Guest commentary: The Cape Fear River and its historically important and scarce resources are rapidly being lost or adversely altered forever.
Click here for Cape Fear River Ghost Trees: What stories could they speak?
CoastalReview.org
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $5 a month or $42 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
Click here for Courts Turn Boat Insurance in Florida Upside Down – Peter Swanson
No matter the name, we love these structures for providing easy access to Southern waterways.
Click here for Dock, Wharf, or Pier? We Know Where You’re From Depending On What You Call It
Cameron Beall, Yahoo.com
Click here for [Video] NOAA Ocean Today – The Water Cycle (and more)
ATLANTIC OCEAN – GULF OF MEXICO – FLORIDA: CRS 26 Capsule Reentry.
The Coast Guard has established the Temporary Final Rule (TFR) 33 CFR 165.T07-0806 for safety zones for space capsule reentry operations. The temporary safety zones are located within the Seventh Coast Guard District area of responsibility (AOR) offshore of Jacksonville, Daytona, Cape Canaveral, Tampa, and Tallahassee, Florida. This action is necessary to protect vessels and waterway users from the potential hazards created by reentry vehicle splashdowns and recovery operations in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It is also necessary to provide for the safe recovery of reentry vehicles, and any personnel involved in reentry services, after the splashdown. U.S. flagged vessels are prohibited from entering any of the temporary safety zones unless authorized by the District Commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District, the relevant Captain of the Port, or a designated representative. All other vessels are highly encouraged to avoid these areas when activated for safety. The next activation of this safety zone will be between January 10-12, 2023, for the recovery of the CRS-26 space capsule. Please see the next article for contact and reference information.
ATLANTIC OCEAN – FLORIDA – CAPE CANAVERAL: Rocket Launch Activity and Regulated Navigation Area (33 CFR 165.775)
Mariners operating in waters offshore of Cape Canaveral, Florida are advised of frequent rocket launch activity and associated launch hazard areas which may impact navigation interests. The Coast Guard has established a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) to encompass all waters within rocket flight trajectories originating from launch complexes on or around Cape Canaveral, FL and out to 12 nautical miles. The RNA is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels, mariners and navigable waters during scheduled rocket launch operations. Restrictions may be enforced anywhere within the boundary of the RNA and will be based on the risk assessment of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Jacksonville. In addition, a Security Zone exists in the vicinity of Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida. The area encompassed by the zone as described in 33 CFR 165.701 is closed to all vessels and persons except as authorized by the Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District or the COTP Jacksonville, Florida whenever space vehicles are to be launched from Cape Canaveral. A detailed description of the Security Zone (33 CFR 165.701) and Regulated Navigation Area (33 CFR 165.775) can be found in 33 Code of Federal Regulations and online at eCFR :: 33 CFR Part 165 – Regulated Navigation Areas and Limited Access Areas, accessible at:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-P/part-165?toc=1.
Specific launch schedule and information is provided by Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville and accessible through https://homeport.uscg.mil/portdirectory/jacksonville. The USCG Command Center in Jacksonville can be reached at (904) 714-7557. U.S. Space Force maintains a Launch Information hotline at 1-800-470-7232
Detailed launch information is available on the day of launch using VHF Channel 16 or FM81A.
Launch Hazard Areas are viewable by scanning the QR code below or visiting https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil. Users should scroll to the section “Upcoming Launches” near the bottom of the page and select the link “Launch Hazard Area” to view hazard information and active zones in the Regulated Navigation Area.
Anna Maria Island is at the mouth of the Manatee River which is home to two longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSORS, Riviera Dunes Marina and Twin Dolphins Marina.
Anna Maria Island offers a taste of the simple life on Florida’s Gulf Coast
TravelWeekly.com
Click Here To View the Cruisers Net Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Riviera Dunes Marina Resort
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Riviera Dunes Marina Resort
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Twin Dolphin Marina
One of our favorite islands along the west coast of FL… it is getting VERY POPULAR.
Hope it does not loose it's "old Florida" charm. Three different municipalities on the island.
The Corps of Engineers now says it has authority to follow the deepest natural water, or best water, in the Rollinson Channel Navigation Project linking Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.
The proposed corridor with high-shoaling areas to be dredged any time of year indicated in circles. Image: Corps/FONSI
Click here for Inlet channel maintenance made simpler: Go with the flow
CoastalReview.org
The Old Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station is one of the most beautiful historic buildings on the Outer Banks, situated at a dramatic coastal location that would befit a movie setting.
The Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station on the southeast side of Oregon Inlet, part of the Pea island National Wildlife Refuge. Photo: Courtesy U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association
Click here for 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station must go, but where? – Catherine Kozak
CoastalReview,org
Click here for Pamlico County a quiet destination on NC coast
CoastalReview.org
Click here for [New Video] NOAA Ocean Today – Flooding on a Sunny Day? Here’s How
Click image below for details. Topside Marinas is A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!
The Florida Keys are home to the world’s third largest living coral reef. And Key Largo is home to Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!
Click for Forget Kokomo. Key Largo is the pristine paradise where you wanna go.
National Geographic/Travel
Popular literature and the public’s imagination have long perpetuated the notion that the notorious pirate buried his ill-gotten wealth, perhaps on Ocracoke Island.
“Blackbeard Buries His Treasure” illustrated by Howard Pyle for Harper’s Magazine, 1887.
Click here for Search for Blackbeard’s treasure based on enduring myth
CoastalReview.org
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This fall, a massive new dataset release will help maritime navigation become safer, easier and more efficient.
Click here for Effort to sync waterway names will improve maritime safety, efficiency
NOAA
Click here for Introducing: Pathways to Your National Parks!
Click here for BoatUS: How to Recover Your Boat After a Hurricane
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $5 a month or $42 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
Click here for ABYC Tests Show LiFePO4 Batteries Are Safe
Click here for ICYMI: Hurricane Storm Surge Explained from NOAA’s Ocean Today
Our thanks to Sean Welsh for sharing his experience and knowledge of storm conditions in the southern regions. Current LNMs are also posted and updated daily on Cruisers Net.
For those headed south toward the FL Gulf Coast, some unsolicited advice
from a long-time disaster responder, licensed mariner, and full-time
cruiser:
I know it’s late in the season and winter is soon upon us. But I suggest
lingering as far north as practical until well past October. Hurricane
season does not end until November 30, but, more importantly, you are
now unavoidably traveling into a major disaster area. Things will not be
the way you remember them if you’ve been there before, or the way
they’ve been portrayed to you if this is your first time. Some things to
keep in mind:
No one will have time or resources to deal with you. Locals will be
focused on recovery and self-care. Businesses will be closed (or
destroyed), have limited hours, or limited stocks. Outsiders traveling
for pleasure can be perceived (whatever the reality) as consuming
resources needed to help residents. Or worse, as “disaster tourists.”
Waterways in the area will have changed from what is shown on the
charts. Shoals will have moved or developed. Aids to Navigation will be
missing, off-station, or extinguished. The bottom can be littered with
debris including sunken vessels or entire structures. Even well after
these storms you will need to proceed with extreme caution; consider
traveling offshore if weather permits and avoiding the GIWW and OWW
altogether if possible.
Expect waterway closures and security zones, due to damage or recovery.
Some drawbridges or locks may be inoperative or on reduced schedules.
Download the Local Notices to Mariners (LNMs) each week, and listen to
the Broadcast LNMs that the Coast Guard annouces every morning on VHF
16. LNMs can be downloaded here:
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/lo
Seventh District will be the relevant one.
Obtain your fuel, water, and provisions well before reaching south Florida.
Expect communications to be spotty in many places. Cellular Internet
will be overloaded, and inoperative in some places. Even voice will have
issues. SMS typically works better than anything else cellular in a
disaster area. Make sure you have a good, working VHF in case of emergency.
Marine supplies and services are likely to be unavailable. If you’ve
been meaning to pick up a spare impeller, or some extra motor oil, or
whatever, do it now. The simplest of problems can waylay you for a very
long time in a place you probably don’t want to be.
It should go without saying, but do not expect to dock. Anywhere for any
reason. You might get lucky, but the chances are slim. If you do find a
place to tie up, it may not have power, water, or pumpout.
Expect to be self-sufficient once west of Stuart or south of Miami.
My thoughts are with you and with all the people affected by, and
responding to the pummeling the gulf coast is receiving. I’m pinned down
today by offshore weather, with a lot of time on my hands to watch the
news roll in; it is heartbreaking.
Sean Welsh
Good advice. After a major storm like Ian even traveling offshore can be hazardous for quite awhile afterward. Think of all the junk that has washed into the ocean and could be floating out at sea. If your boat successfully weathered the storm, but was within the strong wind area, be sure to give everything a careful check before going anywhere. Make sure your sailboat rigging is all good. I went up the mast after Hurricane Bob and found most of the strands in the forestay were broken, probably due to the intense vibration endured. Similarly, give any cleats and lines a close inspection and consider replacing rope that was under tremendous stress. Make sure water didn't get into your fuel. Be prepared with extra filters when you do go out.
Excellent advice, Sean, which of course will equally apply to cruisers traveling west through the Okeechobee or north from Marathon. Well done article.
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