herself docked at Luperon, did not really fit that narrative.
The good news: Luperon Bay appears to have turned the corner regarding it’s chronic petroleum spills. This slow-motion environmental disaster had begun sometime after 2021, when Dominican authorities exiled Puerto Plata’s ramshackle fishing fleet so as not to spoil the view for cruise ship guests arriving at the city’s newly opened Taino Bay cruiseship port.
Taino Bay cruiseport can handle three or more cruise ships at the same time.
This was the very definition of a Faustian bargain: Send your fishing fleet to a designated national wildlife refuge to spare American tourists the sight of rusting hulls and petroleum sheens near the cruise ship dock. After the move, fuel spills became a regular occurrence in Luperon Bay, often saturating the air with a smell of petroleum strong enough at times to wake members of the foreign sailboat population from a deep sleep.
American Captain Liza Hash, former master of a dive boat, is serving three years in U.S. federal prison right now for pumping her oily bilge overboard at sea, not in a wildlife refuge. There was no corresponding law enforcement effort to combat multiple offenses in Luperon, even though Dominican laws are similar.
The elephant in the room was the fact that some number of the fishing fleet—25 or so boats at its height—were controlled by members of a drug cartel. Apparently, this had a paralyzing effect on local officialdom. Once the principals were arrested as part of “Operation Buffalo NK” in September 2024, three of the fishing boats under their control were seized and today remain in Luperon Bay tied to mangroves.
At the same time, the fleet was shrinking because of what could be described as a Darwin factor. Beginning in May 2023, five fishing boats were destroyed by fire attributed to careless fuel handling, not including a boat damaged and its crewman killed by an explosion caused by him cleaning the engine with gasoline.
And then, recently, the rest of the fleet just went away—no official statement or fanfare. Spills have stopped (except for that one time when a salvage boat was being refueled at the government dock during the effort to remove the sunken hulks of the burnt vessels).
According to a source, the next water-quality challenge will be to connect more homes in this village of about 17,000 people to its sewage treatment plant, operational since January 2021 but never built out fully.
Typical view during the era-of fuel spills in Luperon Bay. Two of the foreign cruiser boats are at lower left. There are sometimes as many as 100 of them on moorings or at anchor here.
LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Sometimes he tries to be funny. Subscribe for free to support the work. If you’ve been reading for a while—and you like it—consider upgrading to paid.
An Evening at McLeod – Sept 28 – Charleston County Parks
An Evening at McLeod
On September 28, McLeod Plantation Historic Site hosts an evening of music, art, and history in support of the Charleston County Parks Foundation’s Cultural History Fund. This event showcases musicians from the Charleston Symphony as they perform transformative works by Charlton Singleton, Florence Price, and Jessie Montgomery, honoring the site’s legacy and impactful history. The event also features displays celebrating African American artists and hors d’oeuvres from Carolima’s Lowcountry Cuisine. Get your tickets today.
What’s Happening In Your Parks during September – Charleston County Parks
An Evening at McLeod
On September 28, McLeod Plantation Historic Site hosts an evening of music, art, and history in support of the Charleston County Parks Foundation’s Cultural History Fund. This event showcases musicians from the Charleston Symphony as they perform transformative works by Charlton Singleton, Florence Price, and Jessie Montgomery, honoring the site’s legacy and impactful history. The event also features displays celebrating African American artists and hors d’oeuvres from Carolima’s Lowcountry Cuisine. Get your tickets today.
Sip, Sing & Soar
Flock together for a one-of-a-kind happy hour at Caw Caw Interpretive Center on September 27! Enjoy live music, cold drinks, and plenty of good company. Don’t wait—early birds who grab their Birds of a Feather tickets ahead of time save $5!
The Pickled Huguenot
Reserve your seat at the table for a food history lesson! On September 19, Julian Gooding will be teaching the art of pickling vegetables while sharing tales of the French Huguenots who brought this food preservation technique to the American South. Julian’s classes always fill quickly, so toss your name in the pot today.
Fall into the Music
Mark your calendars! Palmetto Park Jam returns on October 12, featuring Idlewild Revival, the ultimate Allman Brothers tribute band. So, if you need a break from tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best you can, get your tickets today!
New Day, New You
Greet the new day with an intention-setting workout – and a view no yoga studio can match! Start your morning right at Sunrise Yoga at Kiawah Beachwalker Park on September 6 to awaken your mind, body, and spirit.
We’d Love Your Input!
Our quick 6-question survey takes just a few minutes, and your feedback helps us make our parks and programs even better for you. As a thank you, you’ll be entered to win a Gold Pass! Survey closes September 1, 2025.
SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE brings you aboard as we joust our way back onto the water. We’ve come a long way with a ways to go… Your support is essential. Thank you. J
If you’ve just joined our engaging little community, please read SPARS & SPARRING, my introductory piece.…. ~J
Before we get to this week’s piece, please indulge me. Over 1800 folks viewed last week’s story, BOARDING SOLO, about my experience connecting with a fellow human being on a plane to Africa. I received a harsh opinion indicating that some of my word choices could be construed as inappropriate and/or offensive. I want to be perfectly clear in conveying that not a single word or description in that essay is derogatory; I’ve spent sleepless nights since hoping I haven’t hurt anyone and considering what is right. Therefore, I’m very interested in this audience’s perception of how I told the story, if you are so inclined. There is never pressure here. Any aspect, any tangent, any commentary is more than welcome and I’m grateful that some of you already voiced your thoughts, all of which were positive. Messages go to my personal inbox and are not public.
In case you didn’t have time to peruse it and want to:
It’s difficult to fathom that JAWS was released over fifty years ago. My mom wouldn’t let me see it for years, and probably with good reason, as beach vacations were her favorite by far, and mine, of course, as a water lover. Why ruin that? She was right, I think, to make me wait. I’ve always wondered (don’t you?) what’s beneath my toes in murky water and that movie was certainly impactful; ocean swimming plummeted, especially around Cape Cod. Great White Sharks were demonized; their reputation went from interesting and potentially dangerous to terrifying, mystifying, persistent and huge.
I’m feeling like our world has gone from interesting and (merely) potentially dangerous to (downright) terrifying on a slew of levels and locations. I have lots of apprehension about what happens next in the United States government, but for now, here on STEADFAST, all I know is that “I’m gonna need a bigger brush.”
There are few movie lines that have stuck with me through the decades, and that one derives from JAWS, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” The balance of my favorite escapes are from Gone With the Wind and Casablanca. In fact, the latter has a perfect tie-in to last week’s tale of two interconnected encounters, “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine,” Rick.
On the topic of big vessels and small brushes, please click this link to see my first video attempt EVER. No judging.
We will, eventually, use bigger brushes…
These ‘chip’ brushes are what we use to get paint and protective products into the seams, cracks, crevices and all places that dominate our projects. The handles are wooden with no plastic components. While semi-disposable (I reuse when I can), they do eliminate the need for earth-unfriendly cleaning solutions. Everything, it seems, is a trade-off.
In general, boat maintenance is not environmentally friendly, but environmentalists still have boats; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute on the southern edge of Massachusetts’ famous peninsula came out with the first JAWS anniversary shirt I saw this summer, “We’ve got a pretty big boat.” And they do. If you’re a blue-water ocean creatures fan, I highly recommend their newsletter. The non-profit funding status seems uncertain (there is discussion in that link) and hopefully they remain able to continue their outreach and research.
If it’s been a while, I highly recommend JAWS, again. Actual screenshot by me.
Itfeels like a good year to make some popcorn from scratch and settle in for a classic escape from reality. Or two. ~J
No reality here. CHATGPT.
In our whirlwind lives, it’s hard to describe what a privilege it is to have so many people read my work on a weekly basis; I find it humbling, frankly, and hope I am becoming both a better writer and a more conscious, effective human. If you think SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE is worth sharing, the easiest thing to do is click the little recycle symbol just below here, which somehow sends my work through the collective universe to folks none of us have met, yet.
Trick, Treat & Trail Family Fun Run and Festival on Oct. 25 Get in the Halloween spirit with a fun-filled event for the whole family!
From: Sarah Reynolds <Sarah.Reynolds@ccprc.com> Date: August 25, 2025 at 1:00:00 PM EDT To: Sarah Reynolds <Sarah.Reynolds@ccprc.com> Subject:Trick, Treat & Trail set for Oct. 25: Family Fun Run and Festival at Wannamaker County Park
Trick, Treat & Trail Family Fun Run and Festival on Oct. 25 Get in the Halloween spirit with a fun-filled event for the whole family!
{NORTH CHARLESTON} — Get ready for a spook-tacular time at the second annual Trick, Treat & Trail Family Fun Run and Festival! Hosted by Charleston County Parks, the event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, beginning at 10 a.m., at Wannamaker County Park.
Check-in for the event and trick-or-treat bag distribution will be held from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Tupelo Shelter at Wannamaker County Park. The fun run begins at 10 a.m. The course closes for runners at 10:45 a.m. The course will re-open for trick or treating from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Festival will be open for the entirety of the event 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. A costume contest will be held at 12:15 p.m. Registration includes a custom trick-or-treating bag, finisher medal, and candy.
Participants are invited to dress in costume. Prizes will be awarded for the best Halloween costume in the following age categories: Under 6, 6-8, 9-10, 11-15, 16-20, and 20 and up. Awards will also be presented for the best pet costume, best duo costume, and best group costumes of 3 or more. The costume contest will be held shortly after noon.
Admission to the race and event will be charged per vehicle of up to 15 people. Advance registration is $20 per vehicle and ends Wednesday, Oct. 23. If not sold out, registration will be available on-site for $25 per vehicle only until 12 p.m. Advance registration is recommended. Register for the event on the event webpage at https://www.ccprc.com/3715/Trick-Treat-Trail.
The fun run is open to runners and walkers of all levels, including beginners. Accessible parking and restrooms are available. The route includes a grass meadow and paved trails. This is a loop course with water stations and an optional shortcut route. Dogs are allowed at this event but must remain leashed and under control at all times.
This event is hosted by Charleston County Parks. For more information about this event and to register, please visit https://www.ccprc.com/3715/Trick-Treat-Trail or call (843)-795-4386.
Owned by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, Wannamaker County Park is located at 8888 University Boulevard in North Charleston, SC (Hwy 78). The mission of CCPRC is to improve the quality of life in Charleston County by offering a diverse system of park facilities, programs and services. The large park system features over 11,000 acres of property and includes four land parks, three beach parks, three dog parks, a skate park, two landmark fishing piers, three waterparks, 19 boat landings, a climbing wall, a challenge course, an interpretive center, a historic plantation site, an equestrian center, cottages, a campground, a marina, as well as wedding, meeting and event facilities.The park system also offers a wide variety of recreational services – festivals, camps, classes, programs, volunteer opportunities, and more. For more information, call 843-795-4386 or visit www.charlestoncountyparks.com.
Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission / 861 Riverland Dr. / Charleston, SC 29412 / (843) 795-4386
This post contains interesting information for any U.S.-registered boat, especially if you are considering traveling to Cuba.
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe. $7 a month or $56 for the year, and you may cancel at any time.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Maple, a bouy tender whose homeport is Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, made the interception.
This is a weird one. The Coast Guard pulled a U.K. citizen named Miles Connors off a sailboat 40 miles south of Florida, brought him back to the U.S. and then charged him with being in the country illegally.
According to the federal criminal complaint against Connors, investigators found that Connors had been in the country illegally before sailing aboard Stormy Weather with two other people, bound for Cuba.
The two other people were identified only as S.V. and A.A. in court documents. Stormy Weather is a Florida registered boat owned by S.V., a Canadian who had entered the U.S. in July “on a valid non-immigrant B2 visa.” A.A. was captain of the vessel, described as a Russian-born U.S. citizen.
Connors, according to the complaint, “had several previous interactions with U.S. Immigration authorities,” beginning in 2006. His first deportation happened in 2008 at a port of entry in northern New York. The complaint picks up the narrative:
Subsequent to his first removal Connors was unlawfully found in the United States again, having entered at an unknown time and date. Connors was apprehended in the United States for driving without a license. His order of removal was reinstated, and he was ultimately removed on a flight from New York to the United Kingdom. His second removal occurred on June 29, 2010.
Connors was removed with the name “Myles Anthony O’Connor.” That name was listed on his previous passport, but his current passport reflects the name Miles Anthony Connors. Biometric checks revealed that Connors has gone by several variations of the same name. These records also revealed that Connors has an outstanding warrant in Pennsylvania from January of 2025.
The encounter with the Coast Guard happened at 11 a.m. on August 20 about 40 miles south of Marathon, Florida, the boat’s departure point. The Coast Guard was able to terminate the voyage and seize the vessel—at least temporarily—because it was determined that it did not have a Coast Guard permit to enter Cuba or Cuban territorial waters.
All three people were taken aboard the Cutter Maple, which proceeded to tow Stormy Weather back to Marathon. The boat’s Florida registry—a U.S. vessel—gives the Coast Guard jurisdiction over her anywhere in the world, even though the owner is Canadian.
(This should provide an example to those readers who continue to insist, contrary to all public information on the issue, that Americans can legally travel by boat to Cuba. Coast Guard form 3300 “permit to enter Cuban territorial waters” may exist, but Coast Guard officers have been instructed not to approve any 3300 application, as doing so would be contrary to U.S. foreign policy. You can’t get a permit, and going without a permit is unlawful, as the crew of Stormy Weather has learned.)
So, according to court documents, Connors had left but was brought back to face charges that he had been in the U.S. illegally before he left. Connors faces up to two years in prison for illegal reentry into the U.S. The documents don’t say what penalties, if any, S.V. and A.A. may face. They were given Miranda warnings while being interviewed.
If you know these people, please share their names so we can get some more answers.
LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Every so often he tries to be funny. Subscribe for free to support the work. If you’ve been reading for a while—and you like it—consider upgrading to paid.
SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE brings you aboard as we joust our way back onto the water. We’ve come a long way with a ways to go… Your support is essential. Thank you. J
If you’ve just joined our engaging little community, please read SPARS & SPARRING, my introductory piece.…. ~J
Please find this interconnectedness story a pleasant diversion from boatwork. For all of us.
I recounted this story at a friend’s dinner party and we could not stop raising our eyebrows. I’m not a big believer in coincidence; there are higher powers at work. This tale is not fiction. Let’s consider it the power of the universe, if you believe in such things. Or even if you don’t.
A handful of years ago, I booked a window ticket on one of those bulky, world-covering Boeings from Washington, DC southeast across a large portion of the planet; a trip through both time and space to Johannesburg, South Africa. My receipt indicated no stops, seventeen hours in the air. I settled in, gazing out and about. I can never stop myself from wondering how so many people can be going to the same place from the same place at the very same time as I am.
The passenger assigned next to me arrived as late as possible with an eclectic assortment of carry-ons. She settled in as well, clearly a seasoned traveler in colorful garb that emphasized her shiny, exotic, elephant-wrinkled ebony skin and regal air. A brilliantly aged African character in a tall head wrap straight out of National Geographic Magazine was sitting in 29B.
I was awed, and, for once, quietly considered protocol. She leaned her cane between us, greeting me politely but not openly, socks pulled high. The standard take-off rigamarole ensued with the pilot announcing that our arrival in Ghana was estimated to be slightly ahead of schedule. Ghana? Seriously? I scanned the cabin. “You are leaving me there,” she told me in a stunning mix of accents, and then, a completely different topic, “Where’s your husband?” she asked gently while somehow also eyeing me suspiciously. I explained my rendezvous plan to no avail or approval and we settled in, she watching a movie and me reading, dozing, gazing. With barely a glance in my direction, as sunrise arrived with croissants and tea, she began to speak, the same low, lyrical tone and clear command of English I had been treated to the evening prior.
Borrowed from SAA, couldn’t locate mine…
“In my country you pick your husband by his foofoo soup,” was her opening line. I raised my eyebrows, universal for that was unexpected….among other things…she continued, unphased. “Now, you remember dis,” it was a softly commanded request that I pay attention to her story, and her culture, and the importance of both.” In order to be a good husband you have to make foofoo soup. And just right. If he can’t make foofoo soup, he’s no good.” She nodded her elegant, wisened visage seriously, “I taught my son, and he married happy. I just saw him, two months, with a grandbebe.,” She went through the recipe and that, I admittedly, have lost to time, but I recall Cassava, which even as a Caterer I didn’t utilize on my traditional American menu.
As she spoke the animation grew; she told of a boy who failed the test and was heartbroken, and one who excelled and was chosen, assumably to live happily ever after. I was enthralled far more by the telling, even, than by the tale.
As the day brightened we landed on the beach-outlined coastline of Ghana, West Africa, a place I had never expected to be. I stood and she solemnly shook my hand upon departure; ensuring with a single finger in front of my nose that I would always remember what she had shared. Her straight, retreating back is the last thing I recall of her, shrugging off all offers of assistance.
I settled back into 29A and allowed my phone to find a cell tower, regardless of the fees. Those of us continuing on were not allowed to touch the ground here, and we had a tropical two-hour wait. I went through my peeps, especially those I had lost track of and sent them a text that simply said, “The only text message you will ever receive from Ghana.” Those random messages, my favorite kind, elicited interesting responses, amusing me for days. One was something about being shanghaied on a pirate ship; and now I wonder, how’s that for foreshadowing?
Upon my return to DC two weeks later I requested a long UBER ride and found myself behind the driver of a spotlessly clean older model Mercedes, remarkably reminiscent of Thailand and the gentleman I had hired there for pennies on the dollar. He peered at me in his rear-view mirror with a beautiful smile that split his strong coffee-colored face, and was careful to annunciate his words as he read the address of our destination. “Yes, thank you,” I told him, as he focused on his (I assume) lonely customer service job, the one where people aren’t interested, don’t inquire, don’t converse, preferring the comfort zone of their phone. My eyes were tired, my phone tucked away.
I let him navigate Dulles International Airport traffic and hesitated for a moment or two, wondering selfishly if a conversation would be complicated as he was clearly from far elsewhere, and a bit uncomfortable, perhaps, trying to make a living in a foreign land. I had a feeling, call it intuition, six sense, whatever, that I should delve in. “Where are you from?” I inquired, an ordinary go-to, given the circumstances. “Ah. West Africa, Miss. I am from Ghana,” he glanced again in the small rear-view, to gauge my reaction, my knowledge of geography, my inclusion, my acceptance.
“Ah,” I said in return. “You make good fufu soup?” The dark eyes widened. “You know fufu soup?” he was comically incredulous and expressive to hear of something from his homeland, I’m sure of it. I’m no hero, and not trying to be, but let me tell you that the connection I made with that man in that car will never be forgotten. I told him that I had just been there, and it was beautiful, and about the seemingly powerful, impressive woman on the plane. “When did you fly?” he asked, and I considered, finally producing the date. “That is my mother,” he told me, his voice mimicking hers now, “I miss her very much.”
I have never forgotten. ~J
Tell the world about your otherworldly connection, please.
What’s Happening In Your Parks Aug/Sept – Charleston County Parks
Back-to-School Party!
On August 23, join us to convince your kids that being back in school is a good thing. We’ll have a DJ spinning tunes, jump castles, face painting, school supply giveaways, and more. This Back to School Kickoff in McClellanville will definitely be more fun than homeroom on a Monday morning – plus it’s free, no tickets or reservations needed!
Dance the Night Away!
Feel the rhythm, catch the ocean breeze, and dance the night away at our Moonlight Mixer! On August 22, the Folly Beach Pier comes alive with the sounds of the Dave Landeo Band, rolling waves, and happy feet. Secure your spot today and let summer’s soundtrack carry you away.
On the Run
Count down the days to cooler weather – and our fall races! Whether you’re a serious rain-or-shine runner or just need a nudge to get outside and move more, our Lowcountry Trail Run, on October 4, promises a friendly competition and scenic sites along the way. Can’t get enough of running the trails? Trick, Treat & Trail is a festive family fun run in late October and November’s Chili Trail Run offers more dirt-packed fun. Why not sign up for them all!
Breathe In…
Forget about twisting yourself into a pretzel. Gentle Yoga Flow, our new active living program, is more focused on chill than cool. In this six-week series, you can improve balance and flexibility, increase range of motion and enhance your sense of calm.
Our quick 6-question survey takes just a few minutes, and your feedback helps us make our parks and programs even better for you. As a thank you, you’ll be entered to win a Gold Pass!
Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
Autumn unwinds in Elizabeth City and you should too!
Our new self-service kayak kiosk at College Park (600 Southern Avenue) allows users to quickly grab a kayak by downloading the Rent.Fun app and scanning the QR code on the kiosk. The launch brings a splash of adventure right to our community’s doorstep! Read more here.
On Friday September 4 at 4 pm, Elizabeth City Downtown Inc. is hosting the First Friday ArtWalk where downtown art studios and businesses host guest artists and musicians.
Tuesday’s in September through September 23rd enjoy free live music at Music on the Green, held at Mariners’ Wharf on our beautiful downtown waterfront at 6 pm. This event is hosted by Elizabeth City Downtown Inc. and free to attend.
On Thursday September 11th at 8 pm, ECSU Community Connections presents, Step Afrika! which blends stepping, live drumming and storytelling into an electrifying performance. This event is free to attend but registration is required.
September 13th at 7 pm, College of the Albemarle Performing arts center presents, The “Original” Moonlighters- One of the country’s premier Motown and variety cover bands. Tickets can be purchased here.
September 26-27 at 2 pm & 7 pm, Arts of the Albemarle presentsthe Manhattan Short Film Fest. Over 100,000 film lovers in over 500 cities across six continents gather to view and vote on the Finalists’ Films . Ticket information can be found here.
September 29th through October 3rd 9 am – 4 pm, Arts of the Albemarle presents, SPLASH Week, a week long artist retreat for artists of all levels and disciplines to create in a communal studio.
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe. $7 a month or $56 for the year, and you may cancel at any time.
POLICE REPORT: The victim’s father, who was operating the vessel, proved his sobriety with a breath test at the scene. The redaction of this report was atrocious, accidentally leaving the name of the witness, Shwarting, for all to see, as well as that of another passenger and the father himself. Neeya Hussain, 9, died in the accident. Her family posted that photo of Neeya on Facebook just after her death.
At one point, the death of Neeya Hussain was going to become a nationwide “class-action lawsuit,” according to the family’s lawyer, Emily Mapp Brannon. That was in October 2024, a few months after the nine-year-old was killed when the Hussain’s Sea-Doo Switch flipped over on a Virginia Lake on the Fourth of July.
Now, Brannon isn’t talking, except to say: “You are not permitted to call my client. We are also not permitted to discuss this matter. There is no comment.” Client Nadim Hussain, who is 40, did not respond to a text.
“This is confidential information and we are not commenting on such topics publicly,” said Emilie Proulx, spokesperson for BRP, the Canadian manufacturer of the Switch, the hybrid jetski-pontoon boat in question.
Sounds like things people say when they’ve reached an out-of-court cash settlement, no?
WhenLooseCannon first published stories about Neeya’s death on Lake Anna and a similar accident that has incapacitated a Florida toddler for life, Switch owners on Facebook reacted by sharing their stories of having flipped or almost flipping when they too had suddently decelerated.
Those Facebook threads are gone, having apparently been scrubbed.
(Pro tip: Don’t assume “saving” a Facebook post is permanent. For a permanent record, take screenshots of the commentary or convert it to PDF format instead. Ask me how I know. Those “saved threads” have all been replaced by markers labeled “content not available.”)
Luigi Bazzani is an investigator working for the Miami law firm Goldberg and Rosen, which represents the family of 28-month-old Vianca Grullon in a $30 million lawsuit against BRP. She nearly died when her family’s Switch flipped over forward on the St. Johns River in Florida over Labor Day Weekend a year ago.
Bazzani is trying to find owners such as those who told their (now disappeared) Switch stories on Facebook or anyone else who recalls flipping or almost flipping the same model of jet-powered Sea-Doo watercraft. (Bazzani can be reached at 305-219-8840. His email is bazzani@me.com)
The 13-foot Seadoo Switch, the smallest model and the one involved in both accidents.
LOOSECANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Subscribe for free to support the work. If you’ve been reading for a while—and you like it—consider upgrading to paid.
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Restack
Booking window: Aug 25 – Aug 31st
Travel window: Must buy and fly by Aug 31st
Call 954-771-0330
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