.Route suggestions are requested from a fellow trawler. Palmetto is on the north shore of the Manatee River opposite Bradenton. Fort Myers is south at the western terminus of the Okeechoebee Waterway. Local knowledge anyone?
With our Grand Banks 46, what is the fastest way from Palmetto to Ft. Meyers?
Tom van Straaten
Bahamas Guide Signs by Sue Fowler At Compass Cay, Exumas
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: “Staniel Cay Regatta fundraiser – James Bond Casino Royale Costume party” plus 5 more
Staniel Cay Regatta fundraiser – James Bond Casino Royale Costume party
Posted: 22 Mar 2017 04:14 AM PDT
One of the year’s BEST and most enjoyable events! This casino* costume party helps raise money for the Staniel Cay Regatta Committee and the “A-Class Challenge,” an annual regatta that showcases the sailing culture of Staniel and introduces guests to this unique aspect of the island.
Saturday, March 25th
5:00 pm, Staniel Cay Yacht Club
• Dress as your favorite Bond, Bond-Girl, Villain or wear your favorite casino attire!
• Win prizes for Best Costumes – so get creative! Suggestions for Bond, Bond Villains, & Bond-Girls below!
• Try your hand at blackjack*, craps*, and 3-card poker*. Also bid on unique items in our silent auction!
Prizes/Auction items include:
His and her Invicta Dive Watches, Bruno Mars autographed guitar, 3-night stay for 2 in a suite at Treasure Cay Resort including 2 rounds of golf, autographed Chicago Blackhawks jersey, autographed Brett Eldredge guitar, dinner for 2 at Fowl Cay Resort, A-Day-At-The-Beach package (featuring Jypsea Local swimwear & Maui Jim Sunglasses), and a two-night stay at Winter Haven Resort!
• And certainly enjoy our signature drink of the evening, the “Patron Reposado Old Fashioned”! Bond himself would forgo the Vesper for this…
* casino chips have no cash value. prizes for chip leaders.
Have a great time in the Exumas while supporting the local Regatta Committee and the sailing
culture of Staniel Cay!
Valentine’s Resort & Marina giveaway at Palm Beach Boat Show
Posted: 22 Mar 2017 04:12 AM PDT
Valentines Residences Resort & Marina will be at the 32nd Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show, March 23-26, 2017.
Booth #589
Enter for a chance to win a two night stay for two at Valentines Residences
(Hotel & Dockage included)
1. Stop by Booth 589 and fill out the form!
Man-O-War Boat Builders Memorial – April 1st
Posted: 22 Mar 2017 04:07 AM PDT
Just wanted everyone to know the Boat Builders Memorial dedication on MOW Abaco is still slated for April 1. Food, presentations, demonstrations and lots of wooden boats. See you there.
Long Island Cruisers Net
Posted: 22 Mar 2017 04:06 AM PDT
The chartbooks indicate that the Cruisers Net in Salt Pond is at 0830 on Channel 18. However, after the previous net manager abandoned it the net was changed to 0815 on Channel 18. I recently mentioned this to FAIRHAVEN the net manager and she is considering moving it back to 0830. If you sail into Thompson Bay and Salt Pond feel free to hail FAIRHAVEN and confirm the time she is doing the net. Lots of great info for new cruisers about the lively happenings for boaters there.
Nothern Exumas cell service
Posted: 22 Mar 2017 04:05 AM PDT
we spend more time in the southern Exumas (Gtown to staniel) and this was our first time stopping around Normans and shroud since the hurricane. Don’t know if it’s related but cell service was worst than before, either no bars or a couple of bars but no connection.
Much better coverage in staniel, farmers, barraterre and Gtown
Normans cay update
Posted: 22 Mar 2017 04:04 AM PDT
Looks like work has restarted on the marina project. We were there yesterday and dozers were working (on a Sunday…) on opening the access to the new marina basin, they had big generator powered lights indicating they may even be working late in the evening.
Pascal
84′ Lazzara My
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: Port of entry
Port of entry
Posted: 20 Mar 2017 05:56 PM PDT
Can u still c!ear Customs at Walker Key?
Keep a lookout for manatees in motion this spring
For immediate release: March 22, 2017
In balmy spring weather, both manatees and boaters are cruising through Florida’s waterways.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
For manatees, it is a seasonal ritual when they abandon winter retreats and head north along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and through inland waters. For boaters, it is a critical time to be on the lookout for manatees to avoid colliding with these large, slow-moving aquatic mammals.
From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being struck by motorboats or personal watercraft.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law enforcement officers will be on patrol in state waters to remind boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take enforcement actions when necessary.
Because manatees are difficult to detect when underwater, operators of boats, including personal watercraft, need to take basic steps to avoid causing injury to manatees:
Wear polarized sunglasses to help spot manatees.
Look for large circles on the water, also known as manatee footprints, indicating the presence of a manatee below.
Look for a snout sticking up out of the water.
Follow posted manatee zones while boating.
FWC biologists, managers and law enforcement staff work closely with partners to evaluate current data and identify necessary actions to protect this iconic animal. Florida has invested over $2 million annually for manatee conservation, and the FWC will work toward continued success for manatees in our state.
Manatee zones and maps are available at MyFWC.com/Manatee, where you can select “Protection Zones” for links to county maps.
The FWC also asks anyone who sees an injured, distressed, sick or dead manatee to call the agency’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or dial #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone.
You can watch manatees without disturbing them by following “Guidelines for protecting native wildlife – Florida Manatees,” a brochure with tips for canoers, kayakers, paddle boarders, snorkelers and scuba divers. It’s available at MyFWC.com/Manatee, click on “Boat, PWC, & Paddle-sport Operators” and then on “Paddle-sport Operators.” Also on MyFWC.com/Manatee is “Where are Florida’s Manatees?” with information about where to go to see manatees in the wild or in captivity.
Support the FWC’s manatee research, rescue and management efforts by purchasing a “Save the Manatee” Florida license plate at BuyaPlate.com, or by donating $5 to receive an FWC manatee decal by going to MyFWC.com/Manatee and clicking on “Decals.”
Contact: Diane Hirth, 850-410-5291; Carli Segelson, 772-215-9459
Staniel Cay Yacht Club, a favorite destination for cruisers in the Exumas, has always been most accommodating for its guests and word of such exceptional service for cruisers spreads like a wind driven wild fire. Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a longtime SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR.
CLICK HERE FOR THE SCOOP ON CASINO ROYALE PARTY
NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria VA 22304
Boat Owners Association of The United States Says Budget Proposal Raises Concerns for American Boaters
US Coast Guard faces 14% budget cut
WASHINGTON, DC, March 21, 2017 – After its first look at the Trump administration’s new budget blueprint released March 16, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) says that boat owners should be aware of potential budget impacts that could affect boating safety, access and the health of our waterways.
“The administration’s budget proposal clearly reflects a different set of priorities over previous years,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “Proposed cuts to agencies such as the Departments of Commerce and Interior, Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency could lead to changes for many programs that matter to boating.”
Added Kennedy, “Considering boating’s $121.5 billion impact, we believe this would be short sighted and negatively affect the boating experience for our nation’s 12 million boat owners.”
Kennedy notes that under budget proposal’s shifting priorities, US Coast Guard funding could be slashed 14 percent to just $7.8 billion, while the service’s “parent,” the Department of Homeland Security, is increased. “As the budget process continues, boaters may need to communicate with their members of Congress regarding programs that fund clean-water efforts, clean marina programs, navigation improvements, regional waterway restoration such as the Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes and Puget Sound, and boating safety programs. We are keeping a close watch.”
BoatUS will continue to monitor the budget process, ensure that the recreational boater’s voice is heard and advise its more than half-million members of boating-related budget items.
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
Yeah, let’s built another aircraft carrier; and cut anything related to citizens’ health and safety
This new trolley service is good news for cruisers utilizing any of the several anchorages in Roberts and Little Sarasota Bays off the eastern shore of Siesta Key. Siesta Key lies south of Sarasota Bay and Big Sarasota Pass.
CLICK HERE FOR THE REPORT from YourObserver.com
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Siesta Key
Hibiscus Island and Monumental Island anchorage are on the north side of the MacArthur Causeway in northern Biscayne Bay. The anchorage is northeast of Monument Island, accessible from the north and from the Waterway west of the area. Our thanks to Janice Callum, who is replying to Crackdown on Dinghy Landings Access, for this report and for her excellent advice on being good citizens while visiting “foreign waters” lest we be labeled as the “ugly boater.”
We are anchored off Hibiscus Island in Miami Beach. No visits from police or problems with anything! Boats are anchored off Star Island and the Collins Canal, no hassle. Many more derelict looking boats are anchored on the north side of the East Venetian bridge, but they also seem to be left alone. We saw one trawler named Lady J get pulled over by the water police…the officials are especially protective of the sea grass seedlings in this area and the No Wake zone in Maloy Channel, so crawl along those shores! Sunset Lake remains boat free; as well as free of the dinghies that were anchored around to obstruct cruiser’s anchoring. How ’bout if we all just leave that spot alone until the “unwelcome” (caused by the fellow who considers himself a Cuba expert who sails a near derelict red boat) wears off (and do let him know if you see him that none of us Snowbirds have appreciated the mess he’s caused for us down here). The good news, that we have not seen posted anywhere on the www, is that there is a wonderful dinghy dock up the Collins Canal across the street from the boater-friendly Publix….not just a chain, a real dock! But, fellow cruisers, please, PLEASE stop jamming your trash into the waste receptacle on the street by the dock! It’s beyond comprehension that anyone thinks this is an appropriate spot for trash bags; and, you are risking this spot to tie up for all of us! The police docks and park wall under the bridge (on the other side of the canal) are all posted Tow Away Zone or 20 Minute Loading Zone No Mooring. Let’s all be welcome visitors and do something helpful while we are here! Pick up your dog’s waste, keep your stereos down, anchor well off folk’s backyards and go somewhere else if you can’t handle the wakes.
Best regards, Janice Callum, “Calamus”
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Monument Island
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Monument Island
Another reminder of this important advice, see 2017 NC Public Boating Safety Classes.
FWC encourages boaters to ‘Spring Aboard’ by taking a boater education class
March 17, 2017
World-class fishing, crystal blue waters, endless sunshine – there’s so much about Florida’s waterways to enjoy. During the week of March 19-25, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourage all boaters to take part in the national “Spring Aboard” campaign by taking a boating safety course.
“We know that an educated boater is safer on the water. If a boat operator has taken a boating safety education course, the likelihood of their time spent on the water being a safe and enjoyable experience is much greater for them as well as their passengers,” said Stephanie Weatherington, president of NASBLA. “March is the perfect time to take a course before the summer boating season begins.”
Many course providers will offer incentives or course discounts for students who enroll in or complete a course during the “Spring Aboard” campaign. For a summary of Florida’s regulations and available courses, go to MyFWC.com/Boating.
“In Florida, boaters who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1980, are required to complete and pass a boater safety education course. But everyone interested in boating should take a course – it’s the smart thing to do,” said Maj. Robert Rowe, FWC’s Boating and Waterways section leader. “Boaters have many ways to get educated, from classroom courses offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons to online offerings available anytime day or night. There’s no reason to head out on the water without this knowledge.”
Florida boating accident statistics from 2015 indicate that, when the level of operator education was known, 72 percent of boating deaths occurred on boats where the boat operator had never received boating education instruction.
About NASBLA
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories. The association offers a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards and publications. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, NASBLA affects the lives of over 73.5 million American boaters.
Comments from Cruisers (7)
Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. I’nm new at this (took delivery of the GB on March 24 and left Palmetto at 2 PM). Due to AA 3 hr. delay, crew didn’t arrive on time (doe they ever?). We went outside and spend the night at Boca Grande (only ran aground once trying to anchor). Left at early light through locks and beautiful canals and got to Roland Martin Marina (funky, fun and very tough alligator bits to eat).
Started out in dark to Lake Okeechobee and crossed easily in light winds. From Stuart went inside to spend night in Palm Beach. Last day went outside, arriving in Miami at noon.
A wonderful experience in a new boat (for me as a former sailor).
I want to reverse the traverse in the future with no time table, proceeding south from Ft. Meyers around the Keys to Miami.
Thank you again for your thoughtful replies to my inquiry.
Thank you all for your comment
I have done this with our (stabilized) 46 GB several times.
You don’t indicate in your post whether this is a pleasure run which would allow for a few days or just a trip to get from point A to point B.
If you are trying to make some time, the inside route is pure torture, albeit pleasant torture. Between narrow channels and multiple bridges and no wake zones, you will be hard pressed to make it to Boca Grande in one day, although it can be done. But it won’t be fun. ]
Far better to take 2-3 days to get to Boca Grande, anchoring in Pelican Bay, and relaxing as you traverse Pine Island Sound on the last day to get to Ft. Meyers.
If you go on the outside, it will be one very long day, but if you have a fast 46, you can make it. If you have 135 Fords, forget it.
Phil
A note of caution, if you come in Boca Grande Pass keep in mind the entrance is approximately three miles off shore due to shallow water on the north side of the pass.
I sailed up and down that stretch in January and would suggest avoiding Sarasota’s Big Pass inlet. I found it difficult to get accurate information on shoaling and conflicting reliability of changing marker locations. If you can stay offshore past Sarasota do it. Long boat pass is good.
Yes, fastest on the outside but much nicer inside. Stay at Marina Jack in Sarasota and Boca Grande on the way down.
This is not an easy question to answer. I have driven many Grand Banks and am assuming your average cruising speed to be 10kts. Also I lived on the Manatee River for 10 years so have made the trip you are asking about often.
If your desire is to get there as fast as possible you should go outside but you must be willing to do a long, long day or 2. Go out Long Boat Pass which has recently been dredged and go in either at Boca Grande Pass or San Carlos. This route takes you out of your way because of shallow areas but you avoid bridges and minimum wake zones.
If you are doing this for pleasure, it is my opinion you should go inside and plan for 3 days. Stay in Venice at Marker 4, then anchor in Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa, just south of Boca Grande Pass or Stay at Cabbage Key. Then on to Downtown Ft Myers. If you have more questions you can contact me at dana@captdana.com
Tom,
Weather permitting, offshore from Tampa Bay to Boca Grande, then inside on the GICW to Fort Myers.