Key Lime Sailing Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always has very special offers for their visitors! Key Lime Sailing Club is a unique slice of KEYS ENJOYMENT…give it a try and let us hear about your experience.
Winter Blues? Not in the Keys!
Tired of bundling up and battling the cold? Trade the frost for sunshine this week in the Florida Keys, where the temperature is a dreamy 70-76°. Warm breezes, sparkling turquoise waters, and endless sunshine are waiting to melt away your winter stress—no heavy coats required!
We’ve got a few cottages open, but they won’t last long! Call or text Irene now at 305-451-3438 to lock in your stay. Don’t let this perfect weather or our award-winning hospitality slip through your fingers. Pack your flip-flops, grab your sunscreen, and head to paradise. Winter who? It’s summer in Key Largo, and it’s waiting for you!
When you book one of our cottages, you get more than just a great escape. You also get free access to water amenities. If you’re a qualified sailor, you can use a 22′ sailboat. You can also take a relaxing kayak ride, paddleboard on the bay side calm waters, or explore the clear waters with our snorkel gear. This is what the Florida Keys are all about, and it is why guests keep coming back to Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages. It’s a hidden gem that captures the true spirit of the Florida Keys, just like in Jimmy Buffet’s songs and Hemingway’s stories.
Plus, if you’re interested in learning to sail, we have a sailing school right on-site. The American Sailing Academy offers a 2-hour Introduction to Sailing, a 2-hour refresher (for those with experience but needing a little refresher), and ASA beginner and advanced certified classes.
You can learn to sail in just 2 days with our in-house sailing endorsement class (non-certification). When you pass the endorsement class, you would have the use of one of our 22′ Catalina sailboats for FREE during the rest of your stay. (Non-guests can rent a sailboat for $300 a day but it’s free for our qualified sailor guests staying at Key Lime Sailing Club and Cottages.)
For more information on the sailing classes, call Capt. g at 305 896 5555, or send an email to captg@keylimesailing.com.
And that’s not all! We’ve got more in store for you such as sailing excursions* which include captivating sunset cruises, immersive kayaking tours, and exhilarating snorkel adventures. Departing from the KLSC docks, these fantastic outings are easily accessible to all our guests. Don’t miss out on these extraordinary sailing excursions; they’re the key to creating unforgettable memories.
*Booked through Morning Star Charters and guests staying at KLSC receive a 10% discount.
Win Stays at Key Lime Sailing Club
To our past and present guests: Here’s a chance to come back and vacation at KLSC for free! Send us pictures of your stay here and win a free 3-night stay by participating in our 15th Annual KLSC Photo Contest. Check here for details.
Got a talent for video making? Enter our 11th Annual KLSC Video Contest and get a chance to win a free 5-night stay! Check here for details.
We at Key Largo Cottages at Key Lime Sailing Club love our guests and we would love to see you back again for another fun-filled and relaxing Florida Keys vacation!
Enjoy a Snorkel or Sunset Cruise both bay side and ocean side as well as sailboat rentals from 22 foot to 40 foot through Morning Star Sailing Charters. Call us at 305-451-7057.
The City of Gulfport and Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always have a full calendar of events for all ages. 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
January 13, 2025 | City of Gulfport, FL – Gateway to the Gulf Newsletter
Gulfport City Hall and facilities will be closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The Sanitation schedule will not be affected.
Rebuilding After Storm Damage is a guide for Gulfport property owners in flood zones. Learn how the FEMA 50% Rule impacts your property repair plans in designated flood zones, and what steps to take to comply with regulations. Visit https://mygulfport.us/fema for information.
January 1, 2025 – City Hall Closed – New Year’s Day Holiday
January 1, 2025 – Planning and Zoning Board – No Meeting
January 7, 2025 – Council Meeting – 6:00 pm (AGENDA)
January 8, 2025 – Board of Adjustment – 6:00 pm (AGENDA)
January 14, 2025 – Senior Citizen’s Advisory Committee – 8:00am – Senior Center, 5501 27th Avenue South
January 20, 2025 – City Hall Closed – Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday
January 21, 2025 – Council Meeting – 6:00 pm
All meetings are open to the public and are held in the City Hall, City Council Chambers, 2401 53rd Street South, In Person, unless otherwise noted. Meetings may occasionally be added, cancelled or rescheduled after this list is published. Please check the city’s website https://mygulfport.us for updated information.
The City of Gulfport, in conjunction with the Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce (GMC), will host a special, smaller-scale Tuesday Fresh Market on Tuesday, November 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market will be located along the right-of-way on Beach Boulevard in downtown Gulfport. Enjoy a variety of local vendors and fresh goods in a cozy, community-oriented setting!
Art Center: January Workshops
Tuesday, January 14th | 12 – 1:30 p.m.
Gulfport Arts Center, 2726 54th St. S.
Programs for all ages available afternoons and evenings. Registration required, please email ArtsCenter@mygulfport.us to signup. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GulfportArtsCenter for additional information on upcoming workshops and community art shows.
SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE ~~ latest addition. I’m very honored that you’re following along. Thank you from the bottom of my writer’s heart.
Ah, the life of a liveaboard Sailor…on a Classic Wooden Sailing Yacht… as of August 2024 we are undergoing extensive repair and refit for the next several months(!). In boating terms we are hauled out “on the hard” in Cambridge, Maryland.
I plan to mix Sailing Stories with the challenges and intricacies of restoring a 90-year-old boat. I’m always open to suggestions as to content….please feel free to weigh in as we manage and learn from this unexpected joust. Thank you! ~J
A Wooden Boat is a strong, intricate entity constructed of Mother Nature’s finest materials.
Meet your new go-to for all-natural cleaning! Kanberra Multi-Purpose Wipes are infused with 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil, making them perfect for cleaning multiple surfaces while keeping your air healthy. With no harsh chemicals, you’ll love how easy it is to keep your space clean and fresh.
A longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, historic Edenton always has an exciting calendar of events and places to visit! Edenton is at the mouth of the Chowan River on the northwest shore of Albemarle Sound.
Hello,
Edenton is full of history. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights Movement, Edenton’s role in American history is well-documented.
Our downtown boasts National Historic Landmarks and multiple locations on the National Register of Historic Places.
A greener, fresher home starts with simple changes—and Kanberra’s Home Bundle makes it easier than ever! It’s your go-to solution for clean air, fresh spaces, and an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Come to The Stuart Boat Show January 10-12 and visit The Bahamas Pavilion (Tent 300).
Dozens of Bahamian marinas, resorts and companies will be exhibiting at this amazing boat show. Come get updates on your favorite destinations and learn about new places to visit!
If you are unable to attend the show and want a hard copy, or digital copy of the new 2025 ABM Bahamas Boating Map, we will be happy to send to you!
Just shoot us an email and provide your US mailing address if you would like hard copy, or CLICK HERE for high res copy of the Cruising Chart – perfect for printing and framing!
adrotate banner=’477′] Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, sits on the Mount Pleasant side of Charleston Harbor, hard by Patriots Point between Horse Reach’s flashing buoys #34 and #36.
Looking plans this weekend?
Check out Oysters on the Point with Live Music from Thomas Champagne & Friends from 2pm – 6pm THIS Saturday!
Cruisers Net is proud to be a member of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association whose lobbying work is crucial to keeping the Waterway navigable and safe. Your membership dollars directly support their vital work. Please join and encourage your boating neighbors to do likewise, regardless of their homeport.
A Year in Review and Thank You to our AIWA Supporters
We are honored to begin the 26th year as the Voice of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW). We remain focused on fulfilling our mission to support the operations and maintenance needs of the AIWW which generates more opportunities for increased economic activity and waterway usage.
Our collective approach of working with Congress and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has led to the reduction of the AIWW maintenance dredging backlog by over $60 million within the last decade. Waterway projects have been conducted in every state along the AIWW in the last eight years, while new work was executed in 2024, and now underway in 2025.
In the final FY24 appropriations bill passed by Congress in March 2024, waterway funding exceeded $28 million. In addition, the AIWW received $20.5 million in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for FY24. This is equivalent to an additional year of annual funding and brought us to almost $150 million in total for FY22, FY23 and FY24 funding for Marine Highway 95. We are on track to receive over $30 million in FY25. If the most recent appropriations amount from the House of Representatives bill is enacted, we could top $40 million.
We continued working with Congressional offices to highlight the AIWW’s importance and request increased funding for additional dredging needs for FY25. In March and May, we returned to Washington, D.C. and met with 19 Congressional offices. With the recent election, we look forward to meeting with new members this spring.
We partnered with federal agencies and universities to implement beneficial use projects using dredged material from the AIWW. From in-water placement and bird island creation in Georgia, to re-handling dredged material for beach placement in South Carolina, the AIWW is at the forefront of the beneficial use of dredged material for habitat creation and coastal resiliency. We participated in the Natural Infrastructure Innovation Project Launch (Tidelands) led by Auburn University, University of Pennsylvania and University of Virginia in April, and I serve on their Technical Advisory Committee. We also recently held a panel discussion at our annual meeting with speakers from the Corps, the Tidelands team, and the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems from the University of Georgia.
We participated in regional and national coalitions to increase awareness of AIWW issues. We are on the board of directors and executive committee of the National Waterways Conference, Inc., and we partner with national organizations including the American Boating Congress and National Marine Manufacturers Association, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.), Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, numerous Marine Trades Associations, and federal agencies including the Maritime Administration of the U.S. DOT, NOAA, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Corps.
The AIWA Annual Meeting was held in Charleston, SC on November 18-20, 2024. Our 25th anniversary meeting was a celebration of previous accomplishments, and the opportunity to identify our future path. We will share more about those future efforts in future newsletters, yet be assured that federal funding for waterway maintenance continues to be our primary mission. You can view presentations from the meeting at the following link: https://atlanticintracoastal.org/annual-meeting-2024
Over our first 25 years, we have successfully worked to highlight the AIWW as an integral part of the nation’s marine transportation system designated as Marine Highway 95. Our collective work is more important than ever with the current situation in Washington, DC. Our members can be certain of our desire to continue as an effective, unified voice for the waterway through advocacy and education, outreach and coalition building with other non-profit and private organizations representing all stakeholders of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Thank you for your continued partnership and financial support to protect the future of the AIWW. Anchors aweigh for another 25 years!
Sincerely, Brad Pickel Executive Director
The 119th Congress is in Session President Trump Certified as 47th President
Earlier today on January 6th, Congress certified the presidential election results recognizing Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. This action comes on the heels of the recent swearing in of the 119th Congress and the election of Representative Mike Johnson as the Speaker of the House on January 3rd. In the 119th Congress, we have nine new senators (four Democrats and five Republicans) and 63 new representatives (33 Democrats and 30 Republicans).
While there were no new senators elected along the AIWW, we will have a new senator appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in Florida with the nomination of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. In the House of Representatives, we also have one new representative in a Florida district along the waterway. Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R, FL-8) will be representing the area that includes Titusville, Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, and Cape Canaveral, Florida. Fortunately for the AIWA, the Florida Inland Navigation District is a great partner of ours and will do an outstanding job to ensure these new Congressional members are up to speed on issues impacting the waterway, while we support their efforts and focus on educating the other 70 new members and administration staff on the value of the nation’s marine transportation system and the AIWW.
On December 21st, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government until March 14th averting a government shutdown. This was the second CR they have passed for FY 2025 and sets up another round of negotiations that must be completed before the March 14th deadline to avert a government shutdown. With the new Congress and Administration now moving into place, we can expect them to include their priorities in the proposed bill. As mentioned in the last newsletter, the CR included over $100 billion in disaster relief, of which a portion will be allocated to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. USACE will be required to submit a work plan with identified projects by mid-March and this could include funding for dredging projects along the waterway that were impacted by hurricanes.
The table below reflects the current breakdown of funding as it stands today. In addition, the House and Senate have also included the following amounts in the Additional Dredging Needs funding pots which we are eligible to receive.
General Navigation – House: $931.945 million, Senate: $20 million
Inland Waterways – House: $50 million, Senate: $64.987 million
We await passage of the next appropriations bill before we are can identify funding amounts for FY25. The good news is that contracted work continues on the waterway, and we are not yet facing impacts from this delay.
Deep Creek Bridge Deviation with Impacts to Transiting the Dismal Swamp Canal USCG MSIB 001-25
Mariners are advised of an infrastructure refurbishment project on the Deep Creek Bridge, mile 11.1 over the Dismal Swamp Canal, in Chesapeake, Virginia. The project will require the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position from January 6 through March 21, 2025 to facilitate construction of the new bascule span of the new bridge. During this time period, visitors to Lake Drummond will be able to access the Dismal Swamp Canal via the South Mills Locks in South Mills, North Carolina or from the various boat ramps along the canal. Vessels transiting the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway will need to use the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal as an alternate route during this timeframe.
Comments or concerns can be sent to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia Waterways Management Division via email at virginiawaterways@uscg.mil.
The AIWA is a national non-profit organization with the mission of securing funding and support for the maintenance of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. We are the only organization dedicated to ensuring the future of the AIWW and proudly represent all stakeholders of the waterway.
Winter Blues? Not in the Keys!
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