Boo Boo Hill – Exumas
I was only able to stay for an hour or so but I couldn’t get over the spectacular view from Boo Boo Hill. Looking forward to getting back and spending a few days exploring. Airie Bown
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Bahamas Chatter: Petition to BTC
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: Petition to BTC
Petition to BTC
Posted: 01 Aug 2016 10:41 AM PDT
The Communication Breakdown team is hoping you will be able to support our cause in petitioning BTC to do better in the Out Islands.The introduction and petition identify the cause. Please join us in making the Central Exumas a safer place to live, visit and cruise. If you would kindly distribute and or post this movement to your readers and site, we would be grateful, as will they! Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Dear Residents, Visitors, Cruisers, Business Owners and all those connected to the Central Exumas,
BTC is failing the people of the Central Exumas and it is time to speak out!
Data and cellular based services are failing all of us yet we continue to be billed for services that are not rendered. We can no longer accept these failures as “a way of life” in the Family Islands.
PLEASE SIGN OUR ONLINE PETITION!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/communication-breakdown-btc-customers-of-theYou should not hesitate to SIGN THIS PETITION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and FORWARD this message and / or the PETITION LINK on through your social media outlets and to every one of your contacts who have been or may soon be effected by these Communication Breakdowns. Your family and friends both here and afar, past and future guests, networks such as cruising and pilot forums, island owners and operators, property owners, businesses and their suppliers, employees, travel agents, etc. DO NOT ASSUME we have reached your contacts through ours, PASS IT ON.
THE KEY TECHNICALITIES:
Data via WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is not new technology. It is proven throughout the Caribbean and the world and serves to effectively connect citizens in remote areas where there is limited infrastructure. You are not receiving the bandwidth that you purchase as part of your communications package! You have been lead to believe or you accept that this technology functions here as best it can.
Voice via CELLULAR or GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and “landlines” are not new technology and fail equally. Connectivity fails throughout the system. From the extreme, no signal to dropped calls. A multitude of message notifications are applied that inaccurately inform you why you cannot reach the party you are calling. How many times have you heard the message “we are sorry, the person you are calling has not set up their mailbox or the mailbox is full”? It has been proven that this message is BTC’s way of telling you we couldn’t connect you and it is not our fault. Your landlines likely don’t function at all. In most instances, mobile phones cannot be connected to land lines!
Outdated equipment and increased growth are the assumed primary reasons for these technicalities. These failures effect all of us on a personal level and those who provide goods and services in the area, it effects your business!
Hard copy signatures will be collected in the area throughout the week of 1-AUG and, along with your electronic signatures will be forwarded via direct courier and electronically to BTC. Our goal to petition is the second week of August. PLEASE SIGN now! PLEASE spread the word.
Staniel Cay, Great Guana Cay, Farmers Cay and the surrounding cays make up a community of citizens, visitors and business owners that live and love a life of extraordinary measure. Each of us here deserve and should settle for no less than functional and effective communications systems, “EVERYDAY”.
Sincerely and with hope for a better connection.
The COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN Petition Team.
Gage Parrot
Little Majors
+1 242 357 0012
+1 954 914 9879Be the first to comment!
Nautical Wheelers of Oriental, NC Opens 2nd Store in New Bern, Trent River, off Neuse River
This unique establishment, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, contains everything “coastal” from clothing, to shoes, to home furnishings and accessories, to Adirondack chairs, to say nothing of the wine section and the voluminous selection of all types of gifts and personal items.
Bill Wheeler and wife Camilla now have a second store located right across the street from our new sponsor, New Bern Grand Marina and Yacht Club in historic New Bern, North Carolina. Store Owner/Manager Debbie Richart can assist you with your selection of nautical items for you or as a gift. In our book, visiting New Bern is now a double treat.
Nautical Wheelers, 202A Craven Street, New Bern, NC 28560
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of New Bern Grand Marina
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Reports from Dismal Swamp Canal, AICW Alternate Route
These thoughtful and informative reports on the Dismal Swamp Canal, home of Dismal Swamp State Park – A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR – come from our good friends at AGLCA. The Camden TDA/Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center is located on the east shore of the Canal at Statute Mile 28 and is adjacent to the Dismal Swamp State Park where there are so many fun summer programs!
We just did the DS northbound on July 27-28. It was hot, but it’s hot everywhere. The tall trees offer some shade. We passed only one boat. No competition for dock space at the visitor center. They have free ice and air conditioning. Free docks at Elizabeth City. Brown water. Some bumps.
Keith and D’Anne Weitzman
“Our Backyard”
Carver 3607 MY
We passed through the Dismal Swamp in the other direction in early July this year. I suggest a cooler day if possible. Be ready with bug spray or a screened in helm. Take it slow. There are small logs and branches that you can sometimes see and sometimes not see that you will bump. The ones you don’t see I think are neutrally buoyant and just below the surface. Going slow will allow them to be pushed to the side without damage. They suggest 5 mph but were were a little faster especially on the north end.
We did not stop in the swamp because of the flies but we stopped in Elizabeth City at the free slips to see the town and then at Lambs overnight to make the 11:00 lock time. After the swamp, we stayed in Norfolk at Waterside and then Portsmouth. See July 2016 entry in cmosboating.blogspot.com. There are pictures of the scenery which we found very pretty particularly in the morning at the south end before the first lock (and flies).
Clark on Sea MossWe went through the Dismal Swamp in late June and were mostly alone until the north lock when two other boats caught up with us. Water levels were high and the scenery was lovely. There was some construction going on at the visitor center but the facilities were open and uncrowded.
Ben and Nancy Duggar
September, Camano 31I just went through the Dismal Swamp about six weeks ago and it was fine. If you leave Elizabeth City in time to catch the 0830 or 1100 openings at South Mills and run 5 to 6 knots, you will be at Deep Creek bridge in plenty of time for the 1330 or 1530 openings and then you can make Norfolk, Portsmouth or Hampton before dark. If you are wanting to go latter, you can stay at the lock wall at South Mills, the NC Welcome station, or the wall right before the bridge at Deep Creek bridge. Deep Creek is not a great stop, lots of traffic noise, but a very short walk to Food Lion for provisions and a Burger King(I think). There is also a good anchorage after the Deep Creek lock on the right just before you reach the Elizabeth River.
Ken HortonNorth Carolina offers several alternative routes if you have time. The “main highway” is the ICW Route, but the barrier islands and the Albemarle offer delightful alternatives.
I have an article on North Carolina on my website, here: https://gilwellbear.wordpress.com/2013/06/16/north-carolina/.
Under the North Carolina tab, there are several related articles on the various alternatives. Here is a link to one that discusses the Virginia Cut and the Dismal Swamp alternative: https://gilwellbear.wordpress.com/category/cruising-practica/us-east-coast/north-carolina/albemarle-to-norfolk/.
Hope they are useful.
Jim
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436We went thru the Dismal Swamp Thursday and Friday July 28th and 29th in a 39 krogen with a 4’6″ draft. The depth was a constant 7 ft. We bumped a few logs in the water. You need to keep a constant lookout. We stayed one night at the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center. Great trip.
Mack McGaheeBe the first to comment!
Comments on Sunset Cove Anchorage, Buttonwood Sound, near Inside Route Statue Mile 1143
Andree is correct about the history of this once popular anchorage, see /99799. And see /158819 for details on a new Florida law dealing with at-risk and derelict vessels. Thank you Andree for your perspective.
I was anchored out in Sunset Cove from 2001 to 2007 we tied our dinghies off the Bayside Resort pier. A chain link fence was put up and no trespassing sign a few years later. Thanks to some people who slept under the tree, drank , litter and trash the shore. It was a disgrace and bad image for the resort and tourists so they [authorities] did what they could to prevent it. That is why there are barely any boats there anymore. The anchorage has moved to Government center a few miles up the road.
Andree J HardyClick Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Sunset Cove
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Sunset Cove Anchorage
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Blue Ocean Sails Newsletter
Blue Ocean Sails (BOS) is a developing non-profit, educational organization, based in NE Florida, whose mission is to support, facilitate and assist students, educators, citizen and research scientists in all endeavors associated with marine science education and research. BOS is worthy of our interest and support.
Friends of Blue Ocean Sails – this is the first quarterly newsletter summarizing the ongoing development and activities of Blue Ocean Sails (BOS).
QUICK LOOK ASTERN – Blue Ocean Sails enjoyed a very successful Ocean Sampling Day 2016 in June coordinating with NOAA/AOML and the European OSD Consortium to bring OSD/MyOSD to NE Florida. The local area response was beyond enthusiastic at all levels and volunteer sampling groups from Flagler College, St Johns River State College, Sea Grant 4-H Marine Ecology Club and University of Florida, Whitney/Osborne Laboratory conducted ocean water sampling from both coastal and offshore sample sites, processed samples and shipped them to Europe for microbe DNA analysis.
OSD 2016 was a great kickoff to the Blue Ocean Sails primary mission – support, assist and facilitate marine science research and education for students, educators, citizen and research scientists. Throw in a 6 hour offshore sail on Sea Breeze, our Irwin 43, and you see in OSD 2016 a perfect example of what Blue Ocean Sails strives to be.
PRESENT POSITION – Blue Ocean Sails is currently in discussion with the St Johns County school district exploring options to bring the NOAA Global Drifter Buoy Program into the classroom for both elementary and secondary students. Blue Ocean Sails will set sail from St Augustine, FL this October and deploy a NOAA drifter buoy 75 to 100 miles offshore in the core of the Gulf Stream incorporating classroom lesson plans and STEM activities for students and teachers.
Work continues to upgrade Sea Breeze’s systems to improve her offshore capability for hosting students, educators, citizen and research scientists onboard in local waters and for a 3 to 4 week cruise to the Abacos, Bahamas next year – hopefully supporting a yet to be developed survey/research project in support of deserving students, educators and/or scientists.
ON THE HORIZON – Blue Ocean Sails seeks to develop an active Apex Predator Tagging program in association with the National Marine Fisheries Services ongoing program. Growing out of relationships formulated during OSD 2016, Blue Ocean Sails also seeks to begin discussions soon with Flagler College, Whitney Marine Science Laboratory and the Florida Microplastic Awareness Project exploring opportunities to support, assist and facilitate ongoing programs, projects and studies.
As Blue Ocean Sails continues to gain significant operational traction, enthusiastic support is coming from all levels of the marine science community. I haven’t yet begun to outline the unending variety of programs on the drawing board designed to champion marine science at all levels; programs such as ScholarShips for Students, Dolphin Sails, Ocean Awareness Sails, Students – STEM – and the Ocean, Marine Baseline Studies, Extended Offshore/Inshore Research Sails, Ocean Literacy Sails, Skippers for Science and much more.
CHARTING THE COURSE – Blue Ocean Sails is growing – and we need you! Please see the letter below requesting anyone interested in becoming actively involved with organizational and program development to please contact me ASAP. Options for active involvement include becoming an advisor to Blue Ocean Sails and even sitting as a member of the inaugural Board of Directors as we move towards formal incorporation and apply for 501(c)3 non profit status.
Blue Ocean Sails is excited to get even more involved – supporting, assisting and facilitating marine science education and research! We offer free use of a 43′ offshore capable sailboat that can be your “research vessel”! Tell us how we can be of best use supporting your projects and programs and consider volunteering to help formalize the organization and its programs.
BLUE OCEAN SAILS IS GROWING – and needs you!
Are you interested in marine science, marine science education, sailing or the ocean? If you are that person, please contact me. I’m seeking discussion with individuals interested in contributing ideas, discussion points, thoughts and relevant input in order to help shape the continued development, direction and growth of Blue Ocean Sails.
We now need the ideas and involvement of others who are passionate about marine science, education and research in order to continue the growth and development of Blue Ocean Sails as a viable, contributing educational organization.
You don’t need to be a research scientist or tenured professor to provided valuable ideas, input and suggestions. You only need to have a passion for the ocean and a desire to volunteer to help steer the development of a non-profit, educational organization focusing on marine science education and research along with sailing and boating activities.
Near term, I envision talking with interested individuals over the next couple months, discussing ideas and gauging interest levels. Then the next step will likely be a group meeting of interested individuals as we begin to discuss options for forming a board of directors and advisory committees. Formal incorporation of the organization will follow as appropriate.
While BOS is initially St Augustine based, the vision is to develop an organization that serves the marine science community both far and wide. As such, Im casting this net far and wide. Please don’t think you can’t participate if you live outside NE Florida – it’s a big ocean; it touches us all.
This is an opportunity with a wide range of involvement – from as little as tossing in a few ideas, all the way to sitting on the inaugural Blue Ocean Sails Board of Directors. You decide how interested you are, how you’d like to participate – there will certainly be something for every level of interest and involvement.
Contact me if you’re interested in helping with the development of Blue Ocean Sails. I’ll answer your questions and provide an executive summary of our progress and plans thus far.
Please get involved – I need your ideas – I need to talk with you!
Best regards,
Mike Alyea
Blue Ocean Sails
St Augustine, FL
www.facebook.com/BlueOceanSails
FMSEA/NMEA member since 2016
770.871.1770St Augustine Record OSD/BOS news article –Ponte Vedra Recorder OSD/BOS news article –Be the first to comment!
Florida’s New “At-Risk Vessel” Law
SSECN hopes this law will never apply to you, but if your boat is frequently left unattended for any length of time, you should be aware of the new authority granted to FWC law enforcement.
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission sent this bulletin at 07/29/2016 11:00 AM EDT
For immediate release: July 29, 2016
Photos available on the FWC’s Flickr site: https://flic.kr/s/aHsjEz2hj2New at-risk vessel law helps FWC officials manage Florida waterways
A new Florida law, approved by the Legislature and Governor during the 2016 Session, will enable county and local authorities along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to more effectively manage the state’s waterways. The new law (F.S. 327.4107) allows law enforcement officers to issue non-criminal citations to owners who allow their boats to become “at risk” of becoming derelict.
“This law allows officers to take action before a vessel crosses that line between at-risk and derelict, and hopefully prompts the owner to rectify any issues with the vessel before it reaches a state of disrepair,” said Phil Horning, FWC’s derelict vessel program administrator. “Prior to this law being enacted, officers had to wait until a vessel met the legal criteria for a derelict vessel before beginning any sort of official interaction with the owner.”Under the new law, a vessel is deemed to be “at-risk” if any of the following conditions is observed:
The vessel is taking on or has taken on water without an effective means to dewater.
Spaces on the vessel that are designed to be enclosed are incapable of being sealed off or remain open to the elements for extended periods of time.
The vessel has broken loose or is in danger of breaking loose from its anchor.
The vessel is left or stored aground unattended in such a state that would prevent the vessel from getting underway, is listing due to water intrusion, or is sunk or partially sunk.
If an officer observes a vessel with one or more of these criteria, a non-criminal citation may be issued that requires the owner to correct the problem or face stronger penalties after 30 days have passed. If problems are not fixed, non-compliant vessel owners can face additional fines issued every 30 days until they are.Officials expect that this new law will decrease the number of vessels becoming derelict, a problem which continues to burden the state’s public waterways.
“Our goal is to keep Florida’s waterways safe and protect their environmental stability,” said Horning. “We are committed to protecting this valuable resource for the people of Florida and its visitors.”
Vessel owners are also reminded to sell their vessels properly.
“Many owners don’t realize that not only is the buyer required to get the vessel retitled in their name, but the seller is also required to notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 30 days that they have sold their vessel,” said Horning.
Failure to do so is a violation and may cause the prior owner of record legal troubles should the vessel become derelict at a later date. The FWC will be assisting state and local governments with derelict vessel removal grants that will be available soon. The grant funding was also approved by the Legislature and Governor during the 2016 Session. Interested applicants may contact the FWC Derelict Vessel Program office at 850-617-9540 or email DVGrant@MyFWC.com for more information.
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Good Report from Problem Spot: AICW/Browns Inlet Intersection, Statute Mile 237
Assuming David is talking about the AICW intersection, this is good news for this Problem Spot. However, it is definitely wise to follow the advice David gives below and SSECN has been giving for some time: follow the markers and do NOT follow the Magenta Line in this stretch of the ICW!
Sail catamaran JilliQ Lagoon 37. Went through Browns inlet on 7/28/16 at 12:00 noon. This was a half rising tide. Followed the buoys and saw a minimum of 8.5 feet.
David Hough
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s “AICW Problem Stretches” Listing For the AICW/Browns Inlet IntersectionClick Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To This AICW Problem StretchComments from Cruisers (1)
Good Words for McCotters Marina and Boat Yard, Pamlico River, Washington, NC
McCotters Marina and Repair Yard, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is located on Broad Creek, off the Pamlico River, a few miles downstream of the Washington, NC waterfront. McCotters is one of the largest marinas in North Carolina and its repair capabilities are impressive.
McCotter’s seems to be a laid-back, easy to just relax environment. Good price, reasonable cleanliness, reasonable repair on the docks. Only problem, which is a significant concern for the younger boaters, is the Wi-Fi notoriously goes down on the weekend just when we need it most.
ScottClick Here To View the North Carolina Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For McCotters Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of McCotters Marina
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BoatUS News: Tips for Navigating Summer Thunderstorms
BoatUS remains the premiere advocate for boaters and boating safety on all waters and SSECN is proud to present BoatUS News.
NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
Boaters need to be prepared for summer thunderstorms.
Three Tips for Any Boater Facing A Powerful Summer Thunderstorm
Lessons Learned from Rescue of Four Kayak Anglers
HILLSBORO INLET, Fla., July 27, 2016 – Recreational boaters and paddlers understand that late afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer boating season. A recent incident involving two TowBoatUS Fort Lauderdale captains and their rescue of four kayakers pre-fishing a local tournament offers some lessons learned on how to survive an afternoon storm.
Just before 2 p.m. on Friday, June 24, under severe thunderstorm watch, Captains Eric Laury and Steve Reuss ran for cover as a large, fast-moving storm approached. Safe in a marina close to Hillsboro Inlet, they began to “wait out Armageddon,” as Reuss described the strong storm. Minutes later the US Coast Guard reported three overturned kayakers in the water about two miles south of the inlet.
With 3-foot chop, 40-knot winds and near constant lightning, both captains immediately headed out to provide Good Samaritan aid. Normally the response boats, which have red hulls and white “TowBoatUS” letters on the side, are used for towing disabled recreational boats. After a short search Captain Reuss quickly located and safely took aboard two kayakers in the near zero-visibility conditions.
Captain Laury, reporting severe wind gusts “trying to lift” the boat beneath his feet, soon found and retrieved two other paddlers with overturned kayaks. It was later learned that these two paddlers had hailed the original mayday with no knowledge of the other two distressed kayakers, and the slightly erroneous report of three distressed kayakers yielded the safe return of all four.
To share some lessons learned, BoatUS has three safety tips for any mariner or angler facing a powerful, summer thunderstorm:
1. Don’t let your guard down: “Sometimes during the summer we see boaters lulled into a sense that calm seas always prevail, but these kayakers were prepared,” says TowBoatUS Ft. Lauderdale spokesman Barney Hauf. “They had life jackets on, carried a handheld VHF radio and a Personal Locator Beacon.”2. Don’t leave the boat: While caught out on the open water and unable to seek cover, the paddlers stayed with their overturned vessels. “They fastened themselves to each other and to their equipment to stay together,” said Captain Reuss. Staying with an overturned boat gives rescuers a larger target to find.
3. Watch your weight: Small craft are most prone to overloading. Says BoatUS Foundation Assistant Director of Boating Safety Ted Sensenbrenner, “Kayaks weighted with a lot of gear can loose buoyancy. No matter what kind of boat, know your vessel’s capacity rating.”
For more information on boating safety, go to BoatUS.org.
About Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS):
Celebrating 50 years in 2016, BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with over a half million members. We are the boat owners’ voice on Capitol Hill and fight for their rights. We help ensure a roadside breakdown doesn’t end a boating or fishing trip before it begins, and on the water, we bring boaters safely back to the launch ramp or dock when their boat won’t, day or night. The BoatUS Marine Insurance Program gives boat owners the specialized coverage and superior service they need, and we help keep boaters safe and our waters clean with assistance from the non-profit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Visit BoatUS.com.1 Facebook Likes, 1 Facebook Reactions
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