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from Norfolk to the Northern Gulf and Bahamas.
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Great Bridge Locks – Reduced Opening Schedule, Dismal Swamp Canal is Open
The Dismal Swamp Canal’s locks are open and accessed southbound at MM 7.2 south of Norfolk or northbound from Albemarle Sound and the Pasquatank River.
See UPDATE: NAV ALERT: LNM: AICW MM 12 Great Bridge Temporary Openings
The Dismal Swamp Canal is OPEN and locks are operating on their normal schedule.
Thanks,
Sarah
Sarah Hill, TMP
Director, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome CenterChairperson, Camden County Tourism Development Authority2356 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
Click Here To View the VA to NC Cruisers Net Marina Directory Listing For Deep Creek Lock
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Deep Creek Lock
Comments from Cruisers (1)
- Reply to Clarke
We transited the Dismal Swamp Canal northbound May 16 and 17. Saw one boat and hecwas tied up at Rest Center headed south. Canal is great place for photography. My wife was a happy camper taking lots of photos. Lockmasters at both ends were helpful and friendly. Locks easy to transition. Hardly any turbulence atvall. Rest Center on VA NC border convenient stop overnight if you need one. Well maintained. Space for three or four boats. Bathrooms and water available. I never heard road traffic at night. We have a 5’ draft. We clunked 4 or 5 times in the 22 mile canal. Probably sunken logs/branches bseveral felled trees along the way. No issue. Lots of high trees with overhanging branches. We tried to avoid them but one broke off wind vane at top of the mast. All in all, I liked no traffic, beautiful photography, easy overnight. Overhanging trees are a problem for sailboats.
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FOCUS ON Sun Powered Yachts
Sun Powered Yachts, LLC, is a family owned and run business by Lyall and Katie Burgess.
Click here for FOCUS ON Sun Powered Yachts
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Confessions of a ‘Marketing Partner’ – Peter Swanson
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $5 a month or $42 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
Click here for Confessions of a ‘Marketing Partner’
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Gateway to the Gulf Newsletter, City of Gulfport, April 3, 2023, Boca Ciega Bay, FL
Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located in the heart of downtown Gulfport. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
Weekly news & updates 
April 3, 2023 | City of Gulfport, FL – Gateway to the Gulf Newsletter 
Upcoming Events See what’s happening this month.
Senior Center E-news Click here to see what’s happening next.
Library Calendar of Events Upcoming activities at the Gulfport Library.
Recreation Center Click here to see all classes and activities.
Casino Ballroom Weekly Dances Click here to see the weekly dance schedule.
Gulfport Community Update Click here to read more.
Gulfport Historical Society Click here to see upcoming events.
“Fun in the Sun” Day
Saturday, April 8th
10 a.m. – Noon
Gulfport Recreation Center
5730 Shore Blvd. S.
Gulfport City Council Mayor
Sam Henderson
826-7208
Ward 1
April Thanos
826-7138
Ward 2
Christine Brown
826-7311
Vice Mayor Paul Ray
826-7209
Ward 4
Ian
O’Hara
826-7355
City Manager’s Gulfport Community Update Gulfport Community Update: March 26 – April 1, 2023
Free Smoke detectors are available for elderly and low income households within Gulfport City limits. Call 893-1059 for more information.
Alert Pinellas Emergency and Community Notification Service for Pinellas County enables the City to provide residents with critical information quickly in a variety of delivery methods. Visit https://mygulfport.us/
alertpinellas/ for more information and to sign up for this FREE service. City of Gulfport residential water customers are eligible for a rebate of up to $100 after the purchase and installation of a high efficiency water-saving toilet. Restrictions apply. Application & guidelines available at https://mygulfport.us/
toilet-rebate-program/. For information call 893-1016. Read More This Weeks Events & Meetings 
Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market Tuesday, April 4th | 9 a.m. – 3p.m.
Downtown Waterfront District, Beach Blvd. S. Join us weekly at our open-air fresh market for the region’s freshest produce, arts & crafts from local creators and a fresh array of locally sourced botanicals along the shops and restaurants of scenic Beach Boulevard.
More info 
Ballroom Dance Lessons w/ Carol Baker Tuesday, April 4th | noon – 3 p.m.
Gulfport Casino Ballroom, 5500 Shore Blvd. S.
$15 admission | $25 for couples
Call 727-798-3660
Noon – 1:30 p.m. Beginner Tango
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Intermediate Tango
2:30 – 3 p.m. Dancing
Weekly dance info 
Argentine Tango Dance & Lesson w/ Kathleen & Steve Prucher
Tuesday, April 4th | 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Gulfport Casino Ballroom 5500 Shore Blvd. S.
$10 admission
Call 727-742-3368
Weekly dance info 
Website: https://swingtime.
info Email: Events@SwingTime.info
Swing Dance & Lesson w/ Swing Time Wednesday, April 5th
Lesson 7 – 8 p.m. | Dancing 8 – 11 p.m.
Gulfport Casino Ballroom
5500 Shore Blvd. S.
$10 admission
Weekly dance info 
Weekly dance info Latin Night at the Gulfport Casino Thursday, April 6th | 6:30 – 11 p.m.
Gulfport Casino Ballroom
5500 Shore Blvd. S.
Salsa and Bachata lessons every Thursday!
Social: 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
level 1 lessons: 7 – 7:45 p.m.
level 2 lessons: 8 – 8:45 p.m.
Social dance: 9 – 11:00 p.m.
$10 admission
Contact Royan Phillip at 813-613-7710
More Info First Friday ArtWalk Friday, April 7th | 5 – 9 p.m.
Downtown Waterfront District, Beach Blvd. S.
Gulfport’s First Friday Art Walk occurs each month from 5pm – 9pm. The streets of this creative town come to life with artists, musicians and art appreciators. Come join us each First Friday of the month and get inspired!The Gulfport First Friday Art Walk is free to attend with free parking on all streets.
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Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
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World’s Worst Homing Pigeon Flies From Japan, Now Cruising Bahamas on Classic Yacht – Peter Swanson
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe.. $5 a month or $42 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
Click here for World’s Worst Homing Pigeon Flies From Japan, Now Cruising Bahamas on Classic Yacht.
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6 of the best stories from the marine world from Fore Cast – March 31
Click here for 6 of the best stories from the marine world
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Hurt Yacht Crew Awarded $2.89 Million From Collision That Sank Tanker – Peter Swanson
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes mariners with salt water in their veins will subscribe. $7 a month or $56 for the year and you may cancel at anytime.
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When all else fails, try journalism.
Hurt Yacht Crew Awarded $2.89 Million From Collision That Sank Tanker
One Plaintiff Says the Money Was Not Enough
This montage shows Utopia IV running at speed, while at left a camera shows the results of the impact to those sitting in her lounge. Motoryacht Utopia IV raming a Bahamian tanker and sinking her two days before Christmas 2021 was the first Loose Cannon story published on Substack, and it was an exclusive—probably due to short staffing at traditional news outlets.
Let it be known then that the story has played out to its logical conclusion: A $2.89 million court-ordered payout to three Utopia crew injured in the ramming. In its report, the National Transportation Safety Board had referred to their injuries as “minor.”
According to the NTSB, one of the causes of the accident was the fact that the captain had left his post for 12 minutes, leaving an unqualified watchstander on the bridge alone.
Tropic Breeze settles into waters off New Providence Island after being hit from behind by the motoryacht Utopia IV. Both Utopia and tanker Tropic Breeze had departed from New Providence island in the evening. Around 10 p.m. The 207-foot Rossinavi motoryacht slammed into Tropic Breeze’s stern at 20 knots, causing the latter’s engine room to flood. As Tropic Breeze sank, her seven crewmembers abandoned ship and were rescued by a another passing yacht. Utopia had 20 people on board, 13 crew and seven charter guests.
One of the three injured was Electro-Technical Officer Eric Ward, who recently told Superyacht News that the voyage had been set up as a nominal bareboat charter but had not been insured as such, so the owner of the boat was responsible for medical expenses directly.
The three crew sued Utopia’s owner, alleging that they were owed money for medical expenses, unpaid wages and other monetary damages.
Utopia was built for J.R. and Loren Ridinger of North Carolina, he being president and CEO of the online retail giant Market America (frequently compared to a “pyramid scheme”). Ridinger died in August 2022, leaving his widow as defendant.
Earlier this month, a jury in federal court awarded Ward $805,000. Deckhand Samuel Parrot was awarded $591,000. Engineer Fred Wennberg was allowed to piggyback other, unrelated injuries onto the crash claim and was awarded $1.49 million. Each award included substantial punitive damages.
Apparently, Ward was unhappy with his sum, telling Superyacht News, “The decision is called a ‘defense victory.’ It’s when we technically win, but win almost nothing for a judgement from the jury.”
A snapshot of some of Utopia’s crew after the accident. Electro-Technical Officer Eric Ward is at right. Disclaimer
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Shared Photo – What NOT to do!
Our thanks to Winston Fowler for this photo. Rest assured, this was not his boat!
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Comments from Cruisers (1)
I used to be able to cruise without reservation, without dockwa and non returnable deposits, without strict schedules and worries of wx delays. I used to be able to find safe anchorage without paying a ransome or being hassled. So many great places lost to political winds.I will say it again that the problems are around derelict boats and irresponsible people. You can not register a car and drive without insurance. To get registered boat Insurance should be required.Underwriters require a condition survey documenting that the vessel is safe and seaworthy. No Insurance no registration and no faulty titling. That would weed out the problems and leave the rest us responsible insured boaters alone. Just give the marine officer power of impoundment on uninsured vessels.