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.
BoatUS is the leading advocate for boating safety in the US and A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR.
NEWS From BoatUS Boat Owners Association of The United States 5323 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22151 Read this press release online at: https://bit.ly/4dkmiXG
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com Photo 1 Available at: https://bit.ly/4m8VTjt Photo 1 Caption: This vest style life jacket is far beyond its service life. Better to replace it now at the beginning of boating season. Photo 2 Available at: https://bit.ly/3ZbCxAd Photo 2 Caption: Inspecting the CO2 cylinder on inflatable life jackets is an easy annual task. (Credit: Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore/BoatUS)
National Safe Boating Week Is May 17–23:
Now Is a Great Time to Inspect Your Life Jackets
BoatUS Foundation shows you how
SPRINGFIELD, Va., May 12, 2025 – Every year National Safe Boating Week (May 17–23) helps remind boaters to make safety a priority all summer long, and of the need for having serviceable, right-sized life jackets for everyone aboard the boat. On top of that, it’s essential jackets are worn, or at a minimum, readily available and not buried at the bottom of a locker and hard to reach. And it’s also important that they are in good condition to ensure they will work when you need them the most.
Taking a few minutes for a simple life jacket inspection now, at the beginning of summer boating season, will help put all uncertainties at ease. The nonprofit BoatUS Foundation offers the following life jacket inspection tips for National Safe Boating Week.
Annual inspection for inherently buoyant life jackets (noninflatable):
Check all hardware and straps. They should be in good shape, firmly attached and in working order. Heavily oxidized buckles, worn strapping or loose stitching mean it could be time for replacement.
Ensure that there are no rips or tears or punctures in the fabric. If you can see any encapsulated floatation material inside between the life jacket’s fabric’s inner and outer layers, it’s time to replace. You also don’t want any lumpy or hardened buoyancy material, oil saturation, or mildew, all of which weaken fabric.
Make sure that the label stating U.S. Coast Guard approval is attached and that it is readable. This may also help a potential on-water boating safety check as law enforcement will know you’ve done the right thing by having a right-sized life jacket, especially for the kids.
Got any extras attached to the life jacket? Test any strobes or personal locator beacons, and verify battery expiration dates and replace if needed.
Annual inspection for inflatable life jackets:
Open up the life jacket. Don’t be worried you won’t know how to repack as they all come with simple repacking instructions on an inside flap. The process becomes more intuitive after you do it a couple of times. Trust us.
If the shell (cover material) is dirty, spot clean with a damp rag or hand wash in warm water using mild soap, then rinse with fresh water (being careful to keep the auto-inflator dry, if it has one). Never dry clean your inflatable or use harsh chemicals (such as bleach or ammonia) to clean it. After washing, hang it on a plastic coat hanger and allow it to air dry out of direct sunlight; never dry by applying direct heat.
Once dry, inspect all parts, including the shell, webbing, stitching, pull cord, straps or buckle snaps, for wear or damage.
Inspect the inflation system by unscrewing the CO2 inflation cylinder. These cylinders may have no expiration date, but check for corrosion. The two main types of automatic inflatables are hydrostatic (pressure-sensing) and bobbin type (water-soluble) auto-inflation systems. If the unit has a hydrostatic inflator, verify that it is not expired. If a bobbin type, verify that the white “pill” is intact and hasn’t begun to crumble, and the bobbin hasn’t expired past the date printed on the plastic housing. Some bobbins may only have a printed date of manufacture – for those, simply replace at the 3-year mark, or at the interval per the product manual.
Inflate the life jacket using the oral inflation tube and let and it sit overnight with the bladders inflated. A noticeable loss of firmness in the morning indicates a leak.
Test any strobes or personal locator beacons attached to the jacket, and verify battery expiration dates and replace if expired.
Repack the unit per the manufacturer’s directions, and don’t’ forget to record the annual inspection in permanent ink on the life jacket service record label.
National Safe Boating Week is May 17-23: It’s a great time to inspect your life jackets − @BoatUS Foundation shows you how https://bit.ly/4dkmiXG #nationalsafeboatingweek #lifejacket #lifejacketssavelives #lifejacketsafety #boatingsafety #safeboating
About the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water:
The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a national leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating. Funded primarily by donations from the more than 725,000 members of Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the nonprofit provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers with the aim of reducing accidents and fatalities, increasing stewardship of America’s waterways, and keeping boating safe for all. A range of safe and clean boating courses – including the nation’s only free online boating safety course – can be found at BoatUS.org/Courses.
If you would rather not receive future communications from Boat Owners Association of The U.S. Public Affairs, let us know by clicking here. Boat Owners Association of The U.S. Public Affairs, 5323 Port Royal Rd, Springfield, VA 22151 United States
The City of Gulfport and Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always have a full calendar of events for all ages. 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
May 12, 2025 | City of Gulfport, FL – Gateway to the Gulf Newsletter
I hope all of our mothers had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
As always, I’m keeping a close eye on the progress happening around town, and I’m excited to share a few recent developments with you:
Hoyt Field & Beach Updates
The sod is now down at Hoyt Field, and we’ll be hearing the ting of baseball bats soon.
Posts have been installed on the beach for two temporary volleyball courts—just in time for spring fun.
Little League Tournament Begins Tonight
Join us at Tomlinson Park tonight at 6:30 PM as Little League kicks off a tournament. I’ll be there to throw out the first pitch—hope to see you there!
Rain & Resiliency
While many of us appreciate the recent rain, I know it also brings concern for others. On Sunday, I drove through the City inspecting our storm drains—some are functioning well, others need improvement. I’ll be reporting these findings tomorrow.
In the lead-up to our Resiliency Workshop on May 22, here are a few ways you can help:
Check storm drains in your neighborhood—are they clear or blocked with debris?
Trim grass and landscaping away from curbs and drains.
Avoid piling yard debris on top of or near drains.
These small actions make a big impact—especially during our growing season.
Construction & Permits
I’ve noticed a lot of construction activity and permits on display throughout town. If you’ve been waiting an unusually long time for a permit, I’d like to hear from you.
(While I do my best to respond, please understand I can’t answer every question via Facebook.)
Upcoming Event: Billy D’s Train Exhibit
Date: Thursday, May 16
Time: 11:00 AM–1:00 PM and again from 6:00–8:00 PM
Location: 5314 10th Ave S.
Donations will benefit Pet Pal Animal Shelter. I really enjoyed the Christmas display—this is one event you don’t want to miss!
Sidewalk Safety Reminder
Please take a moment to check the sidewalk in front of your home:
Avoid blocking sidewalks with vehicles, trailers, or overgrown landscaping.
Everyone deserves safe and easy access through our neighborhoods.
Thank you for all the ways you contribute to keeping Gulfport strong and welcoming.
Mayor Karen Love
City Manager’s Gulfport Community Update
Gulfport Community Update: May 4 – 10, 2025
On Friday, May 2 the City of Gulfport celebrated Arbor Day, which was rescheduled from 2024. Kids from the Gulfport Recreation School Year Childcare Program joined us and read excerpts about trees. We also planted a beautiful live oak, symbolizing growth and resilience in our community. The Gulfport Parks Department handed out free trees for residents to plant at home, and the Teen Council kept everyone refreshed with drinks and snacks. A wonderful day of community, learning, and giving back to nature!
All meetings are open to the public and are held in the City Hall, City Council Chambers, 2401 53rd Street South, In Person, unless otherwise noted. Meetings may occasionally be added, cancelled or rescheduled after this list is published. Please check the city’s website https://mygulfport.us for updated information.
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. We will be meeting in the Reading Garden or Study Room from 2/3 – 4/14. Call 727-893-1074 for additional information.
The Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market is a year-round open-air market held in Gulfport’s Waterfront District on Beach Blvd. below 28th Ave. S., 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., October – May & 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., June – September. It also offers a variety of independent shops, boutiques, galleries, its own beach and a large cluster of restaurants, all within easy walking distance. The Fresh Market offers visitors the opportunity for a relaxing day trip in a small town full of “Old Florida” charms.
Join their child advocacy team! The Florida Guardian ad Litem Office represents abused, abandoned and neglected children in the courtroom and community. A representative provides information and answers questions for individuals interested in volunteering. FMI, contact Anita Myers, email Anita.Myers@gal.fl.gov or visit www.guardianadlitem.org.
Christa Fairbrother, Gulfport Poet Laureate, presents a monthly program. Everyone is invited to come and share their poems. Donations received during event benefit the Circle of Friends of the Gulfport Library for support of Library programs. Contact: Christa Fairbrother, 727-418-7623.
The Italian American Society of St. Petersburg would like to invite you to our free Italian language classes held at the Gulfport Senior Center. We offer beginner, intermediate and advanced classes for students of all ages. The classes are held on Thursday evenings 6 – 8 pm. You do not have to be a member of the society to participate, but we highly recommend it! Members get discounts at area restaurants, businesses and services like Pia’s Trattoria! For more information please visit our website, Facebook and Instagram or send your questions to info@iasosp.org.
Join us for An Evening of Comedians Telling True Stories on Friday, May 16th at the Catherine A. Hickman Theater (5501 27th Ave S, Gulfport, FL), where laughter meets real-life storytelling. The night kicks off with a VIP Reception from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, followed by 90 minutes of hilarious, heartfelt true stories starting at 6:10pm. Featuring top comedians DC Benny (Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing) and Kerry McNally (Emmy-Winning Host & Storyteller), this unique event blends humor with authenticity — think The Moth or This American Life with a comedic twist. General Admission is $30, or go VIP for $45 and enjoy a one-hour meet & greet, two complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and preferred seating.
City of Gulfport: Free Tree Giveaway
Saturday, May 17th | 9 – 11 a.m.
49th Street Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S.
The role of trees and green spaces within the City of Gulfport’s built and natural environment is of great significance. These natural entities serve as an important promoter of social, economic, and environmental health. Help the City of Gulfport by doing your part by planting a tree in your very own yard!
Club races (weather permitting) on the First and Third Saturday of the month on Boca Ciega Bay. Any DP-N rated boat up to 25 feet is welcome and we have a strong beach multihull presence (A-cat, Formula 18, Formula 16, Hobie 16, Weta etc.).
Registration: Simply show up on a race day and sign in. Guests wishing to race their boats will pay $10.00 per boat and must have proof of liability insurance. After racing we hang out enjoying conversations and food at our club house.
Formally known as Art Walk on the first Friday and IndieFaire on the third Saturday, these recurring monthly events will launch for 2025 branded as the Gulfport Night Market. The night market concept unites the energy of the former events, offering an evening marketplace experience with vibrant local offerings from local makers, artisans, and small business vendors to engage the community and visitors as they shop, stroll, and sip in beautiful downtown Gulfport.
Ask a City Councilor at the Third Tuesday Fresh Market
Tuesday, May 20th | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
GMC Booth, 3037 Beach Blvd. S.
Gulfport City Council will be hosting an opportunity, every third Tuesday of the month, for residents to get to know their Councilmember, ask questions, and provide comment.
For more information, please call City of Gulfport Councilmember, Ward 1 Representative, April Thanos at (727) 826-7138.
Gentle Yoga
Wednesday, May 21st | 10:15 a.m.
Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S.
Nourish your body and spirit with mindful movement, breath work, and meditation. This slow-paced class welcomes all levels and each month will feature a different set of postures. Please bring props if you want them. The class is taught by Christa Fairbrother from Bee Content Yoga, she is a RYT and Certified Yoga for Arthritis Instructor.
COF Presents: Rescue, Rehab and Release with Seaside Seabird Sanctuary
Thursday, May 22nd | 1 p.m.
Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S.
Join us for our monthly COF Presents! This month a representative from the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary will be visiting the library. We will learn about their work in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing native birds! Learn about their resident birds and actions we can take to help our avian neighbors thrive in the wild. There will be time for Q&A and a meet and greet with the avian ambassadors after the presentation. Sponsored by the Circle of Friends.
Gulfport City Hall & Facilities will be Closed in Observance.
Memorial Day Commemoration
Monday, May 26th | 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Veteran’s Park, 5350 31st Ave. S.
Join us at Veterans Park to honor and commemorate Memorial Day. This special gathering is a time to pay tribute to the brave men and women who served our country with dedication and sacrifice. Together, we will reflect on their courage, express our gratitude, and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Let us come together as a community to uphold the spirit of patriotism and honor their memory.
City of Gulfport Hurricane Preparedness Seminar
Thursday, May 29th | 6 – 8 p.m.
Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S.
The Atlantic basin hurricane season begins June 1. Get informed to be prepared during the City of Gulfport’s Annual Hurricane Preparedness Seminar. This informative seminar is free and open to the public. Attendees can enjoy a slice of pizza and a drink for $3. For more information or to become a hurricane related vendor, call 729-1297 or email kossola@mygulfport.us.
Sidewalk Poets: Musical Performance
Thursday, May 29th | 7 p.m.
Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S.
Join us for a musical performance by the SIDEWALK POETS. This local band will create a fun and entertaining atmosphere through harmonized singing. This program is funded by a grant from The Hello In There Foundation awarded to the Circle of Friends of the Gulfport Public Library.
Pride Flag Raising
Sunday, June 1st | 10 a.m.
Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S.
Join us as we kick off Pride Month with a vibrant flag-raising ceremony at the Gulfport Public Library. Celebrate love, diversity, and inclusion with your community. All are welcome!
Fusion 49th District General Meeting
Monday, June 2nd | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
49th Street Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S.
You are invited to the next Fusion 49th General Meeting. This meeting will include updates from the Government, Organization, Design, Economic Vitality, and Promotions Committees, with the full agenda to follow. If you’d like to get involved, you can sign up to help with the Organization, Design, Economic Vitality, or Promotions Committees. For qualifications and more information, please contact Nancy Dunham (“Fancy Nancy”) of Professional Services at 727-710-6676. Thank you for staying engaged with our forming district!
Formally known as Art Walk on the first Friday and IndieFaire on the third Saturday, these recurring monthly events will launch for 2025 branded as the Gulfport Night Market. The night market concept unites the energy of the former events, offering an evening marketplace experience with vibrant local offerings from local makers, artisans, and small business vendors to engage the community and visitors as they shop, stroll, and sip in beautiful downtown Gulfport.
Get ready to shine at the Gulfport Pride FestivalThis free, family-friendly celebration is bursting with love, color, and community spirit, featuring live entertainment, vibrant vendors, delicious food, and more. Come celebrate diversity, champion equality, and support local nonprofits while enjoying a full day of fun in the sun.
Gulfport Flag Day
Friday, June 13th | 10 a.m.
Veteran’s Park, 5350 31st Ave. S.
Celebrate patriotism and community at the City of Gulfport’s Flag Day Ceremony. This inspiring event features a special performance of the National Anthem by former New York City Opera Soprano Catherine Bassett. Bring your friends, family, and American pride for a moving tribute to our nation’s flag—free and open to the public!
USCG Auxiliary Recreational Boating Course
Saturday, June 14th | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
49th Street Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S.
The US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 7-16 in Gulfport will hold a Recreational Boating Course on the second Saturday of every month at the CGA Training Building 3120 Miriam St. South in Gulfport. The 8 hour course includes subjects as Boat Nomenclature, Before you get underway, Navigating the Waterway, updated Legal Requires, Boating equipment and emergencies are a few of the subjects, and qualifies for the Florida Boating ID Card as well. Cost is $40 per person. Contact Marty Richardson to reserve a seat at 630-674-5352 or merichardsonjr@att.net.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is encouraging disaster loan recipients in Florida to apply for additional funds to protect their homes and businesses from future storms.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $1.4 billion in federal disaster loans to support Florida businesses, nonprofits, homeowners, and renters affected by Hurricane Helene occurring on Sept. 23 through Oct. 7 and Milton occurring on Oct. 5 through Nov. 2, 2024. As of April 17, 2025, the SBA has provided over $460 million to businesses/EIDL and over $1 billion to residents in the wake of this disaster.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has reopened and extended the physical damage loan applications. Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is still available to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations for working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDLs are available regardless of whether the organization suffered any physical property damage and may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
The Gulfport Arts Center will be hosting a collage themed Community Art Show this summer!
The Gulfport Public Arts Center is looking for expressive collage work by local artists for an ALL COLLAGE group art showcase! Work can be constructed of any material and may pertain to any subject matter, as long as it is an original work within the medium of collage or assemblage. Submission is FREE and open to the public. There is no limit to the amount of works that may be submitted per artist. All ages, skill levels, and perspectives are encouraged to submit their work for consideration.
If you would like to submit a piece of artwork to be considered for the show, please email a photo to ArtsCenter@mygulfport.us. Submission must be received by 5/20 for consideration in the show.
Art work will be on display at the Gulfport Arts Center from 5/30/25 – 7/16/25. A reception will be held on Friday, 5/30/25 from 5:30PM – 7:00PM. Light refreshments will be served. You may also visit the Arts Center during Open Studio Hours to see the show. Tuesdays, 3 – 7 p.m., Wednesdays, 3 – 7 p.m., and the first and third Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Hurricane Home Repair Program helps income eligible homeowners impacted by Hurricane Helene or Milton pay for storm repairs not covered by insurance or FEMA. Eligible residents may receive up to $30,000 in grant funding as reimbursement or direct payment for eligible home repairs. Funding is provided by Florida’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) and Pinellas County. These statewide SHIP funds are designated to help local governments provide affordable housing opportunities and have specific limits on homeowner income and total property value.
Rebuild Florida is Florida’s long-term disaster recovery effort, committed to rebuilding impacted communities stronger so they are more resilient to future storms.
The Hurricane Ian Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program is a state program launched with federal funding to repair, rebuild, or replace eligible homes with remaining damage from Hurricane Ian.
If you were impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton, you may still be eligible for assistance under the Hurricane Ian Housing Repair and Replacement Program.
Rebuild Florida is currently accepting applications. Priority will be given to homeowners with a low income and households that include children under 18, seniors aged 62 and older, or individuals with disabilities.
Improving Lives Through the Power of Information & Hope
At First Contact, our goal is to have a community that is connected and informed regarding critical health and human service information for those who need help and those who are willing to volunteer or donate their time to local community agencies.
Care About Me confidentially helps all residents of all ages, insured or not, by eliminating the guesswork or need to search for local behavioral health services by creating a space where residents or family members of individuals in non-crisis can call in, speak directly with experienced behavioral health specialists who can triage their needs, and get an appointment scheduled with a local provider.
Gulfport provides once-a-week collection of household recyclables. Curbside service is provided to all single-family and duplex homes, apartment/condo complexes, mobile home parks and smaller businesses. Items collected are plastic containers and jugs, steel cans, aluminum cans, mixed paper, cardboard and newspaper.
A drop-off center is located at the Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th Street South, for glass containers (all colors), mixed paper, and cardboard. It is open 24 hours / 7 days a week.For more information, visit https://mygulfport.us/public-works-department.
City of Gulfport Special Events Trolley/WRD Looper
The City of Gulfport Special Events Trolley/Waterfront Redevelopment District (WRD) Looper services large-scale special events and the First Friday and Third Saturday ArtWalks from 5 to 9 p.m. throughout the year.
For more information and to view all of the Loopers convenient pickup spots, please visit https://mygulfport.us/trolley/.
The Gulfport Public Works Department located at the 49th Street Neighborhood Center (1617 49th St. S.) is an official collection site for rechargeable batteries!
The City of Gulfport Private Waterline and Sewer Lateral Replacement Assistance Program offers financial reimbursement after the replacement of a deteriorated residential waterline or sewer lateral. City Utilities residential water or sewer customers are eligible for a rebate of 50% up to $3,500.00 after the purchase, installation, and inspection of failing waterlines or sewer lateral between the home connection and the city connection.
The City of Gulfport Senior Center’s Telephone Reassurance Program is a free service for Gulfport Residents 50 years of age or older. Volunteers provide daily phone calls to registered members and provide comfort, security, and peace of mind to members and families.
Registration is simple and free. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service during this difficult time, please call (727) 893-2237 and register today.
GEMS door-to-door transportation has provided independence & freedom to elderly and disabled residents of Gulfport for over 40 years.
Any Gulfport residents 55 & older or residents with a disability can take advantage of GEMS door to door service for a yearly membership of $70 plus $2 per one-way trip. For more information, call 893-2242.
Resources for Renters
Know your rights and where to get help when making rental decisions. This page is designed to help people who are struggling with the rising cost of housing find available help and learn about their rights as a renter. You can also find information on assistance with homeownership.
The Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center actively seeks to support the independence and increased quality of life of its participants by encouraging involvement in programs and activities that promote health, welfare, safety and dignity.
The Gulfport Senior Center is Gulfport’s trusted leader in providing senior services that empower older adults to live life to the fullest. The Senior Center is a hub and gathering place for seniors to be socially engaged, physically challenged, and cognitively stimulated. It also serves as a clearinghouse for older adults to receive community resources and social services that help them maintain their independence and quality of life.
Required Registration is easy and available for all individuals 50 years of age or older. Free for Gulfport Residents and only $50 per year for non-Residents. Don’t wait, be a part of the club today!
The City’s Utility Customer Service Department is located at the City Hall Complex. You can drop your utility payment off during normal business hours at the Customer Service window, and after hours you may drop payments at the drop box located by the front door of the City Hall Complex. When paying your utility bill in person or dropping off the payment, please bring or enclose your utility stub to ensure accurate payment processing.
City of Gulfport – Parks Department
The City of Gulfport takes tremendous pride in its park system. The Parks Division improves and maintains the quality of life within the community in environmental landscaping and turf maintenance. The division continues to create safe and aesthetically pleasing recreational facilities for all to enjoy. Please visit https://mygulfport.us/recreation/parks/ for more information.
It’s about to get a lot more stormy, and that means more lightning. Last year, Florida accounted for nearly half the lightning deaths in the U.S. Here’s how to stay safe.
Kanberra, a Salty Southeast Cruisers Net sponsor, has an Early Mother’s Day Sale | 15% OFF!
Enter code “MOMLOVE15” at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of all products. This code is not combinable with other offers, not valid on previous purchases or gift cards. The offer expires on Sunday, May 11, at 11:59 pm AEST/AEDT. Kanberra may extend, modify, or discontinue this promotion without notice.
Captain Chris, a long-time friend of Cruiser’s Net, offers delivery and training services. Check out his FREE YouTube Channel containing over 1500 short, real-world videos on boating topics.
Yes, we offer FREE videos on YouTube. As we cruise around the waterways and boatyards we see interesting things to video, narrate and post on YouTube so check out this short article on how to see thousands (yup, thousands) of these little gems….click here for FREE!
The City of Gulfport and Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always have a full calendar of events for all ages. 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.
Meet Nancy Earley Meet Gulfport’s Ward IV Council member, Nancy Earley. She did not have a big public campaign to introduce herself because she ran unopposed. Read more
Overheard at State of the Beaches
Comments we overheard at the 2025 State of the Beaches include the H-word, smiles, and Tidal Basin.
AI in the Kitchen Can AI help in the kitchen? Here’s what our food writer learned, and how you can harness AI to make cooking easier. Read more
The Best Events
Here are three events we think you’ll love, but find a complete listing online.
Saturday, May 3 Blue Crab and R&B Festival Feast on Tampa Bay’s best seafood, enjoy live music, and shop with Tampa Bay vendors at the Blue Crab and R&B Festival. Bring a lawn chair, your crew, and your appetite. Get the details
Saturday, May 3 May the Fourth (Almost) Be With You Celebrate the galaxy far, far away with a night of Star Wars trivia, costume contests, Wookiee howl-offs, and sweet treats from Moonlit Macarons. Whether you’re repping the Dark Side or the Resistance, grab your lightsaber. Get the details
Sunday, May 4 Mom’s Market Shop for the perfect Mother’s Day gift at 3 Daughters Brewing’s annual Mom’s Market. Browse more than 50 local vendors offering art, jewelry, candles, plants, clothing, and more all while enjoying a drink (hopefully with mom). Get the details
Read this week’s issue from cover to cover, from the comfort of your computer.
Notice to Navigation: 2025-016 Okeechobee Waterway Low Water Levels US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT LOCAL NUMBER: 2025-16 WATERWAY: OKEECHOBEE WATERWAY
EFFECTIVE: 7 May 2025
ATTN: CESAJ-OD-SN PO Box 4970 JACKSONVILLE, FL 32232-0019 POC: Kriss Zeller, Chief of Navigation (772) 380-6928 www.saj.usace.army.mil/NTN
REFERENCE: a. 33 CFR Navigation and Navigable Waters
1. Notice to Navigation
Attention all concerned boaters! Low water levels along the Okeechobee Waterway have created navigation depths that are below typical minimums. As a reminder, please stay in the navigation channels! Below normal levels make staying in channel imperative. This includes the St. Lucie Canal and Caloosahatchee River. Deeper draft vessels should consider alternate routes.
2. For up-to-date Lock information, contact the shift operator 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at:
St Lucie Lock & Dam 772-287-2665 or 863-662-9148 Port Mayaca Lock & Dam 561-924-2858 or 863-662-9424 Julian Keen, Jr. Lock & Dam 863-946-0414 or 863-662-9533 Ortona Lock & Dam 863-675-0616 or 863- 662-9846 W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam 239-694-5451 or 863-662-9908 Canaveral Lock 321-783-5421 or 863-662-0298 (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
Thank you! Jeff
Jeffrey D Prater Public Affairs Specialist Corporate Communications Office U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District South Florida Office 4400 PGA Blvd. Suite 501 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Cell: 561-801-5734 jeffrey.d.prater@usace.army.mil Twitter @JaxStrong Jacksonville District Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict
Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, sits on the Mount Pleasant side of Charleston Harbor, hard by Patriots Point between Horse Reach’s flashing buoys #34 and #36.
Join us this summer for Mini Mariner’s Summer Camp from May 26th – August 15th. Email asmith@charlestonharborresort.com for registration and more information.
Salty Southeast Cruisers Net Sponsor Charleston County Cooper River Marina has provided this helpful information for your visit to Charleston this Spring and Summer.
Reggae Nights Concert Series kicks off May 30! James Island County Park hosts four reggae concerts this summer
[JAMES ISLAND] –Charleston County Parks kicks off the 2025 Reggae Nights Concert Summer Series at James Island County Park on Friday, May 30! The first concert this year will feature the Atlanta-based Black Lion Reggae Band.
The Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series at James Island County Park features traditional old-school roots reggae with a new-school attitude in a beautiful outdoor setting. Gates open for the event at 7:30 p.m. and music begins at 8 p.m. Event gates will close to incoming traffic at 10:30 p.m. and music will end at 11 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for seating in the park meadow.
The 2025 Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series lineup is:
The Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series is open to all ages. A variety of food options from local food trucks and vendors, as well as beverages (beer, wine and Pepsi products) are available for purchase on site. Crafters and vendors will also be on site with souvenirs and gifts available for purchase.
Advance tickets are $20 per vehicle (up to 15 people) and available at CharlestonCountyParks.com (direct link). Tickets purchased at the event will be $30 per vehicle (up to 15 people). Gold Pass holders will be admitted free when presenting their pass at the gate, if space is available.
The Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series takes place in the park meadow, and guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs, blankets, etc. Concerts will take place rain or shine. No outside alcohol or coolers are permitted into the event. Dogs are welcome, but must remain leashed at all times.
James Island County Park is located at 871 Riverland Drive. For more information on the Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com (direct link) or call (843) 795-4386. The Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series is brought to you by your Charleston County Parks.
The mission of the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (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 six regional parks, a skate park, three beach parks, four seasonally-lifeguarded beach areas, three dog parks, 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, and more. For more information on CCPRC, call 843-795-4386 or visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
High Resolution photos available upon request
Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission / 861 Riverland Drive / Charleston, SC 29412 / (843) 795-4386
Spring on over to Bimini – Great Savings Await with Robbie’s Special!
Bimini Big Game Club is pleased to announce a series structural improvements and critical repairs at this beautiful marina in Bimini, Bahamas. Their team is working diligently to enhance your experience through the following improvements:
A-Dock Structural Reinforcements – Essential repairs and upgrades are underway to ensure long-term durability to enhance the Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center experience. The new shop is open and ready to assist you with all your ocean adventures!
B-Dock, C-Dock, D-Dock, & T-Head Renovations: Critical structural work is in progress to improve both the functionality and safety of these key marina areas.
Seawall & Boardwalk Repairs – Strengthening and restoring these areas to ensure a safer and more welcoming waterfront environment.
During this period, Big Game Club appreciates your patience and understanding as they work to provide you with an even better marina experience.
For boaters that still want to travel between now and Memorial Day, Dockmaster Robbie is offering a special incentive to his boating friends!
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $7 a month or $56 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
CAMERA 1, OPENER: Three well dressed men converse in the sumptuous saloon of a 320-foot yacht moored in the Bahamas. Their names are George Soros, Elon Musk and Prince Andrew. England and the United States are allies in a war. It’s a Netflix remake, and China is the enemy du jour.
Soros is suspected of working for Beijing, the Prince is a Chinese sympathiser and likely traitor, and Musk is, of course, the richest guy on the boat.
The climactic scene happens at the end of Episode 7, when Musk is assassinated in brutal fashion, a crime that is investigated in subsequent episodes but never solved. Critics are unkind. “Lurid, cartoonish, farfetched. Why is Soros always the bad guy?” they write.
Yet this very scenario—the black-and-white version, you might say—was playing out in the Bahamas in 1942-43.
As war broke out in Europe, Swedish industrialist Axel Wenner-Gren sailed to Bahamian waters aboard Southern Cross, the fifth or sixth largest private motoryacht in the world. Wenner-Gren’s tenure in the Bahamas mixed business and pleasure; among his offshore properties was Paradise Island in Nassau, the site of today’s Atlantis mega-resort and marina.
And while you might think that the Bahamas were the farthest place in the world from the mayhem of war, during 1942 and 1943 a critical phase of the Battle of the Atlantic was raging all around the islands.
Predatory U-boats were lying in wait for the oil tankers from Venezuela and American refineries along the Gulf of Mexico as they tried to make their way north along the Gulf Stream. German successes were staggering.
In June-July 1942 alone, 30 ships were sunk along the southern edge of Bahamian waters. By November U-boats had sunk 263 ships in the Caribbean Sea. Britain’s wartime leader Winston Churchill was apoplectic; he wrote President Roosevelt begging for more aggressive action by the U.S. Navy, which had been uncharacteristically lethargic.
England needed oil and other strategic goods to survive. She needed food. German U-Boat successes were dangerously close to forcing London to capitulate.
Allied intelligence agencies mistrusted Axel Wenner-Gren intensely. The Swede made his fortune as founder of the Electrolux vacuum cleaner company, but he was also a major owner of Bofors, the Swedish armaments manufacturer that had covertly assisted in Germany’s re-armament under the Nazi regime.
Wenner-Gren openly boasted about his friendly connections to Hitler’s inner circle, and his crew was formerly of the Swedish Navy, a pro-Nazi institution within neutral Sweden. Southern Cross itself had immense fuel capacity and bristled with antennas connected to its state-of-the-art radio room.
(Wenner-Gren had purchased Southern Cross from American tycoon Howard Hughes for $1 million. “The Aviator” had been courting Hollywood in the 1930s and used the palatial vessel as his personal offshore drilling platform, you might say.)
Events of September 1939 fueled Allied suspicions toward the Swede. They happened while Southern Cross was on a pleasure cruise in the North Atlantic. In the first sinking of the submarine war, U-30 torpedoed the liner Athenia with 1,450 Canadian and American passengers on board.
Southern Cross happened to be nearby. She rescued 200 survivors and delivered them to Ireland. Allied intelligence considered her proximity highly suspicious and saw causality in what was proffered as coincidence. Allied intelligence suspected that even if Wenner-Gren hadn’t come to the Bahamas in 1942 on a secret mission to refuel German submarines, Southern Cross may have been serving as a scout ship, helping U-boats find targets such as Athenia.
Despite official paranoia, Wenner-Gren was able to take up residence in the Bahamas. He became friendly with the Duke of Windsor, who had come to Nassau to serve as wartime governor of the Bahamas, then a British possession. The Duke was formerly known as Edward VIII, King of England.
In a spectacular 1936 news event, he had abdicated the throne of England to marry the “woman I love,” an American divorcee named Wallis Simpson. The abdication twosome were frequent guests aboard Southern Cross, and Wenner-Gren once loaned the use of his yacht to run Wallis over to Florida to have a tooth pulled.
Before the war, the Duke and his wife had met Hitler and expressed their admiration for the Nazi regime. It is widely suspected that the Duke later engaged in treasonous wartime communications with the Nazis, any evidence of which will remain under the seal of British government secrecy until 2046. He was believed to be Hitler’s first choice as puppet ruler of Britain after the planned German invasion. Churchill, in effect, had exiled the Duke to Nassau to get this troublesome royal out of the way.
The Allied spy services trusted none of the three amigos: Axel Wenner-Gren, Harry Oakes and the Duke of Winsor.
Another friend of Wenner-Gren was Sir Harry Oakes, slain in one of the 20th century’s great unsolved mysteries. Harry Oakes could be compared to the Elon Musk of his day; certainly he was one of wealthiest men in the British empire. A native of Maine’s Downeast region, Oakes amassed an enormous fortune by discovering gold in Canada, became a Canadian citizen and eventually landed in Nassau, a tax haven, where he was knighted for his good works in the community.
While on a cruise to Mexico, the allies blacklisted Wenner-Gren, forcing the Swede to remain there with his famous yacht. Now communicating at longer range, the Duke and Oakes are suspected of having made a series of investments brokered by their buddy Wenner-Gren—illegally. These deals would have been in contravention of wartime monetary regulations and, given Wenner-Gren’s involvement, possibly designed to expand Nazi influence in Latin America.
When Sir Harry Oakes’ body was found bludgeoned, bloody and burned in July 1943, the Duke of Windsor did something very odd. Instead of summoning Scotland Yard, he forbade anyone but two mediocre, hand-picked Miami police detectives from investigating the case. These detectives arrested Oakes’ son-in-law, a dashing French marquis, on evidence so flimsy as to be nearly invisible.
Why not Scotland Yard? Conventional wisdom is that a competent investigation might have uncovered Oakes’ and the Duke’s illicit dealings with Wenner-Gren, which would have infuriated Winston Churchill.
Alfred de Marigny was quickly acquitted of the gruesome slaying. Despite the favorable verdict, he was ordered to leave the Bahamas, but as consolation he was given the rope they would have used to hang him. It was a special type of rope, you see, imported from Britain.
He and wife Nancy went to stay for a short period at the home of his friendErnest Hemingway, just outside of Havana, Cuba, at a time when the novelist happened to be working as a freelance agent for U.S. Naval Intelligence at the Havana embassy.
Who killed Harry Oakes? Books have been written on the subject, pointing the finger at the American Mafia, which wanted to develop casinos in Nassau, or Allied intelligence services, or a combination of both. Another scenario blames the scion of a prominent (to this day) Bahamian real estate brokerage.
Secret documents surrounding the relationship between the Duke of Windsor and the Nazis may hold some answers, but secrecy fuels speculation and the Internet spreads it. Some have even speculated that Wenner-Gren himself may have been involved in the killing, though that would seem out-of-character for the affable industrialist.
Wenner-Gren remained in Mexico for the duration of the war, donating Southern Cross to the Mexican Navy for use as a training vessel. One account has the ship being scrapped in 1960. His business dealings in Latin America accrued even more wealth for Wenner-Gren, not the least of which was founding what became Mexico’s telephone monopoly.
After the war, Wenner-Gren returned to the Bahamas and, among other things, bought up property on the island of Andros. Friends and surrogates minimized the Swede’s connection to the Nazis, saying Wenner-Gren himself had exaggerated his relationship with men such as Air Marshall Herman Goering. In that, Wenner-Gren joined the legion of powerful people then trying to distance themselves from the Nazis, who not only were defeated but had been outed as genocidal criminals.
Wenner-Gren died in 1961, and, aside from unproven wartime suspicions, is remembered through the foundations that bear his name. One of the Swedish magnate’s good works, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, continues to be a prominent supporter of worldwide research in “all branches of anthropology.”
His company ALWEG built the original Disney World monorail.
After the Bahamas, the Duke of Windsor was never given another official role. He and Wallis quietly lived out their lives unloved by anyone but each other.
JFK and Wenner-Gren’s Mistress
Just when you thought the story could not get any juicer, comes a precious footnote to the Wenner-Gren story. Wenner-Gren and John Fitzgerald Kennedy shared a girlfriend, and his presidency might be an unintended consequence of the affair.
She was a Danish beauty named Inga Arvard. As young woman, she moved in Nazi circles, attending Goering’s wedding, twice lunching with the Fuhrer, and even accompanying him to the Berlin Olympic Games. Her second husband had been employed by Wenner-Gren, which reportedly led to her to Wenner-Gren’s bed.
“Inga Binga,” as young JFK called her, began sleeping with him around the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, while Kennedy was serving as an ensign in the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington. Soon the affair between the 24-year-old naval officer and the married Nazi sympathizer came to the attention of Kennedy’s superiors and the FBI.
FBI agents followed the couple, bugged their hotel rooms and telephones. The idea that a suspected German Mata Hari was carrying on with an intelligence officer and son of a former U.S. ambassador, no less, did not sit well with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Joseph Kennedy himself.
To preserve his political future, randy Jack was forced to end the affair. His dad ensured there were no immediate consequences, but Kennedy was reassigned and eventually sent to the Pacific to command PT-109, not a yacht, but nevertheless one of the most important vessels in the American imagination. Kennedy’s war record helped the senator from Massachusetts carve out a narrow victory over Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election.
The JFK-Arvard affair is documented in the 2016 book by Barbara Leaming entitled “Kick Kennedy: The Charmed Life and Tragic Death of the Favorite Kennedy Daughter.” The book was reviewed by People magazine.
Supplementary Reading
“Who Killed Sir Harry Oakes?” by James Leasor, House of Stratus, 1983.
“The Secret History of the FBI,” by Ronald Kessler, St. Martins, 2002
“Operation Drumbeat: The Dramatic True Story of Germany’s First U-Boat Attacks Along the American Coast in World War II,” by Michael Gannon, Harper and Row, 1992
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.
We can’t wait to see our wonderful boating community!
Share your #DismalSwampCanal images with us as you cruise through & don’t forget to stop at #MM28 to grab your very own 2025 Dismal Swamp Canal Boating Sticker!
Wishing everyone safe travels & we look forward to seeing you at the Dismal Swamp,
Sarah
Sarah Hill, TMP Director, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center Chairperson, Camden County Tourism Development Authority 2356 US Hwy 17 North, South Mills, NC 27976
Thank you for your loyalty; every story you read makes me ever more proud to share them. STEADFAST continues to undergo extensive repair and refit, so stay aboard for sailing tales combined with the challenges, and intricacies of restoring a 90-year-old Sailing Yacht. I’m always open to suggestions as to content….weigh in as we manage and learn from our latest joust!
Her restoration is substantial and we are making progress!
Until they’re not, until those friends lose the ultimate SPAR WITH MOTHER NATURE. Until one day you contact them, and they’re gone. Some were gone before you noticed, before anyone told you, before you remembered that it had been a while and you should reach out but you don’t because you are too busy worrying about a future that may never arrive, and then another week goes by, and then a month. And a year.
They definitely remain in the invaluable category of good people you’ve discovered, but you can’t call them anymore. You can’t tell them that they were important. Or how important they were. You expected to see them again, when the opportunity arose, if you wanted to. But you can’t.
A mentor of mine, who shirked neither praise nor brutal truth, didn’t wake up one winter morning. His random phone calls and consistent contact should have been a better lesson.
My BFF from Cornell, US Marine, father, brother, chef, wrote “This year, I’m coming sailing.” He did not. His big heart didn’t get him past fifty-eight.
There are others I hadn’t said goodbye to because it didn’t seem necessary, shouldn’t have been necessary, yet. A charming confidant died suddenly, camping in the high mountains of Southwestern Colorado. I can’t imagine a better ending, but I didn’t know there had been one.
I’m having trouble describing this feeling; the heavy stomach quiver when you know you could have done something differently. You’re not sure it would have made a difference, but you desperately wish for the opportunity to find out. The opp for a do-over.
Each unique individual, rich or poor, conservative or liberal, well-read or work-hardened, taught, learned, gave, took, hurt, nurtured, and were valuable enough to spend precious time getting to know, understand, and appreciate regardless of differences, idiosyncrasies and ironies. Add those fine folks to the strong main characters of a small family and a transient life, and my periphery is a diverse treasure. In my tiny sliver of the world, they all hold a spot. I’m thrilled to say that there are more than I can even name; I’ve been lucky enough to engage and retain some of the best humans I know.
I can only hope that those I retain feel the same. Most importantly, they made me who I am and we know where we stand.
Another heart gave out with its owner working on his passion in his favorite place. Halfway through the five day, big wind retrieval of a his strong widow, little dog and aging sailing vessel, Mother Nature offered a couple hours of freedom to contemplate this, to consider the people on the periphery. I had seen this woman just a few times in my life, now we are linked. She had always been half of a couple, and while the sadness was palpable, her stories were of lives well lived.
Sophie
“You have no idea what you’ve done for me,” she told us, dropping her stoic demeanor for a split second and holding tightly to her furry best friend. After one plane ride, two taxis, three days and twenty-two hours crossing the Gulf Stream at a rolling gallop, her words made our efforts wholly worthwhile. She thanked us again as we returned to work here on STEADFAST, and I think extensively about the life she will create when she returns home without her partner of forty-four years. **
These deaths, let’s be honest, won’t affect the trajectory of my life; their souls are simply gone. Gone from this world, anyway, as we know it; I want to believe they’re watching us from some other incarnation. We may not like it, but we adjust.
The losses of friends, both close and peripheral, are stacking up, a smack-on-the-head reminder to enjoy what we have, help others along the way, and accept with strong grace our challenges rather than becoming angry at the unfairness of it all. I’m working on it. ~J
The sun sets over the Gulf Stream. 4.25.25
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Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $7 a month or $56 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
Contractors hired by the Dominican government seize and tow away vessels in Luperon Bay as part of a clean-up.
The Dominican Navy this week launched an initiative to clear Luperon Bay of abandoned or derelict boats, and seemed genuinely unconcerned when its representatives were told that some of them were neither abandoned nor derelict.
Contractors in a runabout—at times wearing ski masks like an assassination squad—spray-painted numbers on the hulls of targeted vessels, some of which have been towed to the bulkhead at the local boatyard. Some of those were dragged up a launch ramp with a backhoe to be stripped for parts and lead.
An aide to the President in Santo Domingo said 26 boats were affected. Cliff Lyon, a local expat and officer of Luperon’s cruiser association, estimated that at least six of those were viable craft with absent owners. Except that one guy—a French Canadian sailor—who happened to be ashore in the village when his boat was taken.
Some of the 26 have Dominican owners, who had acquired them as project boats, Lyon said.
As far as the foreign liveaboards in the bay—bafflement. There apparently was no advance notice, no attempt to contact owners and no due process. No one—including local Navy and Port officials—seemed to know who was in charge of the operation. The Port Authority for the bay issued a statement denying any complicity. No one knows what criteria officials are using to decide whether a vessel is abandoned or derelict.
Collaborating with the government contractors is Isaac Alvarez, who has a disputed claim of ownership to Luperon’s only boatyard, Marina Tropicale. Watch how Eddie Ward Rowe, owner of a Nonsuch sailboat, described the boat’s seizure and his dealings with Alvarez.
Ward Rowe’s boat Elph may need cleaning but she was not abandoned.
Most of boats that were tagged do resemble the derelict vessels that litter the waters of Florida and other southern U.S. coastal states, but Presidential Aide José Ignacio Paliza implied that the initiative was part of an effort to “restore a beautiful national park.” He was referring to the fact that Luperon Bay has been the scene of dozens of diesel spills over the past two years, as regular Loose Cannon readers are aware.
Whether the Navy has made any effort whatsoever to curb the spills, which were known to come from locally stored fishing vessels, is not public information, but diesel has continued to be spilled as recently as last month. To be sure, many of the targeted vessels were eyesores owned by no one, but to argue they were an immediate threat to the environment while a fleet of commercial craft continues to release petroleum into the mangroves?
Yet, that is what Paliza did in a post on X:
This initiative seeks to mitigate the environmental impact that these structures represent for marine species, the surrounding mangroves and the ecological balance of this Wildlife Reserve, considered an important tourist and environmental attraction.
Paliza briefly posted a government memo which showed that 7.4 million pesos had been budgeted for the clean-up, which is equivalent to more than $125,000—a substantial sum thereabouts. Someone took the post down soon after.
One of the vessels that really was derelict is dragged up the launch ramp at Marina Tropicale.
AVENALUP is an association of foreign cruisers and local business people that lobbies for the bay as a cruising destination. The group issued a statement calling the act of spray-painting numbers on private boats “vandalism” and has contacted a maritime lawyer.
The response from owners and caretakers of targeted vessels has varied. Some set about painting over the painted numbers. Others used scrub brushes to apply soapy waters to make boats more presentable.
People in the harbor are now quoting authorities as saying boats might be saved from the scrapyard by having past harbor fees paid, thus confirming active ownership, even though the customary practice is to wait until departure to pay any fee balance. Some have called for a boycott of Marina Tropicale because of its role in the affair.
Whatever the outcome, Luperon’s efforts to build an economy around “nautical tourism” took another hit last week.
Dirty but Serviceable
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.
Salty Southeast Cruisers Net Sponsor Charleston County Cooper River Marina has provided this helpful information for your visit to Charleston County’s Beach Parks this Spring and Summer.
Charleston County Waterparks to open for weekends starting May 17
(CHARLESTON COUNTY) – The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) will open its three waterparks – Splash Island in Mount Pleasant, Splash Zone on James Island, and Whirlin’ Waters in North Charleston – as well as the pool at the West County Aquatic Center in Hollywood, for weekends only starting May 17. Daily operations will begin on May 30. The parks’ hours will vary this year; see schedule below for details.
A schedule for each park’s operations is as follows*:
– Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark:
Open weekends only starting May 17; Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Open daily from May 30 – Aug. 10; weekends from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and weekdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
Open weekends only starting Aug. 11 and closing after Labor Day, Sept. 1
– Splash Island Waterpark and Splash Zone Waterpark:
Open weekends only starting May 17; Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 – 6 p.m.
Open daily from May 30 – Aug. 3; Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sundays from 1 – 6 p.m.; weekdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Close for the season after Aug. 3
– West County Aquatic Center:
Open weekends only starting May 17; Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 – 6 p.m.
Open daily from May 30 – Aug. 10; Saturdays and weekdays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Sundays 1 – 6 p.m.
Open weekends only starting Aug. 11 and closing after Labor Day, Sept. 1
*Parks are open on Memorial Day and some holidays have different hours; please visit CharlestonCountyParks.com (direct link) for a full daily schedule and hours of operation for each park before planning your visit.Schedules are subject to change.
Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark at North Charleston Wannamaker County Park is the largest of CCPRC’s three waterparks. Whirlin’ Waters features unique activities for all ages with attractions including a 60-foot-tall multi-person slide The Washout, plus the Big Splash Tree House, Rollin’ River lazy river, Big Kahuna wave pool, Tubular Twister slides, Rip Tide Run mat racer slide and Otter Bay kiddie area.
Splash Zone Waterpark is located within James Island County Park. It offers two 200-foot-long slides, a large leisure pool, a 500-foot-long lazy river with sprays and waterfalls, and a family play complex called The Rainforest that features slides, buckets and sprays.
Splash Island Waterpark, located within Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park, provides hours of fun for toddlers to pre-teenage children. Attractions include a 200-foot-long body flume, activity pool, a 16-foot-long otter slide, sprays, geysers, raindrop waterfalls and more.
The waterparks also offer a full range of amenities including concessions, lockers, lounge chairs, showers and restrooms. Each waterpark is staffed with certified lifeguards. Birthday party packages are also available. Admission fees vary, and Splash Passes for all-season waterpark access are available for sale now at CharlestonCountyParks.com.
The West County Aquatic Center offers a 6,000-square-foot seasonal outdoor pool for beginner and seasoned swimmers. It also offers programming including swimming lessons, fitness programs and a competitive swim team.
For more information on the waterparks or West County Aquatic Center, and a full daily schedule of operations for each park, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com or call 843-795-4386.
Some openings are still available for seasonal lifeguard and other park positions. Charleston County Parks’ jobs offer competitive pay and great benefits. For a list of open positions and to apply, visit ccprc.com/jobs.
Splash Zone Waterpark, Splash Island Waterpark, Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark and the West County Aquatic Center are all owned and operated by CCPRC.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 six regional 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. CCPRC 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.
Located at mile marker 12 on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Marker 12 Pop-Up Bar is open exclusively to waterway guests of Atlantic Yacht Basin, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, located just south of the Great Bridge lock and bridge in Great Bridge, VA.
Click here to discover more about Chesapeake: events, things to do, restaurants, trip planner and more!
Everything you need is within steps of the waterway!
Click here to download a walking map of the Great Bridge Village. Click here to download our Visitor Passport for our Waterway Guests.
Stock up on provisions at the Kroger grocery store. Enjoy a meal at one of our partner restaurants: Lockside Bar & Grill (casual waterfront dining), Woody’s Raw Bar & Grill (casual waterfront dining) or Vino Italian Bistro (upscale Italian). Or, shop in our locally owned shops, chic boutiques and funky retail shops, antique dealers, national retailers and premium outlets.
Feel free to contact us for personal assistance. No request is too small or impossible. Hello@GoChesapeake.net 757.296.3404 GoChesapeake.net
Marker 12 Boater Hospitality Events
The popular Pop-Up Happy Hour hosted by GoChesapeake is held on Tuesdays and Fridays in May and October. Learn more »
Visitor Passport
The Visitor Passport is your guide to dining, shopping, events and experiences. Pick up your copy at the dockmaster’s office or download a digital copy from the GoChesapeake website. Download a copy »
GoChesapeake Waterway Concierge Services
Let us help you make your visit memorable and uniquely yours. No request is too small or impossible. Contact us today with your request! Hello@GoChesapeake.net or 757.296.3404 – Option 1
A Kroger Supermarket is located in the Great Bridge Shopping Center providing our waterway guests convenient, one-stop shopping within steps of the waterway. Learn more and get hours >>
A Community of Partners Devoted to Supporting Our Waterway Guests
A longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, historic Edenton always has an exciting calendar of events and places to visit! Edenton is at the mouth of the Chowan River on the northwest shore of Albemarle Sound.
Hello,
May brings warm weather and plenty of outdoor activities to do in Edenton! Whether you want to spend some time relaxing in nature or take in an exciting game at the ballpark, you’ll find that May is the perfect month to plan a trip to Edenton.
If you are thinking about spending some time in Edenton, our comfortable and convenient Bed & Breakfasts are ready to welcome you. Book a room and experience the Southern hospitality and comfort that define a trip to Edenton. You can even book a pet-friendly room!
Edenton is well-known for its historic contributions to American history. While you’re visiting Edenton, you’ll enjoy exploring many historic sites. On May 6th, the Cupola House will host another installment of the 2025 Spring Speakers Series, where you can learn more about the unique history of the Cupola House and Gardens. This free event will be held at the Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library, next door to the Cupola House, and all are welcome to attend! Reserve your seat today.
Edenton’s iconic collegiate-level summer baseball team will kick-off their 2025 season with a home game on May 29th. Join the fun at Historic Hicks Field as the Edenton Steamers face the Greenbrier Knights at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the gate, and there will be plenty of refreshments to purchase while watching the game. Come enjoy a night at the ballfield!
The Chowan-Edenton Optimist Club will host the annual Paddle, Pedal, Plod Triathlon on May 31st to raise money for the Devine Intervention Cancer Fund. This triathlon is designed for competitors at all levels and will include a 2-mile kayak through the waters of Edenton Bay, 15-mile bike ride, and 5K run through the country roads of Chowan County. Pre-register if you’d like to participate in this event or join the crowd of spectators at Queen Ann Park to cheer on the participants!
In addition to these events, you can enjoy shopping, historic tours, and tasty cuisine in downtown Edenton during your visit. Also, check out our Calendar of Events to see more of what’s happening this next month. We hope you’ll take advantage of the beautiful spring weather to plan your trip to Edenton in May!
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