A referendum was put before Key West voters that sought to dredge a wider channel through the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to accommodate super ships and voters defeated the referendum with an astonishing 74% of the vote.
Opinion: Safer, cleaner ships for the future of Key West
Florida Keys Weekly
The original state report on sea level rise in 2010 yielded controversy rather than policy changes to address the problem, but officials say there’s response happening now at the state and local levels
NC’s First Sea Level Rise Report, 10 Years On
Coastal Review Online
This is good news for Waterway cruisers in Georgia. Our thanks to Kim Russo for this announcement posted on AGLCA’s Forum.
Minutes ago the Georgia State Senate passed legislation that will undo the disastrous anchoring regulations that took effect in that state on January 1st of this year. HB 833, sponsored by Georgia Representative (and Gold Looper!), Ron Stephens, passed the Georgia House on March 12th, but didn’t make it to the Senate floor for a vote before the General Assembly adjourned for COVID-19 quarantine. The lawmakers have returned, and the bill passed the Senate today by a vote of 48-1.
HB 833 takes back some of the widespread power the previous law afforded DNR to regulate anchoring. In short, HB 833 removes the ability to require permits for all overnight anchoring, removes the requirement to keep records of pump outs, and perhaps most importantly, removes the requirement that boats not anchor within 1,000 feet of water front structures and within 300 feet of marinas. Instead, the new law changes those set-back distances to 150-feet from waterfront structures, 300-feet from marinas, and 500-feet from commercial shellfish beds for short-term anchoring, which is defined as anchoring in the same place for up to 14 cumulative nights per calendar year. Long term anchoring (over 14 days in the same place) will require a permit.
The bill now requires a signature from the Governor, which is expected soon. Once signed, the new law takes effect immediately.
This is a big win for the boating community and a great example of what our membership can do with our collective advocacy efforts.
Kim Russo
Director
America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association
A big thanks to you two Wally and James.. huge thanks.
Thanks CN for all your support publicizing this issue.
As the first inlet into NC waters south of the Chesapeake, Oregon Inlet is very tempting to offshore cruisers. HOWEVER, Oregon Inlet is notorious for shoaling, keeping the USCG busy relocating ATONs. Even with this dredging project, Cruisers Net still recommends attempting navigation ONLY with shoal draft and good local knowledge.
Park Service OKs Oregon Inlet Dredge Plan
Coastal Review Online
If you’re a fan of state parks, you’ll enjoy checking out Florida’s unique selection: the state’s parks encompass more than 800,000 acres across 175 state parks, nine state trails, and many historic sites.
Exploring Florida’s Wild Outdoors
The Epoch Times
Sunset on Long Pines Key Lake, Everglades.(Shutterstock)
Due to having no password access and our inability to close Claiborne’s Facebook accounts, your Cruisers Net Team is unable to open or respond to Facebook postings sent to accounts other than:
contact@cruisersnet.net
facebook.com/cruisersnet
kaye.adams@cruisersnet.net
larry.dorminy@cruisersnet.net
winston.fowler@cruisersnet.net
curtis.hoff@cruisersnet.net
Facebook accounts, such as Old Cruising Writer, are invalid and cannot be opened or forwarded.
Your past submissions to these old accounts have looked really interesting and we appreciate your thinking of us, but, sadly, we cannot open them. Please remove Claiborne Young’s name from your contact list.
With fewer male hatchlings emerging from nests over the past few decades, researchers are now studying male sea turtles with more urgency.
The mystery of male sea turtles in Florida: There may be fewer but does it matter?
Miami Herald
Let’s hope that “mandatory” will magically make individuals “responsible.”
Florida Keys Makes Mask Wearing Mandatory
TravelPulse
In June of each year the Cruisers Net team pauses to remember our founder and our friend, Claiborne Young, who was taken from us six years ago in a tragic accident. Because he is with us on every page of his website, it is still hard to believe that he is gone. We hope that you, too, will continue to see him in the work we are continuing. See also Tribute to Claiborne.
Claiborne Sellars Young 1951-2014
Claiborne S. Young was considered one of the foremost authorities on cruising the waters of the Southeast, having written numerous cruising guides from North Carolina to Mobile, AL, as well as creating video guides along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway through the Carolinas. Claiborne was a larger than life man with a huge dream and a large family of cruising and boating friends that boated or cruised the coastal and near coastal waters from all over the southeast from Virginia to Alabama. He was a real people person, meeting and making new friends wherever he went. We remember and miss his tireless commitment to serving the cruising community concerning water access, clean water, navigational rights, safety, as well as providing information that would make every cruise most enjoyable. His ability to tell a story was unmatched and made him a very popular quest speaker. In his rich southern drawl, Claiborne’s ability to tell you where to anchor safely or visit a marina comfortably was matched equally by his yearning for a fine and enjoyable dining experience. In his own words, “a gastric-intestinal delight” or “cholesterol enriching experience.”
Since his tragic and untimely death in June of 2014, his Salty Southeast Cruisers Net team of associates, and now new owners, have worked to keep Claiborne’s dream alive by continuing to provide detailed, up-to-date cruising information free of charge to the boating and cruising community. This work, Claiborne’s dream, is supported by many maritime business sponsors contributing to the growth and sustenance of our website. The SSECN Team is constantly upgrading the site with easier to open and read graphics, new data formats, technology such as ARGUS, a crowd sourced bathymetry depth recording available on all ChartView pages, and a powerful mobile app putting all the tools of Cruisers’ Net and more in the palm of your hand.
The members of the SSECN Team were deeply touched and extremely grateful for the outpouring of remembrances and expressions of sympathy from those who knew Claiborne personally and from some who knew him only through his writings and his website. We are determined to keep his life work alive.
And we are ever so grateful for your continued participation: “CRUISERS HELPING CRUISERS!”
Kaye Adams
Larry Dorminy
Winston Fowler
Curtis Hoff
Claiborne was a true gentleman and a helping hand, and he is still an inspiration to the cruiisng community. Thank you for keeping his dream and spirit alive.
St. Pete is home to CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, a great liveaboard and transient marina located on the western shore of Tampa Bay in downtown St. Petersburg. See FOCUS ON for more on this great facility.
Meet Me in St. Pete: Your Weekend Guide
Flamingo Magazine
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