1. THE FOLLOWING AID TO NAVIGATION HAS BEEN CHANGED. A. SOUTHPORT RANGE OUTBOUND PRECISION DIRECTIONAL LIGHT (LLNR 30338) HAS INCREASED MRASS ACTIVATION TIMEFRAME FOR OPTIC FROM 15 TO 30 MINUTES. CANCEL AT//061255Z NOV 26//
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*** THIS DIV IS AUTOMATICALLY HIDDEN WHEN DISPLAYED – INFO FOR DEBUGGING PURPOSES *** ***MANUALLY DO: FIX TITLE, EXPIRE DATE, CATEGORIES, ENABLE SOCIAL POST *** 0: llnr: 30338 District: 05 lat/lon: 33.882549,-77.998328 Desc: Southport Range Outbound Precision Directional Light
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.
The Coast Guard just made a U-turn, lit up the blue lights and called you on the radio. Here is exactly what happens next.
Capt. Chris Caldwell walks through a Coast Guard boarding step by step, from the first hail to the receipt in your hand.
In this episode of the Southern Boating podcast, training captain and Southern Boating & Yachting contributor Capt. Chris Caldwell breaks down what to expect when the U.S. Coast Guard asks to board your boat.
He covers how the boarding crew approaches, the questions they ask about passengers and firearms, why they open the engine room and lazarette first, and the paperwork and placards they expect to see, including the Navigation Rules handbook for boats 12 meters (39.4 feet) and longer.
He also explains the most common violation he sees (expired flares), why life jackets must carry U.S. Coast Guard approval, what to say and what not to say, and how a simple pre-departure checklist keeps a boarding short and friendly.
00:00 Intro 00:22 Where the Coast Guard can board you 00:55 The wave, the U-turn and the blue lights 01:53 Head count and firearms questions 02:48 Engine room, lazarette and the safety inspection 03:26 The Navigation Rules handbook (39.4 feet and up) 04:06 Pollution placards and the waste plan 04:46 Your documentation number 05:35 The boarding report and the “gold sheet” 06:18 Why they pick your boat 07:18 Big events and holiday weekends 08:10 Is there anything they cannot do? 08:23 The federal requirements booklet 08:54 Life jackets: USCG approval matters 09:43 Dewatering devices 10:20 The most common violation: expired flares 11:06 What to say and what not to say 11:30 A friendly boarding in Charleston Harbor 12:13 Your pre-departure checklist 12:52 Capt. Chris’s background 13:33 “Owning the boat” 13:55 Ask Captain Chris on YouTube
This email was sent to curtis.hoff@CruisersNet.net using Granicus Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Coast Guard · U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Washington, DC 20528 · 800-439-1420
*** THIS DIV IS AUTOMATICALLY HIDDEN WHEN DISPLAYED – INFO FOR DEBUGGING PURPOSES *** ***MANUALLY DO: FIX TITLE, EXPIRE DATE, CATEGORIES, ENABLE SOCIAL POST *** 0: llnr: 0 District: 07 lat/lon: 38.517803333333,-79.06959 Desc: Situational Update – Hazardous Weather Outlook for the Western Atlantic – Thu Oct 22, 2026 06:30
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks for sharing this CoastalReview piece. The title sums up something that applies to fishing along the coast more than any gear choice: the water usually tells you what is happening if you watch it. Diving terns and pelicans, nervous bait on the surface, or a slick on an otherwise rippled area are all signs that fish are pushing bait, and noticing them a few minutes earlier than everyone else often makes the difference between a good day and an empty cooler.
For cruisers who fish from the boat while traveling the ICW, tide and current are probably the most useful things to keep an eye on. Moving water around creek mouths, inlet edges and oyster bars tends to concentrate bait, and the last couple of hours of a falling tide can be especially productive. Keeping a simple log of tide stage, water temperature and where fish were found makes those patterns much easier to repeat on the next trip through.
One thing worth adding is that paying attention also means watching the weather, especially with a storm forming in the Gulf right now. Fall fishing can be excellent ahead of a front, but conditions change quickly in open sounds and near inlets. It is worth checking forecasts and having a clear plan for when to head back before the wind builds.
Atlantic Yacht Basin, A LONG-TIME CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located just south of the Great Bridge lock and bridge at Mile Marker 12 in Great Bridge, VA. If you have wood damage or need a few modifications with the interior or exterior of your boat, Atlantic Yacht Basin has the team to fix it right.
I have used them many times for both repairs and short-term storage during my ICW trips. AYB has a great location and can perform any repairs you may require.
Chesapeake Restaurant Week October 12th – 18th Explore Chesapeake’s vibrantculinary scene. Participating restaurants are serving a variety of offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from $15 and up increasing by $5 increments.
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 Pop-Up Happy Hour & Dinner Excursions
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
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.
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.
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.
Atlantic Yacht Basin, A LONG-TIME CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located just south of the Great Bridge lock and bridge at Mile Marker 12 in Great Bridge, VA. If you have wood damage or need a few modifications with the interior or exterior of your boat, Atlantic Yacht Basin has the team to fix it right.
I have used them many times for both repairs and short-term storage during my ICW trips. AYB has a great location and can perform any repairs you may require.
At the Atlantic Yacht Basin
Worth Avenue Yachts Chesapeake
Our Chesapeake office sits at the historic Atlantic Yacht Basin, mile marker 12 on the Intracoastal Waterway and a key stopover for yachts traveling between the Northeast and Florida. Led by longtime local brokers Chuck Grice, Jonathan Chapman, and Parker Griffo, the team brings decades of Mid‑Atlantic expertise and an honest, hands‑on approach… now backed by the global reach of Worth Avenue Yachts.
Whether you are buying, selling, or servicing, our AYB location offers covered storage, full marine services, and prime exposure along the Eastern Seaboard.
Jonathan S. Chapman, CPYB, brings decades of experience in yacht brokerage, operations, and management, with a specialty in classic and pedigree yachts. A former President of the Yacht Brokers Association of America, he is a respected leader in the industry. Jonathan serves as Managing Director of Worth Avenue Yachts’ Newport and Chesapeake offices.
With over four decades in yacht brokerage, Chuck Grice brings extensive sales experience, Chesapeake Bay knowledge, and a reputation for trusted client service. Based at Worth Avenue Yachts’ Atlantic Yacht Basin office in Chesapeake, Virginia, he assists buyers and sellers with expertise built from a lifetime on the water.
Parker Griffo brings lifelong boating experience, technical expertise, and a strong background in yacht brokerage to Worth Avenue Yachts. Based at the Chesapeake office, he assists clients throughout the buying and selling process with hands-on industry knowledge.
With offices in Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Newport, Seattle, and Monaco, Worth Avenue Yachts connects your vessel with qualified buyers around the world… all from Atlantic Yacht Basin.
Explore Trumpy’s at Atlantic Yacht Basin
Jonathan Chapman on Worth Avenue Yachts Chesapeake and the Atlantic Yacht Basin.
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