Hotels are open and Fantasy Fest is going full steam!
Fantasy Fest 2017 is running! October 20-29.
Key West Mayor, Craig Cates, said they are targeting October 20th as their goal to officially reopen to tourists in time for the annual “Fantasy Fest”.
The Latest: Ocracoke Island under mandatory evacuation order from ABC News
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: With heavy heart I would like to announce the passing of…
With heavy heart I would like to announce the passing of…
Posted: 24 Sep 2017 04:45 AM PDT
A good friend and long, long time boater. Mike Anderson known as “Mikey” has passed away on his beloved boat Silent Flight, in Salt Pond, Long Island. Mike and I go way back to the days of St. Thomas, in Elephant Bay for 10 years…89 to 99 and before in the Bahamas.
Mike was a solo sailor for most of his sailing life. He was always happy, and loved his rum. It is unclear how he died…suspected heart attack. He will be missed. Dog lover…avid spear fisherman and maker of lobster jerky.
He was also a collector of glass fishing floats…because he went to places where the average cruiser never goes. He once told me he had 15 on his boat and a storage room full someplace else…..
DenO…the old days..Seahawk..the new days…Gadabaut
Security Update
By Tim Cook – timc@landings.org
Security Director
Thu, 09/21/2017 – 3:19pm
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: TCI Update
TCI Update
Posted: 19 Sep 2017 07:02 AM PDT
We are happy to receive this report from TCI after Irma but before Maria. Our hope is that the report will continue to be favorable. Please send us any news you have on the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.
Sara and Monty
Hi Friends!
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts!
We have made it through safe and sound!
We were scheduled for closing for annual shutdown, however due to our favorite new girlfriends Hurricane Irma and Maria, we will have to let everyone know when the re-opening will now be. We are repairing and look forward to welcoming everyone very soon!
Ginny & Tom? and the Bohio Family!!
Bohio Dive Resort
Grand Turk
Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI
T: (649) 946 2135
F: (649) 946 1536
E: info@bohioresort.com
W: www.bohioresort.com
Reminder: NO BOAT IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR INLET NAVIGATION WITH A HURRICANE IMMEDIATELY OFFSHORE! And Oregon Inlet is notorious for shoaling and precarious under normal weather conditions. Cruisers’ Net recommends attempting navigation ONLY with good local knowledge.
CLICK HERE FOR STORY from PilotOnLine.com
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Oregon Inlet
Our thanks to Thomas Dove for forwarding this Executive Order on navigation limits on the southern St. Johns River. No date given for the rescinding of this executive order.
Executive Order No Boat Traffic at Night
FOUNDERS PARK AND PLANTATION YACHT HARBOR MARINA ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
DECEMBER REOPENING PLANNED
Founders Park (MM 87 bayside in Islamorada) is being utilized for Florida Keys Electric Cooperative repair crews and as a staging site for vegetative debris from Hurricane Irma being picked up from neighborhoods and properties in the Village. It is not safe to use any Founders Park facilities and the park is completely closed to the public.
Given the time it will take to collect, grind and remove the massive amount of debris from neighborhoods and properties throughout the Village, it is anticipated that reopening of Founders Park will not occur until December 2017. The pool will be covered to protect it from the effects of the debris grinding.
All events scheduled to be held at Founders Park will be cancelled or relocated to a different venue.
The Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina, including the boat ramp and fuel dock, will also be closed for public use during the time Founders Park is closed. Long-term Marina residents may continue to reside at the marina, but no new reservations will be made.
The Village Council and Village staff are aware of the importance of Founders Park to the community and will strive to resume operations as quickly as possible.
Our thanks to AGLCA member, Gary Reed, for sharing his Forum report, which, by in large, is good news for cruisers needing to make the coast to coast run.
We came across (west to east) this past Thursday and Friday (September 14th and 15th). No major issues at all. All locks operational as well as bridges. Some were still on generator with one only able to raise one span at a time. All operating on normal schedule. (Note, we drove from St. Lucie to Cape Coral on Wednesday, 13th, the amount of water in the area was astonishing as well as the significant downed power lines.)
Debris in the water was mostly ‘soft’ (leaves, vegetation, etc.) … some rather large mats but easily avoidable. We only had to run through one large mat shore to shore. Surprisingly, we saw virtually no deadheads, remnants of docks or piers, etc. A couple of the locks had some debris either on the upper gate on the western side or in the lock itself. We limited thrusters in these locks for obvious reasons and sprung off the stern line.
The runoff into the waterway on both sides of Lake O was significant at some of the inlet spillways (not lock spillways but drainage into the waterway). Several moved the boat around quite significantly and unexpectedly until we began looking for them.
Gary Reed
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Bimini Sands Marina to reopen on September 21st
Bimini Sands Marina to reopen on September 21st
Posted: 17 Sep 2017 04:39 AM PDT
Bimini Sands Resort and Marina today announced that their property, located on South Bimini in The Bahamas, has emerged from Hurricane Irma without significant structural damage and is slated to reopen its doors to guests on Thursday, September 21, 2017.
“We couldn’t be happier to report that Bimini Sands has weathered the storm and we’ll be ready to welcome our friends and loyal guests back to their home away from home very soon,” said Brad G. Michael, Bimini Sands’ Resort Coordinator. “I am grateful to our dedicated and hardworking team, who have been working around the clock to ensure our resort and marina are back up and running as soon as possible.”
Bimini Sands is already making ice, has gasoline and diesel. The fact that the property suffered only minor damage to gutters, power slips on the docks and a few satellite dishes, can be attributed to its prime location, which is heavily protected by the island’s native mangroves.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Irma Update for Ragged Island
Irma Update for Ragged Island
Posted: 14 Sep 2017 03:44 PM PDT
Ragged Island was devastated by Hurricane Irma. Apparently, the seven people who were not evacuated from the island survived, but the town itself has been deemed “uninhabitable” by government authorities. Most of the buildings are leveled, except for the Silvertail Lodge and a few others, and no government structures were left standing. The oil depot at Gun Point was also wiped out. The folks that survived the hurricane have also left the island. This is sad news for the many cruising boats that visit the Ragged Islands during the winter season. There will be none of the already limited facilities available. Boats cruising to the Ragged Islands are truly on their own.
The Dismal Swamp Canal has been closed to navigation since Hurricane Matthew and now Irma. This delay will certainly disappoint many cruisers in the annual Fall Migration. Dredge work to remove shoaling will continue and, hopefully, the Canal will reopen as stated below. The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center has remained open to highway travelers and the Dismal Swamp State Park, a part of the NC State Park System and A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is also open and their programs are ongoing. See /166410.
News below, regarding our reopening of the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. Unfortunately, there will be a delay. We will advise you of information as it is released. Of course, we are disappointed and realize there are many needs in many areas right now and our thoughts are with them. We look forward to seeing our boaters when the canal can reopen.
Donna Stewart, Director
Dismal Swamp Welcome Center
2356 US Hwy 17N
South Mills, NC 27976
Phone – 252-771-8333
www.DismalSwampWelcomeCenter.com
Bird, Bike, Hike…..take in the sights!
All e-mails sent from this computer are subject to the Public Records Law and the information contained therein is a public record.
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2017 3:56 AM
To: Solan, Kerry L CIV USARMY CENAO (US)
Subject: Officials to delay opening Dismal Swamp Canal until end of October
NORFOLK, Va. – Officials at the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have delayed reopening the Dismal Swamp Canal until late October.
“Recent weather events have delayed progress, and the latest condition survey of Turners Cut showed that additional dredging was needed,” said Keith Lockwood, Norfolk District Operations Branch chief.
In August, the Norfolk District announced the canal would re-open at the end of September.
Officials closed the canal in October 2016 after Hurricane Matthew toppled more than 350 trees into the waterway, and sediment – washed into the canal from rain and flooding – created extensive shoaling along the 22 miles of the canal, the Deep Creek Channel and Turners Cut Channel. Since then, crews have cleared trees and dredged the canal, which, in places, was at a depth of 1 foot.
“In the history of the canal, we’ve never had this issue, and we’re using every available resource to make the canal safe again for vessels,” said Joel Scussel, Norfolk District Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway project manager.
Kerry L. Solan
Public Affairs
Norfolk District, USACE
Desk 757-201-7258
Cell 757-377-0040
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Most Bahamas marinas open
Most Bahamas marinas open
Posted: 14 Sep 2017 06:29 AM PDT
The marine recreational sector of the Bahamas’ tourism industry is up and open for business. Most of the member marinas of the Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) are reporting no damage from hurricane Irma and are open and ready for business.
“This hurricane caused great damage throughout the region and the southern Bahamas,” says ABM President, Stephen Kappeler, “and we sympathize with the citizens of the islands that were so badly affected. We are also deeply concerned about the welfare of citizens of the state of Florida, whose lives have been so disrupted by hurricane Irma,” he said.
“However, we are greatly relieved that hurricane Irma by-passed so many of the islands in The Bahamas and spared most of our members from damage or dislocation,” said Kappeler.
Full article attached in Word file or at following link: https://bahamasmarinas.com/blog/2017/09/12/bahamas-marinas-are-open-for-business-september-2017/
Basil Smith
Executive Director
Association of Bahamas Marinas
(242) 462-4376
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