A warning to cruisers on the Miami- Biscayne Bay waters: take preventative measures to avoid mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes test positive for Zika virus in Miami-Dade, state says
CLICK HERE for this report from wptv.com, West Palm Beach, FL
Bridge Pointe Marina flanks the southern banks of the Trent River off the Neuse River, opposite the downtown New Bern, NC waterfront.
What a great place to keep your vessel. I have enjoyed the Marina and its staff, they are always helpful and Jesse (dock-master) is always willing to help any way he can with any issue that may arise. I would like to tip my hat to Bridgepointe Marina for having such a great place to keep my Boat.
Many thanks for you guys keeping on top of things.
Tim L Mitchell
Click Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bridge Point Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bridge Pointe Marina
This area of shallow water is at the south end of the Estherville Minim Creek Canal which begins at the Waterway’s exit southward from Winyah Bay.
SOUTH CAROLINA – AICW – MYRTLE GROVE SOUND AND CAPE FEAR RIVER TO CASINO CREEK – WINYAH BAY – CHARLESTON HARBOR: Depth of Channel.
The U.S. Coast Guard has found at low-tide depths of less than 5ft of water in the middle of the channel between Winyah Bay-Charleston Harbor Channel Light 4 (LLNR 34120 [33°11.7192N / 079°16.3300W, 33.195320 / -79.272167]) and Winyah Bay-Charleston Harbor Daybeacon 5 (LLNR 34125 [33°11.4410N / 079°16.5012W, 33.190683 / -79.275020]). Mariners are advised to use caution while transiting the area. Chart 11532, 11534 LNM 35/16
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Minim Creek Canal
In 2015 Robert and Ann Sherer published their first ICW Cruising Guide, which has received 5 star ratings (see /150181) and have recently published their 2016 edition of their excellent guide (see /159063).
Now, as they have in the past, the Sherers graciously share their research with SSECN readers.
The author’s comments:
The information should certainly be interesting to your readers for those contemplating a trip down the ICW this fall. There have been some dramatic changes to the ICW by inlets in North Carolina as measured by the Wilmington ACOE surveys. I’ve also included GPX routes recommended by the Wilmington ACOE District as part of the article.
Bob
CLICK HERE for the most recent Sherer blog report on Waterway shoaling.
The article can also be downloaded in Word format at:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-XC5pePZB9BaXpLcU1Kb1RUVEk
As this report by Susannah Bryan Contact Reporter at Sun Sentinel states, the anchoring ban put into effect July 1st is not working in Broward County. Go to /156265 for more on the anchoring ban.
“No Beaching, No Landing, No Launching, No Tying Up,” say the signs that went up in April.
But so far, the signs don’t seem to be working. The dozen or so live-aboard boaters anchored in the cove at North Beach Park are not only coming ashore on their dinghies, they’re using the signs as tie-up posts.
Signs at North Beach Park in Hollywood warn boaters against tying up, but they do it anyway. (City of Hollywood, courtesy)
CLICK HERE for the full report from Sun-Sentinal
We have a term for folks such as these people in the bay, “exist-aboards”. They are not legitimate boaters in any sense of the word. They are impacting our rights to use the waters freely. One must remember…..nothing in life is free, there is always a cost and these freeloaders are costing us plenty!
The sub-heading on this article is very misleading and has the potential to confuse many readers.
The linked article discusses an anchorage that is *not* covered by the regulations that went into effect on July 1. The fact that the county has chosen to start enforcing other, unrelated regulations having to do with landing tenders (not with anchoring itself, which remains perfectly legal in this particular location) is perhaps unfortunate, but is and has always been well within their legal rights. I have little sympathy for these vessels — a right to anchor does not imply a right to trespass in order to get ashore. Let’s not confuse the issues.
Let’s also remember that semi-permanently anchored vessels, with crews willing to trespass and flout other laws in order to maintain a low-cost, tax-free dwelling in an otherwise expensive area, are a big part of the state’s incentive to increase anchoring restrictions. These sorts of vessels do more to jeopardize anchoring opportunities for legitimate cruisers than almost any other factor, including even derelicts. And the presence of such vessels often means there will be no room for cruisers passing through.
Be careful what you wish for.
Can you explain this RR bridge sign on the Manatee River east of the GICW? Since RR bridges are normally open except during a train crossing, is this a sign of things to come with Florida railway bridges? Photo sent to us by Rivera Dunes Marina
‘Hands off!’ is best policy for sea turtle hatchlings
Sea turtle hatchlings are digging out of their nests and clambering toward the ocean in September and October, the last months of Florida’s sea turtle nesting season.
Just remember, “Hands off!” is the best policy for beachgoers encountering sea turtle hatchings.
Well-meaning efforts to rescue a sea turtle hatchling by helping it leave a nest or picking it up and placing it in the ocean are not good ideas, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists.
Worse yet are instances where hatchlings are being handled by people who think it’s OK to get that close, often because they want to take a photo.
“Some Florida beachgoers are unaware that sea turtle hatchings should be watched from a distance and left undisturbed,” said Dr. Robbin Trindell, who leads the FWC’s sea turtle management program. “Even well-meaning attempts to rescue sea turtle hatchlings can do more harm than good. And digging into a sea turtle nest, entering a posted area, or picking up a sea turtle hatchling to take a photo also are against the law.”
Hatchlings must overcome many obstacles to survive. Digging out of their nests may take a few days. Once out, they are vulnerable to predators. And any misdirection on their path to the sea – from artificial lighting to items left on the beach, holes in the sand or people approaching or handling them – may leave them exhausted, lost or dehydrated on the beach in the morning sun.
“So please remember to keep your hands off sea turtle hatchlings and tell others to do the same,” Trindell said. “The best way to help hatchings is to turn off any artificial lighting on the beach at night or at least keep it shielded. If you see hatchlings, watch from a distance and never shoot flash photos.”
Bright lights on houses, motels, condominiums and businesses along the beach can disorient nesting adult females, but are particularly harmful to turtle hatchlings. The hatchlings will head for the bright lights, thinking they are the sparkling sea. They can end up walking landward and are more likely to become prey for animals like coyotes.
People are asked to call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline, 1-888-404-FWCC (3922) or *FWC or #FWC on a cellphone, to report hatchlings that are stranded, wandering in a road or parking lot, heading away from the water or are dead.
For more on sea turtle nesting and hatchlings, go to MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle.
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: Long Island Update
Long Island Update
Posted: 24 Aug 2016 05:37 AM PDT
We just got news of the reopening of Parrots of the Caribbean in Thompson Bay, now named Tiny’s Hurricane Hole. Also, LI Petroleum’s new dock is done and much easier take the big boat up to. And Midway Inn in the Bight is completely renovated, open and fabulous.
Bess and Billy Storm
S/V Alibi II
Author Corinne Kanter has these suggestions to make your culinary summer delightful and delicious! Bucksport Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!, lies south of Waterway marker #36, along the western shores of the beautiful Waccamaw River. As well as making sausage, Bucksport is hosting one more drag boat race this summer in September, as well as a reduced dockage rate for SSECN readers.
If you are inside and near Bucksport Marina, pickup Bucksport Sausage.
Need more helpful hints, you should carry the cookbook CRUISING KISS, keep it simple Sailor? Stupid? or really SYSTEM.
Have a great race. Cook with KISS.
PS. If you would like a autograph copy order direct or get it on Amazon. Corinne had the column in Multihull Magazine out of Quicy, Mass. titled Corinne’s Culinary Corner.
Cook With K.I.S.S.
Corinne Kanter, author of The Cruising KISS Cookbook
www.sailcopress.com
The Rooster Crows but the HEN delivers the goods
corinnekanter@gmail.com
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Bucksport Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bucksport Marina
With two recent groundings at this AICW Problem Stretch, we are upgrading these reports to a Nav Alert. Until dredging is done, slow speed and mid to high tide is recommended for this intersection. Thank you Michael and Ken for sharing these incidents and SSECN is glad neither of you sustained damage in the grounding, other than your pride!
Coming south 16Aug16 at +1′ above low. Draw 4′. At idle speed ran hard aground in mid-channel just past green buoy. C-Map charting [updated Sep15] shows channel angles sharply toward red at the green buoy — should have followed its suggestion. My mistake was to “stay mid-channel.” The bottom raised VERY quickly, almost a wall. After backing off, saw above 10′ in area on line between reds.
Michael Loy
We were also headed south through this stretch on August 14. We draw 3 feet. Just past the green we also ran hard aground. We were in the channel toward the red side as recommended, but not quite on the line between the two reds. There was no warning on the depth meter before it was too late. We were able to get off eventually using bow and stern thrusters and some wakes from passing small boats. We didn’t incur damage except to our equanimity.
Captain Ken Hirsch
Keeping in mind that rapid changes in shoals at inlet intersections is not unusual, RodC offers this January 2016 ACOE survey:
http://saw-nav.usace.army.mil/AIWW/CFRLR/T_19-20/Tangent_19-20.pdf
Latest ACOE survey for the area – clearly shows the traditional channel is ~100% shoaled to between 2 and 4ft MLLW. What channel there is (or was as of 1-16-2016) is just to the outside on the RED side of the marks.
RodC
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To A “Navigation Alert” Position at Shalotte Inlet
Need to pay more attention to the Nav Markers than your “Chart Plotters”!!!!
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