Paddle for the Border ~ Saturday, May 2, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, a Salty Southeast Cruisers Net sponsor, is a great place to visit any time.
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Fishermen’s Village April 2026 Calendars, Punta Gorda, FL
There is always plenty to do around Charlotte Harbor. While berthed at Fishermen’s Village Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, you are certain to enjoy visiting Western Florida’s beautiful Charlotte Harbor/Peace River.
Fishermen’s Village APRIL Calendars of Entertainment/Events
April 2026 Sunset Beach Club Calendar
Special Events & Community Relations941.639.8721
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers Net Marina Directory Listing For Fishermen’s Village
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Fishermen’s Village
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Albemarle Hopeline’s Run for Hope 5K, April 25th – Elizabeth City
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.
Run for Hope 5K
It’s that time of year! Spring into action for a great cause with Albemarle Hopeline’s Race 5K for Hope!
Enjoy a flat, scenic course through the Riverside Area of Elizabeth City with views of the Pasquotank River. All proceeds from this event will provide services for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence through Albemarle Hopeline, Inc. Hopeline has been serving survivors in northeast North Carolina for 40 years.
Lace up, show up, and Take every step with purpose—your run helps change lives!
REGISTER FOR 5K REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER DONATE Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce | 502 E. Ehringhaus St. | Elizabeth City, NC 27909 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice 
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Promising Annapolis Marine Tech Charged With Bomb-Making – Loose Cannon
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Lee Ralston’s skills include scuba, according to his company website. An Annapolis area marine technician has been arrested in connection with 32 bombs found during a search of his home. Lee Scott Wygal Ralston, 37, was charged with 32 counts each of manufacture and possession of a “destructive device.” He faces up to 25 years in prison.
Ralston founded Ralston Marine in February 2025, after getting into the marine industry as a tech at Port Annapolis Marina in 2019. His website advertised him as a “mobile marine service provider,” capable of “electronics installation, fiberglass repairs, bottom painting, custom fabrication and dive services.”
Maryland authorities began their case against Ralston with an investigation into allegations of illegal night hunting—deer jacking—that included a home being hit by gunfire. Apparently, Natural Resource officers were conducting a search of Ralston’s home, probably for frozen venison, when the bombs were discovered. According to news reports, they called in Anne Arundel County’s Fire Department explosives unit.
Maryland media outlets reported that some of the bombs were rigged to be detonated remotely.
On April 14, the same day the search was excuted, Ralston’s wife Chelsea filed for divorce.
Ralston grew up in Salisbury, Maryland, and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland. For four years, he worked for a pair of engineering firms before being trained and hired at Port Annapolis.
“I wanted to have a job where I loved what I was doing, and sitting in an office all day wasn’t it,” he was quoted as saying by PropTalk magazine in December 2019.
“The days go by quickly,” he said. “It’s nice to be granted some autonomy and be treated with some trust in your work—not every place is like that. Plus, I get to be outside, and you can’t beat the water view!”
Also from PropTalk: Rich Krolak, service manager at Port Annapolis, predicted that Ralson would go far in the industry.
LOOSE CANNON covers hard news, technical issues and nautical history. Sometimes he tries to be funny. Subscribe for free to support the work. If you’ve been reading for a while—and you like it—consider upgrading to paid.
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South Mills Lock Closure – TODAY April 21, Dismal Swamp Canal, AICW Alternate Route
Scheduled closure of the South Mills Lock for electrical repairs on April 20-22, 2026. Our thanks to Sarah Hill of the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center for this information.
Please see the USACE Norfolk District’s Notice to Navigation regarding the scheduled closure of the South Mills Lock on the Dismal Swamp Canal, April 20-22, 2026. This temporary closure is for electrical repairs to be made. The lock will reopen on April 23, 2026.
Attaching image from this week at the dock. Boaters are beginning to trickle through during this early springtime period.
Looking forward to many more in this season!
Thanks,
Sarah
Sarah Hill, TMP
Director, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
Chairperson, Camden County Tourism Development Authority
2356 US Hwy 17 North, South Mills, NC 27976252-771-8333 | shill@camdencountync.gov www.DismalSwampWelcomeCenter.com ___________________________________________________________
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of South Mills Lock
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For South Mills Lock
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South Mills Lock Closure – TODAY April 20, Dismal Swamp Canal, AICW Alternate Route
Scheduled closure of the South Mills Lock for electrical repairs on April 20-22, 2026. Our thanks to Sarah Hill of the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center for this information.
Please see the USACE Norfolk District’s Notice to Navigation regarding the scheduled closure of the South Mills Lock on the Dismal Swamp Canal, April 20-22, 2026. This temporary closure is for electrical repairs to be made. The lock will reopen on April 23, 2026.
Attaching image from this week at the dock. Boaters are beginning to trickle through during this early springtime period.
Looking forward to many more in this season!
Thanks,
Sarah
Sarah Hill, TMP
Director, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
Chairperson, Camden County Tourism Development Authority
2356 US Hwy 17 North, South Mills, NC 27976252-771-8333 | shill@camdencountync.gov www.DismalSwampWelcomeCenter.com ___________________________________________________________
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of South Mills Lock
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For South Mills Lock
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South Mills Lock Closure – BEGINNING TOMORROW April 20, Dismal Swamp Canal, AICW Alternate Route
Scheduled closure of the South Mills Lock for electrical repairs on April 20-22, 2026. Our thanks to Sarah Hill of the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center for this information.
Please see the USACE Norfolk District’s Notice to Navigation regarding the scheduled closure of the South Mills Lock on the Dismal Swamp Canal, April 20-22, 2026. This temporary closure is for electrical repairs to be made. The lock will reopen on April 23, 2026.
Attaching image from this week at the dock. Boaters are beginning to trickle through during this early springtime period.
Looking forward to many more in this season!
Thanks,
Sarah
Sarah Hill, TMP
Director, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
Chairperson, Camden County Tourism Development Authority
2356 US Hwy 17 North, South Mills, NC 27976252-771-8333 | shill@camdencountync.gov www.DismalSwampWelcomeCenter.com ___________________________________________________________
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of South Mills Lock
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For South Mills Lock
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Crossing the Equator During an Eclipse – Loose Cannon
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Watching the eclipse: John thought way ahead and back in November got us some proper eclipse glasses. The author and his wife Pam are cruising the South Pacific aboard Roam, a 2001 Catana 472 designed by Christophe Barreau and built by Catana. You can follow their adventures on Substack. The story was first published in April 2024.
Some days are more eventful than others. Today, we witnessed a total eclipse of the sun and crossed the equator on a small boat.
Thus far, we have been blessed with a fast and uneventful sail across the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) or “doldrums.” This is an area marked by calms, lightning, and otherwise squally weather. Ships would often get stuck here for weeks waiting for the wind to fill in. We’ve sailed the entire time and only dealt with one significant rain squall, which was a welcome rinse for Roam.
The Solar Eclipse
Back when we started planning this trip, John pointed out that it was conceivable we might be able to view the total solar eclipse during our voyage. He promptly ordered some eclipse glasses for us, and they’ve been sitting in the nav station since last summer. None of us thought much about it beyond that. A lot would have to come together for it to work out.
Totality With a day to go, it became clear we might be able to make it into the path of totality and maybe to the transit longitude of the eclipse itself. A longitude we calculated to be W132:43’.
We tried valiantly to reach the equator at the eclipse transit longitude, but 9-10 knots the night before was just too fast, and we opted to reduce sail and the loads on the boat (and my anxiety).
But we got close enough. We enjoyed more than two minutes of totality and several hours of partial coverage.
We believe we are the only humans to have witnessed the eclipse in the vicinity of the equator today. There was nobody on radar or AIS around us that we could see.
It is nothing short of an awe-inspiring experience. Near-complete darkness. I wonder what the ancients thought when all of a sudden the sun randomly shut off during the middle of the day.
Crossing the Equator
Crossing the equator is a celebrated rite of passage for every sailor. Yesterday was our time, and we crossed at 2306 UTC.
Welcome to the Southern Hemisphere Pollywogs who cross are eligible to enter the court of King Neptune and become shellbacks.
John was the lone shellback among us, and he held a truly epic and memorable ceremony as King Neptune. He had crossed many years ago as a seaman aboard the USCG cutter, Steadfast.
Pollywog Pam The ceremony itself is classified, but it includes atoning for one’s sins against the sea, entertaining the king, and committing to stewardship of the kingdom. This is a longstanding maritime tradition, widely practiced even today. And we were all duly awarded our certificates (suitable for framing). If you find yourself crossing the line and in need of King Neptune, you can do no better than John!
500 miles to go. We should be in the anchorage at Hiva Oa on Friday the 12th. Until then, I remain profoundly grateful for this wonderful crew and this magnificent boat that has taken such good care of us.
King Neptune and his shellbacks. 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.
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Cruisers’ Net Weekly Newsletter – April 17, 2026
Cruisers’ Net Newsletter for this week has just been emailed via Constant Contact.
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Potentially strong El Niño could mean fewer hurricanes, but also a cool, wet winter – SunSentinel
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