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A village with only 950 residents but over 3,000 boats has all the credibility it needs to claim itself as a boating Mecca. But add a spring boat show with over 100 exhibitors and you have a “not-to-miss” event! The Oriental In-Water Boat Show takes place April 21-23 and is the largest in-water boat show between Annapolis and Savannah. Exhibitors from as far north as Hampton, Virginia, and as far south as Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will be on hand displaying their products and services. New and brokerage boats will be in the water and available to tour. Many others will be available for sea trials as well.
Oriental, North Carolina, is a historic boating village on the banks of the Neuse River where the Neuse opens up to Pamlico Sound. Hotel and marina accommodations are located in the village within walking distance of the show. A complete list of vendors and show activities is available on the show’s website. Don’t miss the Oriental Boat Show 2017!
Wave reduction will protect an Outer Banks reef structure
Outer Banks anglers should see more fishing opportunities in the years to come due to artificial reef work being done near the Bonner Bridge. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has built a living shoreline wave-attenuating structure about a mile west of the bridge. The 500-foot long structure is made up of blocks of concrete that allow water to pass through and around it while limiting the force of waves.
The reef structure is made of stacked concrete with natural rock embedded in it. The project is part of NCDOT’s bridge demolition and replacement plan, which will be completed in 2019. The goal of the reef is to aid the growth of seagrass by creating a 50-acre “wave shadow” on the lee side. Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) will benefit from a reduction in wave action. NCDOT plans to monitor the SAV growth and marine species in the reef over the next five years.
Young crabs and shrimp will use the structure and the seagrass beds as a refuge to hide from predators, while species like sea trout, striped bass and flounder will search those vegetation beds to find food. Spotted sea trout, grass shrimp and bay scallops spawn in SAV habitats.
Water depth surrounding the structure at low tide ranges from two to three feet, and there are no fishing or access restrictions. The reef is well marked, visible and out of the way of navigation channels. It’s accessible when transiting “the Crack” channel between the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center and Old House Channel. Please be mindful that boat propellers can uproot and kill swaths of SAV, leaving scars across the grassbeds.
NCDOT also plans to restore four existing artificial reefs along the northern Outer Banks with the demolished bridge material. An additional new reef is planned and will be funded from fishing license fees. An estimated 80,000 tons of debris from the demolished bridge will be used to build up the old structures with work targeted to begin by late 2018 and continue for about 10 months.
An additional reef is planned for a location about 2 miles south of reef No. 160, or 8 miles south of the Oregon Inlet. The plan is to sink two retired vessels to anchor each end of the reef and then to sink used concrete pipe in between. The reef will rise 25-30 feet above the ocean floor in about 70 feet of water.
—By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine April 2017
Sailors will be hoping for fresh winds through the low country this April when the 21st Annual Charleston Race Week returns to Charleston Harbor in South Carolina.
When the Charleston Ocean Racing Association merged their annual summer regatta with the Charleston Palmetto Cup—run by the South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association—they couldn’t have dreamed it would grow into an international event and one of the largest keelboat regattas in the world. At print time, more than 120 boats from the U.S., Canada and Europe were registered to participate.
The annual summer event was rescheduled to its current dates in April in order to take advantage of the seasonal sea breezes. The combination of traditional southeast winds working against the tidal flow in Charleston Harbor make for exciting racing for both sailors and spectators.
Registration and racecourse reviews begin on April 20th, with races running from April 21st through the 23rd. For spectators, inshore races take place in the South Passage of Charleston’s Harbor between James Island and Shutes Folly. Ocean boats will compete offshore of Morris Island just south of Charleston’s entrance channel. All shoreside activities are at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina located at Patriot’s Point in Mt. Pleasant. In addition to hosting a world-class event, Charleston Race Week donates a portion of their proceeds to eight individual charities and organizations including Veterans on Deck and Charleston Community Sailing.
Spring into Spring with these Spring Flower Festivals.
Spring into Spring with these flowery festivals.
Winter weather is fading fast. Warmer temperatures mean it’s time to get the boat from the yard and head out for some springtime cruising.
As the old saying goes, go cruising while the sun shines. (That’s how it goes, right?)
If the sun is shining and your spring cruising itinerary isn’t full quite yet, take a look at these flower-inspired festivals. Bright colors and sweet scents are sure to put a spring in your step. You get bonus points if you can get there by boat, which, for a few on our list, is entirely possible.
You get bonus points if you can get there by boat, which, for a few on our list, is entirely possible.
National Cherry Blossom Festival (Ongoing)
Washington, D.C.
How could you miss an event billed as the Nation’s Greatest Springtime Celebration? The National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates spring in Washington, DC. The beautiful cherry blossom trees are a symbol of the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan; the trees were a gift from 1912 and have been blooming ever since.
Get a schedule of events for the National Cherry Blossom Festival here.
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (March 1st-May 29th)
Orlando, Florida
Arriving in Orlando by boat may be a bit tricky, but the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is a sight to be seen. Stroll through an artistic assortment of gardens and see an array of topiaries shaped like favorite Disney characters. Please note that a ticket to the theme park is required.
Azalea Festival (April 5th-9th)
Wilmington, North Carolina
The Azalea Festival is Wilmington’s annual spring celebration and the largest festival of its kind in the North Carolina. Since 1948, the Azalea Festival has been showcasing natural beauty, big-name entertainment, festive galas, and family events.
More information about Azalea Fest can be found here.
Happy Spring! Enjoy these Spring Flower Festivals. If you happen to go to any of these events, please tell us about your experience by emailing us: info@southernboating.com
My first exposure to the term PT Boats (Patrol Torpedo) was courtesy of Ernest Borgnine in the 1960s sitcom McHale’s Navy. Set in the Pacific theater of World War II, the fictional crew of PT-73 were wacky but dedicated sailors, always outsmarting the enemy and Navy brass and made us laugh about an otherwise serious side of war.
Patrol Torpedo boats were fast, highly maneuverable and saw battle not only in the Pacific but also along the southern French coastline, the Mediterranean and in the defense of Italy. One such vessel named PT-305 survived dozens of operations, a few near-misses and, until about 10 years ago, decades of neglect. Now, it’s about to see action again on Lake Pontchartrain as part of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
PT-305 at its final resting place in the National WWII Museum.
Beginning March 25th, PT-305—the world’s only fully restored, combat veteran PT boat—will launch 45-minute deck tours for the cost of $12-$15 per person. For those of you who are history junkies with $350 to spare, a thrilling 90-minute ride with a five-member crew helps bring history to life. “For the last 10 years, 200 volunteers put in 105,000 hours of blood, sweat and tears into the restorations,” says Stephen Watson, museum executive vice president. In December, Watson spoke to a gathering of reporters as the PT boat was carefully trailered through the streets of New Orleans from the museum’s restoration pavilion to a new permanent home. This final stop is currently undergoing completion as part of a redevelopment of the lake’s shores following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many maritime facets of New Orleans are slowly coming back to life since Hurricane Katrina, and grandiose plans are in the works for an amphitheater, music studio and arts center adjacent to the idle South Shore Harbor Marina.
This is a homecoming of sorts for PT-305. Built in New Orleans by Higgins Industries nearly 70 years ago, the vessel was found by the museum in Galveston, Texas, showing the ugly scars of war and many modifications. By the numbers, PT-305 went to sea on 77 offensive patrols and operations, and she saw action in 11 separate naval skirmishes. She also participated in the sinking of three German ships during her 14-month deployment. After the war, the battle-hardened boat turned civilian in New York as a tour boat. She would later become a fishing boat and finally, after years of neglect, she resurfaced as a relic just waiting for rescue.
Watson says, “The restoration of PT-305, like all museum restoration projects, is aimed at making history accessible to today’s audiences in as detailed and authentic a way as possible.” Tickets for the launch of PT-305 are available online at pt305.org.
By Alan Wendt,Southern Boating Magazine March 2017
Gone are the booze cruise days of the 1980s. They’ve been replaced by charters where the crew puts an emphasis on the well-being rather than that hungover feeling of their guests. Take, for example, several yachts in Camper & Nicholson’s Caribbean fleet: 214-ft Feadship Callisto, 155-foot Sunseeker Princess AVK and 190-ft Benetti Illusion V. Each has personal trainers as part of the crew, which means there’s someone hands-on to put you through your paces in onboard gyms well-equipped with spin bikes, elliptical cross trainers, free weights, and more. Or, if you’d like to keep fit in the water, these yachts have fitness toys like paddleboards, kayaks and waterskis, to name a few.
The benefits of a personal trainer among the crew are out-of-the-box fitness adventures, like a hike up St. Lucia’s iconic Gros Piton 3000 feet above sea level or the heart-pumping climb to Dominica’s Morne Diablotin, the highest mountain in the Eastern Caribbean at 4,747 feet. Follow up with a beach training session for even more activity. Looking for something a little less cardio? The 208-ft Benetti SpA Lioness V boasts a stewardess who is also a qualified yoga instructor. Of course, there is healthful cuisine to match. Fresh-caught Caribbean fish and just-picked tropical fruits like mangos and papayas are deliciously incorporated into meals. Callisto, for example, boasts a Michelin-star trained chef that heads up the galley. Charters focused on well-being are definitely the buzz these days in the Caribbean, especially in the megayacht arena. camperandnicholsons.com
New Outer Marina opens at Nanny Cay
Since December, more slips with deeper depths are available for racing, cruising and megayachts at Nanny Cay Resort & Marina’s Outer Marina. “The marina has been running at full capacity for the last five years and in anticipation of this, the owners commenced an expansion plan in 2009,” explains Alastair Abrehart, spokesperson for the Tortola, B.V.I.-based property. As of now, 42 slips are operational, with the final 78 expected to be in place by August. When completed, the Outer Marina will have 120 slips for yachts 30- to 75-feet with T-heads and a bulkhead capable of berthing megayachts up to 150 feet. Up to 10 megayachts over 100 feet can now dock at Nanny Cay. Controlling depth in the first half of the outer marina is 14 feet and 10 feet in the second half. The 6.5-acre Outer Marina peninsula will have 8 new condominium blocks each with three 4-bed and four 3-bed units; condo construction starts this spring. The expansion is good news for yachtsmen who in the past have found it difficult to get a slip at the dock for the many events Nanny Cay hosts each year: the B.V.I. Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival in March, the ARC USA Rally in May and ARC Caribbean 1500 Rally in November, as well as many races organized by the Royal B.V.I. Yacht Club throughout the year. nannycay.com
Where the big cats roam!
This year the St. Thomas International Regatta will host one of the largest offshore catamaran racing fleets in the Caribbean. As of January 1st, seven big cats are set to compete in this event on March 24-26 hosted out of the St. Thomas Yacht Club in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. Three gunboats are also included: Arethusa, Fault Tolerant and Elvis, as well as the U.S.V.I.-built Bieker 53 Fujin and HH66 NALA and Kelsall 47 Triple Jack. “Our inter-island courses are perfect for these fast-sailing multihulls. So much so, our regatta is getting to be known as where the big cats roam,” says regatta director Chuck Pessler. stthomasinternationalregatta.com
By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating Magazine March 2017
A little-known yet fascinating bit of 20th century United States history lies partially hidden in the steadily encroaching forest behind a beautiful Atlantic beach in central Eleuthera. Beginning in 1950, the U.S. Navy established a base here to house an experimental “Sound Surveillance System” (SOSUS) station. This technology used a set of hydrophones on the Atlantic Ocean floor east of the island, which were hardwired back to the base where any sounds could be profiled and matched in an effort to identify and track Soviet submarines. In those early days, the base was little more than a few small, wooden buildings and tents but would grow rapidly through the middle part of the decade.
By 1957, the base had grown into an official naval facility with a complement of 150 Navy personnel and several dozen civilian employees from RCA and Western Electric. At approximately the same time, the U.S. Air Force established an Auxiliary Air Base at the site. Their mission was to serve as one of several tracking stations for the USAF Atlantic Missile Range and track missiles and satellites launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Civilian Pan Am employees managed the Air Force side of the facility. At its peak, the facility also employed 45 Bahamians. The SOSUS system was fully operational in time to play a key role in the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviets attempted to use submarines to break the U.S. blockade of the island. But the SOSUS system enabled the American Navy to locate nearly all of the subs, force them to the surface and send them home. This effectively ended the crisis as Nikita Khrushchev abandoned his plan. The base was ultimately closed in 1980, and much of the equipment was abandoned in place and left to the ravages of the tropical climate. Today, it is a fascinating experience to wander through the ruins and ponder the history. Walking up the entrance road, a guard shack greets you with peeling blue and white paint. Just beyond is the base gas station, complete with the still visible 17¢ price! The left fork ultimately leads to a huge, sloping concrete pad, which was part of the system used to collect rainfall—the primary fresh water source for the base. Hidden in the surrounding trees you will find several huge water storage tanks and a pump house. Downhill from the base a gorgeous beach runs seemingly forever in both directions, and the offshore barrier reef provides great snorkeling. Back at the top of the hill, the remains of the main administration building still contain the office safe and the brig. There are barracks, maintenance areas and much more to explore. An excellent resource is projecteleuthera.org/ruins. The website includes an interactive Google map of the entire base and identifies many of the facilities you will see.
A rustic gasoline pump still displays prices from the 1960s.
Worn and weary, this guard shack remains at the old NAVFAC facility
Remnants from the site’s rainwater collection basin
Alabaster Bay, just south of the Governor’s Harbour Airport, is an excellent anchorage in its own right and makes a perfect spot to visit the Navy base by boat. Anchor in a clean sand bottom just off the beach at Cocodimama Resort. Land your dinghy just south of the resort and walk past the resort to Queen’s Highway; turn right and then take a left on the first road and walk across the narrow island until you see the guard shack at the entrance to the base. Use caution when exploring since many of the remaining buildings may be unstable, and the forest contains poisonwood and thorn trees. Please take nothing but pictures from this haunting reminder of our past.
Kayak Fishing Tournament
The annual Extreme Kayak Fishing Battle in The Bahamas will be held at Flamingo Bay Resort on Grand Bahama Island April 20-23. With two days of fishing and a variety of entertainment through the weekend, this should be a fun event for serious kayak fishermen and their families. This is not flat, protected-water fishing. The competitors are after big game fish in open water, including wahoo, mahi, grouper, tuna, and even marlin. Packages are available with round-trip ferry transportation from Florida, including transport for your kayak and gear, Bahamian fishing license, accommodations, and much more. For more information and entry forms visit extremekayakfishingtournament.org/bahamas.
News Update
Chub Cay Marina in The Berry Islands remained closed at press time due to damage from Hurricane Matthew. Reopening is expected in 2017, but the timing has yet to be publicly announced.
The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality recently reported that as many as half of all the gasoline pumps they surveyed dispensed inaccurate quantities of fuel. This wasn’t specifically or even primarily at marinas, but you may want to take steps to ensure you are getting what you pay for when buying fuel in the islands.
Words & photos by Rex Noel, Southern Boating Magazine March 2017
The Marine Industries Association of South Florida is once again organizing the largest one-day environmental event in South Florida, The Broward County Waterway Cleanup Day. On Saturday, March 4th from 9AM-1PM, participants can help clean up the waterways we so love to enjoy. Last year more than 100 boats and 1,500 volunteers removed 22 tons of trash and debris from streams, rivers and coastal areas of Broward County. Everyone can get involved since you do not need a boat to participate. Volunteers will get an official event T-shirt and invitation to the Trash Bash after-party event that immediately follows the clean-up. Additional details and registration information can be found at waterwaycleanup.org.
St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah
The Hostess City of the South knows how to throw a party, and there is no better example of that than Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Savannah’s Irish invite you to come celebrate with the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the U.S. and third largest in the world. Taking place on March 17th from 10:15AM-2:30PM, the parade consists of 300 groups and more than 15,000 people participating. While the parade is the feature event, it is only one in an entire month of Irish celebrations. On March 11th from 11AM-5PM, the city also puts on “Tara Feis”, a traditional, non-alcoholic, family-friendly event full of Irish food, music, and dance. More information on all of the events is available at savannah.com/savannahs-st-patricks-day-celebration/. (Read our Savannah cruising article online at southernboating.com/destination-savannah.)
Florida Keys Outdoor Fest
The organization Friends and Volunteers of Refuges and the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges (FAVOR) sponsors the second annual Outdoor Fest March 11-18. The event takes place over four fun-filled days complete with outdoor adventures and hands-on activities. The event promoters plan guided birding and nature walks, a historical bike ride, art and photography workshops, kids’ programs, a behind-the-scenes kayak excursion into the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, and much more! More information about FAVOR and this event can be found at favorfloridakeys.org.
Calle Ocho
Cruisers throughout the Southeast are either dreaming of or actually planning trips to Cuba to experience the original sights and sounds of the Cuban culture. If you aren’t quite ready to make the 90-mile run from Key West but still want to taste the flavor of Havana, plan to attend Calle Ocho in Miami, Florida. Taking place on March 12th from 10AM-7PM, Calle Ocho is the grand finale of the 10-day Miami Carnival extravaganza. The festival is centered on 8th Avenue in Little Havana and extends outward for 23 blocks. Calle Ocho is a festival of food, music, dance, and art that celebrates the richness and diversity of the Cuban people. The good feeling you’ll have attending this event doesn’t just come from the music and food. It also comes from knowing the proceeds from the event go to the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana to support service programs in the community. Event details can be found at carnavalmiami.com.
By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating Magazine March 2017
It’s bound to be a busy March in the Chesapeake and North Carolina.
A $46 million waterpark is being constructed in lower Currituck County, North Carolina, three miles north of the Wright Memorial Bridge. The park is designed to accommodate up to 5,000 visitors daily and is scheduled to open this summer. Among the waterpark’s many attractions will be a 30,000-square-foot wave pool, a 90-foot-tall free-fall slide, a 500-foot Constrictor slide, and a 540-foot raft ride with a zero-gravity hump. The park will add employment and entertainment opportunities to the area but will also bring more traffic on roadways especially on weekends, which is another reason to visit the Outer Banks by boat.
Multiple food and beverage locations and a Wright Brothers-themed bar are planned. Up to 50 private cabanas with luxury amenities and guest services are included in the project. H2OBX developers include Jeff Malarney, a Manteo resident and a former Navy judge advocate general, who has been involved in the North Carolina vacation rental industry having recently served two terms on the N.C. Real Estate Commission. The park is scheduled to be open from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Current plans will allow local residents access to the park in June. The park will cater mostly to visitors to the area through its rental company partners in July and August. Daily attendance will be capped at between 4,000 and 5,000 visitors to keep lines from becoming too long. h2obxwaterpark.com
Casual creek dining
Mack’s Barge is back on Knitting Mill Creek off the Lafayette River in Norfolk. After a smoky, dingy existence as O’Sullivan’s Wharf, the restaurant is now clean and completely remodeled, offering American grill-style cuisine along the waterfront. The restaurant, originally called Mack’s Barge in the 1970s, has added about 100 seats and expanded its outdoor deck. The docks can accommodate four or five midsize boats. Knitting Mill Creek is on the south side of the Lafayette, about 3 miles above the mouth, with a controlling depth of about 4.5 feet.
The atmosphere is waterfront casual with fishing rods and old signs on the ceilings. The menu concentrates on seafood and smokehouse selections along with biscuits and Southern specialties such as grits and jambalaya. Oysters Rockefeller ($8) and a bowl of she-crab soup ($6) are a good way to start. macksbarge.com
Get ready to fish
The Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland (CCA MD) is hosting its 17th annual Lefty Kreh TieFest on Saturday, March 18th, at the Kent Narrows Yacht Club. The event runs from 10AM to 4PM and will feature more than 30 fly tyers demonstrating patterns proven successful in the mid-Atlantic. Casting demonstrations, lessons and equipment manufacturers will also be part of the scene. An addition this year will be tying classes for kids and novice tyers.
CCA MD is also offering its final Angler’s Night Out of the season at the Boatyard Bar & Grill in Eastport on March 28th. Beverages, appetizers and fish talk runs from 5PM-7PM before the feature film Providence is presented. The full-length, fly-fishing film chronicles a trip to Providence Atoll, where fishing for flats species include giant trevally, bluefin trevally, bumphead parrotfish, bonefish, Indo-Pacific permit, triggerfish, and milkfish. ccamd.org
By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine March 2017
Savannah offers her treasured charm, history, and beauty to visitors arriving by land and by water.
Starting with the first 144 British colonists who arrived by boats from South Carolina in 1733, Savannah, Georgia, has been attracting seafarers with its Southern charm and historic beauty for more than two centuries. Bustling River Street is always ready to greet visiting cruisers with brick façades, ornate iron balconies, and cobblestone streets.
Arts & Crafts
A festival atmosphere pervades its nine blocks that front the Savannah River. Arts and craft vendors sell their wares at the open-air market on the waterside of the street, while on the opposite side rows of former cotton warehouses offer an array of Southern culinary delicacies, art, antiques, and curios. You could easily spend a day meandering River Street, but a four-letter word beckons you deeper into the city. That word is “tour,” and tour you must. The hardest part is deciding which kind of tour to take.
Savannahians have come up with a multitude of ways to view their city, which boasts one of the largest historic districts in the country. The most popular tours are by trolley and horse-drawn carriage, with guides delivering historical trivia as they point out significant homes and sites. Most of the tours focus on the city’s rich history and architecture, but some take a spooky turn and focus on Savannah’s many ghost stories. You can also take your own self-guided tour in this walkable city.
For those who prefer to plot their own course, stop by the visitor’s center at 1 West River Street and pick up a map. A three-hour stroll through the heart of the historic district crosses a cobblestone drive climbs historic iron stairs and emerges onto Bay Street, where historical markers and architectural treasures tell the city’s story.
Horse-drawn carriages offer one of the more popular ways to tour historic Savannah. Photo credit: Geoff L Johnson
Opposite page: St. John the Baptist Cathedral’s twin spires tower over Lafayette Square, one of Savannah’s many grand, historic houses of worship.Photo credit: Geoff L Johnson
The Tybee Island Light marks the entrance to the Savannah River.
The Juliette Gordon Low is named after the founder of the first American Girl Scout troop. Photo credit: Visit Savannah
The Old Savannah Cotton Exchange, completed in 1887, stands as a reminder of Savannah’s former leadership in the worldwide cotton trade. Photo credit: Dylan Wilson
Savannah offers much to see and do on both sides of the Savannah River. Photo credit: Visit Savannah
The Tybee Pier & Pavillion attracts visitors to Savannah’s shores. Photo credit: J. Stephen Conn
Savannah boasts the third largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world, with revelry that lasts throughout the whole day and night. Photo credit: Travis Sayre
The Juliette Gordon Low is named after the founder of the first American Girl Scout troop. Photo credit: Cliff
Stop at the two cannons that were given to the city in 1791 by then-President George Washington following his visit to Savannah. The “Washington guns” were captured when Lord Cornwallis surrendered in 1781 at Yorktown, marking the end of the Revolutionary War. Two years after Washington’s visit, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin at a plantation near Savannah owned by Catherine Greene, wife of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. Whitney’s invention helped Savannah’s port become a world leader in the cotton trade. The red brick Old Savannah Cotton Exchange dates back to 1887 and looms over River Street as a testament to the days when cotton was king. Venture south on Bull Street past the 50-foot-tall marble obelisk that marks the grave of Nathanael Greene, who died in 1786.
The next block down reveals Wright Square. It was laid out in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, a founding father of the city and the colony of Georgia. Oglethorpe and early colonists befriended the Yamacraw Indians led by Chief Tomochichi, who died in 1739 and is buried in the square. A large stone marks the grave of the tribal leader who traveled to England with Oglethorpe and was instrumental in paving the way for smooth Indian-colonist trade. Back in those days, a colonist could buy a pound of tanned deerskin with a strand of 30 beads.
Colorful History
Farther down Bull Street at Madison Square, history shifts to the Civil War. Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and his troops occupied the city without opposition on December 21, 1864, marking the end of his March to the Sea campaign. On the western side of the square sits the Green-Meldrim House, which served as Sherman’s headquarters.
The Gothic Revival mansion is one of many architectural gems built by Savannahians who had grown wealthy from the cotton trade. They hired top architects and left behind stellar examples of such architectural styles as Federal, Georgian, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Gothic Revival. Savannah’s historic homes are also admired for the ornate ironwork found on balconies, doors, stair rails, gates, window guards, and columns. But nothing says Savannah like the moss-draped live oaks that lend shade and mystery to the homes that repose behind their stately trunks and branches; many fine examples are on Gaston and Abercorn Streets.
Along with picturesque houses, Savannah is home to several historic churches. Baptists, Jews, Methodists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians, among others, contribute ornate architectural marvels to the city’s historic significance. But none stand out like the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist with its stunning twin spires, stained-glass windows and vaulted ceilings. The Roman Catholic cathedral presides over Lafayette Square across from the childhood home of writer Flannery O’Connor.
Don’t let the long line outside Leopold’s Ice Cream on Broughton Street dissuade you from tasting the nearly 100-year-old family business’ cold, creamy treats; they’re well worth the wait. For more substantial fare, Savannah has plenty of local restaurants serving Southern cuisine, from the elegant Olde Pink House to the casual Paula Dean’s The Lady & Sons. Savannah’s downtown also offers a multitude of clothing, antique, gift, and art shops, and it plays host to popular events throughout the year including book, film and music festivals. The city also claims host to the third-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world.
History of History
Those who want to learn more about Savannah’s history can also explore some of the city’s many museums. The Savannah History Museum on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. gives a more detailed overview of the city’s story and begins with its founding by Oglethorpe on Yamacraw Bluff in 1733. Of course, no cruiser’s trip to Savannah would be complete without visiting the Ships of the Sea Nautical Museum. The museum occupies the three-story historic house once owned by William Scarborough, who was a major investor in Savannah, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The 98-foot vessel’s voyage was a big deal in 1819; President James Monroe appeared for the ship’s launch and stayed in Scarborough’s home. Unfortunately for Scarborough, the venture that made the history books was a financial failure and led to his bankruptcy a year later.
Though Scarborough’s investment failed, his city has a long history of success as a shipping center, and its container port is the fourth largest in the country. The city also makes sure its visiting recreational cruisers feel welcome; 1,100 linear feet of public dock and bulkhead space is available for transients along River Street, and hotels and the River Street Market Place also offer dock space. But if you stay along River Street, be prepared to enjoy the late-night revelry, as Savannahians love a party. For a quieter night, a half-dozen or so full-service marinas can be found on the outskirts of Savannah. But wherever you dock, the city’s historic charm is sure to draw you in. Faced with so many choices about what to do, you might decide to stay a little longer.
Resources
Savannah Visitor Center 1 West River Street • (912) 651-6662 visitsavannah.com
City public docks and bulkheads River Street, Savannah • (912) 651-6470;savannahga.gov – First-come, first-serve; hourly and overnight stays offered
Experience the untouched wonder of the Galápagos, an adventure you’ll not soon forget.
Straddling the equator off the coast of Ecuador is an enchanted archipelago with some of the strangest wildlife on the planet. Roughly half the size of Hawaii but with barely enough residents to fill Yankee Stadium, the Galápagos Islands are a biological laboratory. Here, amid the cactus-covered landscape, wildlife evolved in nearly total isolation. There are blood-sucking finches, tree-climbing sea lions, underwater iguanas, and tortoises that hatched more than a century ago. Because of its unique wildlife and remoteness, the archipelago has become a mecca for cruisers wanting to experience Charles Darwin’s “Enchanted Isles.”
Since most of the archipelago is within a national park—and the surrounding waters are part of a marine sanctuary—the laws controlling mooring sites and island visits are extremely rigid. The best and easiest way to voyage through the Galápagos is not by private yacht but aboard one of the licensed expedition ships that offer voyages from a few days to a few weeks.
The Bishop of Panama, Fray Tomas de Berlanga, accidentally discovered the Galápagos in March 1535 when strong currents pulled his ship 600 miles off the mainland traveling from Panama to Peru. The cleric was stranded for three weeks, and his faith was shaken at his first glimpse of the bleak basalt mountains prickled in towering cactus forests. He wrote, “It seems as though at some time God had showered stones and the earth is like slag, worthless.”
Galapagos sea lions, Zalophus californianus, at home on the red sand beaches of Rabida Island. Photo Credit: Jad Davenport
A pair of waved albatross, Diomeda irrorata, in courtship display. Espanola Island is the location of the only waved albatross nesting colony in the world. Photo Credit: Jad Davenport
Marine iguanas, Amblyrhynchus cristatus, split from land iguanas millions of years ago and became adept at swimming and foraging for algae in the sea. Photo Credit: Jad Davenport
Panamanic cushion sea stars, Asteroidea off the coast of Isabela Island. Photo Credit: Jad Davenport
Lonesome George, a century-old Pinta Island tortoise, or Abingdon Island tortoise, the last of his kind at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Lonesome George died in 2012. The subspecies is now extinct. Photo Credit: Jad Davenport
A blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxi, perches atop a monument to Galapagos National Park. Photo Credit: Jad Davenport
The MV Eclipse, a luxury 48-passenger ship, sailing around the Galapagos. Photo Credit: Jad Davenport
It was, however, Charles Darwin who brought fame to the Galápagos. Although the naturalist voyaged through the islands in 1835 aboard the HMS Beagle—he only visited 4 of the 19 islands—it wasn’t until 1859 and the publication of his work On the Origin of Species that the islands became known to the outside world. But it would be another century before intrepid tourists ventured there when in 1969, the first cruise carrying just 58 passengers voyaged through the islands. Today, tourism generates a half-billion dollars per year, with nearly a quarter-million visitors exploring the islands annually.
Most tourists fly first to Quito, Ecuador, and spend a night or two exploring this Andean capital. From there, flights hop to the port city of Guayaquil and then to Baltra International Airport in the Galápagos. From the airport it’s a quick transfer by taxi and boat over to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, the hub of tourism.
The town, the largest in the Galápagos, is lorded over by a giant, paint-chipped, albatross statue. The cobbled main street is lined with dive shops and souvenir stores. Visitors can explore the nearby Charles Darwin Research Station and see the successful tortoise captive breeding program, with opportunities to wander through enclosures that hold adult tortoises. More adventurous travelers can sign up for tours into the surrounding highlands, winding through eucalyptus forests and past banana plantations and coffee farms. There, among some of the last forest stands, guides can lead you to the last wild tortoises. The reptiles weigh as much as 500 pounds, are the size of coffee tables and spend much of their time grazing among the tall grasses in forest glades. Darwin and his crew brought 48 of them on board but, unfortunately, not for scientific study. He described them as such: “The breast plate with the flesh attached to it is very good, and the young tortoises make excellent soup.”
Abercrombie & Kent is one of the best cruising operators exploring the Galápagos. From Santa Cruz, their luxurious M/V Eclipse makes regular voyages among the islands. With only 24 cabins (all with sea views), this sleek 210-foot ship feels more like a private yacht; your shore parties are also smaller at 12 people per guide versus the standard 16.
Most voyages start with a wet landing on nearby Las Bachas Beach, where you might get lucky and see some Caribbean flamingos in the lagoon or nesting green sea turtles on the beach (November to February). Bring a pair of water shoes or sturdy hiking sandals for the wet landings and dry, lightweight hiking boots for the island hikes.
Another favorite stop is Puerto Egas on Santiago Island. Here, guides lead you on a hike along an old salt-mining road to the Fur Seal Grottos, beautiful tide pools and caves where penguins sleep and play. Ask to see “Darwin’s Toilet,” a cool lava tube that fills and empties with the swirling tides. Later that afternoon, the ship sails to Bartolomé Island for a hot, hour-long hike up the 300-plus stairs to the summit for beautiful views of Pinnacle Rock and Sullivan Bay. Afterward, take the ship’s zodiac out to the snorkeling grounds, where you’ll spot harmless whitetip reef sharks and Galápagos penguins. Bring bug spray to ward off the pesky horseflies on the beach.
Rare land iguanas are the draw when the ship circles back to Santa Cruz Island to explore the cactus forests of Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). Wear a yellow shirt or hat. (Land iguanas feed on yellow cactus flowers and will scamper over to you for great photos.) Then it’s off to the blood-red beaches of Rabida Island to photograph sea lions.
Another favorite landing is at Tagus Cove on Isabela Island (Darwin was here), where you can hike through the palo-santo forests up the rugged slopes of a cinder cone to photograph the views and see some of the famous finches and mockingbirds. There’s also wonderful kayaking in the cove and a chance to snorkel with penguins again, or traverse a mangrove swamp by panga at Elizabeth Bay.
Few tourist boats make it to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, so count yourself lucky if your ship’s itinerary includes dropping anchor here at the only approved mooring spot at the island; you’re about to see a slice of “the real Galápagos.” A mere million years old, Fernandina is the newest and westernmost of the Galápagos Islands and also the most volcanically active. Its misty caldera rises more than a mile above the surrounding lowlands and erupts spectacularly about once every 10 years. Fernandina is a glimpse of the Galápagos as they were long ago when life first found them. There are no introduced species on this remote volcanic island. Out on the shimmering black surface, only a scattering of lava cactus—a pioneer species—cling to the cracks and crevices. Red-throated lava lizards scamper across sometimes drawing the attention of the islands’ most dominant land predators, Galápagos hawks, often seen perched on palo santo trees. The lava field you’ll walk over is cabled and sinewy, frozen in long, ropy braids. It’s so sharp that it tears the soles off tennis shoes and can cheese-grate your knees if you trip, so wear boots and long pants for the hike.
An afternoon sail to nearby Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island offers a fantastic few hours of snorkeling with inquisitive sea lion pups and sea turtles. Sea lions want to play, so don’t just sit there. Spin, blow bubbles, make noise under water, and don’t be surprised if they tug on your dive fins and mouth your snorkel.
Gardner Bay on Española Island is one of the longest white-sand beaches in the Galápagos, and you’ll have complete freedom to explore it without a guide (but not into the desert beyond). Leave your boots but bring your hiking sandals, swimsuit, towel, and snorkel gear, and spend the morning swimming in this stunning bay with frisky sea lions. The next stop to nearby Punta Suárez includes hiking the 2.5-mile trail through colonies of blue-footed and Nazca boobies. Near the high sea cliffs, you should pass some of the 12,000 breeding pairs of waved albatross. From April to December the babies are learning to fly, an amazing and amusing sight.
On your last night, you’ll pack your bags for an early departure, followed by one last zodiac ride through the mangrove swamps of Black Turtle Cove and a stop at the ship’s store for souvenirs. Choose something that brings to mind your epic adventure to this land that time forgot, but you surely will not.
Barbados beckons to those seeking pristine beaches, a bottle of rum and a touch of history.
Traditionally known as the first landfall for New World-bound ships from Europe and Africa, the small country of Barbados is today more famous among cruisers for its beach beauty and restored British architecture. The island also proudly lays claim to being the birthplace of rum.
While cruise ships coming from Europe still keep Barbados’ “first port-of-call” fame intact, American cruisers often discover Barbados toward the end of a voyage down the Antilles. Slightly outside of the hurricane belt and with several protected harbors, the island is a popular over-wintering spot.
Barbados is a coralline island (part of the secret behind its more than 80 snow-white beaches) but makes up for its relatively flat interior with a varied coastline. The most remote and uninhabited corner of the island is the far north where ironshore cliffs rise up from the sea. The coastline turns gentle as it sweeps south along the Caribbean side. The Platinum Coast—so named for the amount of money concentrated in the villas and hotels around Bridgetown—sweeps down along the west coast. The island’s far eastern shore turns wild again, with elegant beachfront resorts giving way to small fishing towns and a more easygoing local life.
Amerindians from South America originally settled the island before the arrival of Europeans in 1627. The advent of the slave trade and the establishment of sugar cane plantations quickly turned the island into a hub for trans-Atlantic business.
Rum shop. These local taverns are the heart of every village.
Costumed dancer in one of the many bands that ‘jumps up’ on Grand Kadooment Day to celebrate the end of the annual Crop Over celebration. Crop Over is an 18th-century festival honoring the end of the sugar cane harvest.
Sweetfield Manor is a restored plantation house on a hill above Bridgetown. It has been converted into a bed and breakfast by owners George and Anni Clarke (pictured).
Cattlewash Beach. The wild east coast of Barbados north of the village of Bathsheba is a long stretch of sand where the ‘white horses’ – thundering Atlantic waves – finally hit land after traveling all the way from Africa.
Sweetfield Manor is a restored plantation house on a hill above Bridgetown. It has been converted into a bed and breakfast by George and Anni Clarke.
High tea at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion, the most British resort on Barbados. The island is often called the most British in the Caribbean due to the nearly 400 years of uninterrupted British rule.
Black cow and a rare road sign in the Scotland District, a hilly highland region in northeastern Barbados.
Horse races are held at the Barbados Turf Club on the old grounds of Garrison Savannah, where the British Caribbean Force was once billeted.
The beach at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion, the most British resort on Barbados. The island is often called the most British in the Caribbean due to the nearly 400 years of uninterrupted British rule.
The Basin is a secret bathing spot beneath sea cliffs outside the small village of Bathsheba. The surrounding beaches along the wild east coast are often too rough for swimming. But the nearby surfing breaks – including the world famous Soup Bowl – draw an international crowd.
High tea at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion, the most British resort on Barbados. The island is often called the most British in the Caribbean due to the nearly 400 years of uninterrupted British rule.
More so than anywhere else in the English-speaking Caribbean, Barbados retains much of its colonial architecture. The grand Georgian and Victorian mansions of the upper-crust British administrators and the sugar barons’ coral-stone “Great Houses” out on the plantations remain as enduring monuments to what was once one of the richest ports—thanks to sugar—in the Empire. More than a dozen 17th and 18th-century buildings still survive throughout the island. No less remarkable are the brightly painted chattel houses—mobile wooden homes built by freed slaves. This architecture is unique to Barbados and a testament to the unbroken African spirit that not only survived the darkest days of the slave trade but also prevailed.
To get a good sense of Barbados’ history, head south to the Sunbury Plantation House in the heart of St. Philip’s sugarcane country. The 300-year-old plantation has been restored to its original grandeur and serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and candlelit dinners. Hunte’s Gardens in the cool highlands of St. Joseph offers a private botanic garden with whimsical statues, winding paths and shaded benches for quiet contemplation. Enjoy a chilled glass of rum punch at the end of your tour, and shop for souvenirs in the nearby nursery.
Hurricanes rarely strike Barbados. The climate is deeply tropical with northeast trade winds keeping the highs to an average of 78 degrees, and daily rainfall amounts to less than a quarter inch. Beachgoers quickly find the water just as delightful, with a year-round range in the low 80s. The island experiences two mild seasons: the dry season (winter and spring) when the temperatures dip slightly and less rain falls, and the wet season (summer and autumn) with warmer days and more precipitation.
The roughly quarter million locals, known as Bajans, are mostly descendants of African slaves and West Indians but retain strong cultural ties to the British. Cricket games, high tea and horse racing are among some of the favored pastimes. Islanders share a conservative, religious outlook on life—more than 75 percent are Christians—and Sundays can be particularly quiet days, especially beyond Bridgetown. This tradition comes through on a daily basis with the polite nature of Bajans; visitors are besieged with “good morning” greetings and smiles.
The religious conservatism notwithstanding, the Bajans also share a common love of partying. Friday and Saturday nights see locals gathering at rum shops to debate politics or heading to the beach for an evening fish fry and impromptu party.
The island’s endless celebrations are another draw for cruisers. February kicks off with the Hometown Festival in St. James Parish, followed by the Oistins Fish Festival food fair and the Sandy Lane Gold Cup horse races at the historic Garrison Savannah Racecourse. There’s a Barbados Reggae Festival in early spring before festivities culminate in summer’s Crop Over Festival to celebrate the close of the sugarcane harvest. This spectacularly colorful multiday celebration has evolved into one of the wildest carnivals in the Caribbean with dancing bands, late-night parties and copious amounts of rum.
It doesn’t take much effort to find rum on Barbados. The island is the self-proclaimed birthplace of and rum capital of the world. Rum shops (small, local bars) are ubiquitous around the island and a popular gathering spot for locals and tourists alike to enjoy a rum punch or Bajan painkiller. The island’s rum heritage goes back over 350 years, but it wasn’t until 1703 that the island began exporting its alcohol. That was the year Mount Gay Rum first began operations. A popular way to explore the rum culture is to join a Mount Gay Rum Tour and see how the island’s oldest distillery makes rum. Not surprisingly, the tour ends in the bar with a taste-testing session.
Barbados’ capital, Bridgetown, is worth a visit, whether you’re looking for the latest nautical charts or need to fix a prop. An attractive port, Bridgetown and its garrison have been named World Heritage Sites. The harbor often looks more like a glacier since it’s bow-to-stern with iceberg-white cruise ships for most of the year. But just a short taxi ride downtown provides access to malls, duty-free shopping and blocks of beautifully restored colonial architecture. The inner marina and Chamberlain Bridge create a safe haven for small boats, while Independence Square, in the center of the city, is a great place to relax, have a picnic and take in views of Parliament.
Beyond the marinas, sailors will find plenty of adventure. The annual Mount Gay Round Barbados Race (January 16-24, 2017) celebrates the island’s nautical history, while a variety of smaller regattas are held on weekends throughout the island.
Barbados is also popular for water sports beyond sailing. Scuba divers will find plenty of dive sites scattered along the coral reefs. Much of the dive action is clustered around Carlisle Bay Marine Park near Bridgetown, as it’s home to a half dozen shipwrecks. Based on Pebbles Beach, Dive Barbados Blue is the only dive shop on the island with staff marine biologists. Their two custom dive boats can reach most of the dive sites between Carlisle Bay and Oistins Bay in a few minutes. The jewel is the Stavronikita, a 365-foot freighter sunk in the Carlisle Bay Marine Park. Dottins dive site off Holetown is a great place to spot sea turtles and barracuda.
Surfers are drawn to the east coast around Soup Bowl, an internationally famous surfing spot. The island’s near-constant winds (frequently onshore) and sheltered waters also make Barbados a mecca for kite surfers.
Story & photos by Jad Davenport, Southern Boating Magazine November 2016
— BARBADOS CRUISER RESOURCES —
DOCKAGE
Port Ferdinand Marina and Luxury Residences Retreat, St. Peter; portferdinand.com U.S. & Canada (855) 346-8662
Barbados (246) 272-2000
-82 residences, 120 full-service berths, ships’ store, and marina services
Port St. Charles Yacht Club
St. Peter; portstcharles.com/berthing (246) 419-1000 ext. 2230; Dockmaster Derek Ince
-Berths up to 200 feet, 6 megayacht berths up to 250 feet, 2 offshore mooring buoys for yachts greater than 250 feet
MOORING/ANCHORAGE
As always, we encourage readers to consult their most up-to-date and preferred cruising guide for the safest anchorages with the best scenery.
At Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, from March 29th to April 2nd, the annual All That Jazz festival will bring together jazz artists from across The Bahamas. They will be joined by prestigious international artists in a series of concerts and events in Governor’s Harbour and the surrounding area. All profits from the event will go to support the Haynes Library downtown (facebook.com/hayneslibraryeleuthera) in its mission to promote literacy and research for the residents of Eleuthera. For details and tickets visit the jazz festival website at eleutheraallthatjazz.com.
Preacher’s Cave
The Devil’s Backbone is a sprawling, jagged reef system spread along the northern shore of Eleuthera. Extending from close to shore well into the Atlantic, it links two of the premier destinations in the area—Spanish Wells in the west and Harbour Island off the northeast corner of Eleuthera. On shore along this route lies an important site in the history of Eleuthera and The Bahamas—Preacher’s Cave.
Participants from the Resorts World Bimini Wahoo Tournament, photo credit: Resortsworldoceansports.com
Even rudimentary aids help cruisers safely navigate channels.Photo credit: Rex Noel
Da Vine wine merchants on Harbour Island, Photo credit: Rex Noel
In 1647, a group of Christians seeking new lands and religious freedom from Bermuda shipwrecked on the Devil’s Backbone reef and came ashore. Led by William Sayles, the shipwrecked sailors made their way to safety and took refuge in a cave. They used a large rock, now known as Pulpit Rock, as their altar and are said to have held church services here for 100 years to commemorate their deliverance from the reef. These were the first Europeans to settle in The Bahamas, and their descendants still make up much of the population of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera and Harbour Island. What became known as Preacher’s Cave is also an important window into the pre-European history of the islands. Archeological excavations have identified a number of Lucayan grave sites here, as well as evidence of everyday life in the period ranging from the 8th to 17th centuries. Genetic links have been found between these graves and current residents of Spanish Wells.
The Devil’s Backbone route offers good water and is transited daily by the high-speed ferry Bo Hengy III, but it is a convoluted passage strewn with shallow coral heads. Grass beds make it difficult to read the deep water, and some of the passages between reef patches are quite narrow. Any cloud cover, a poor sun angle or breaking waves from a northerly swell will obscure the passage, and swirling currents may push you off line making it extremely dangerous. Only those cruisers with extensive experience reading the water should attempt this passage and then only in perfect conditions.
If you don’t want to risk your own boat, the high-speed ferry runs every day from Spanish Wells to Harbour Island in the morning and returns in the afternoon. It is quite an experience to watch from the top deck as the ferry hits speeds of up to 30 knots with reefs clearly visible just off her beam. If you do want to take your own boat, there are a number of experienced pilots available in Spanish Wells. Try hailing “Little Woody”, “A1 Broadshad” or “Bandit” on VHF 16, or inquire locally for other options. The pilot fee generally starts at $100 one way.
Fishing tournament schedule
Many tournaments are held in The Bahamas in the winter months. While the following is certainly not a complete list, it gives some idea of the possibilities.
• February 1-5: Resorts World Bimini Wahoo Tournament, North Bimini. Contact eventinfo@resortsworldoceansports.com or visit resortsworldoceansports.com.
• February 5-7: Hawk’s Nest Annual Wahoo Championship. Contact info@hawks-nest.com or visit hawks-nest.com.
• February 9-11: Sea Spray Abaco Challenge; seasprayabacochallenge.com
• March 26-29: Hawk’s Nest 6th Annual Hang ‘Em High Tournament; hawks-nest.com
Navigation update
In mid-November, a cruising boat reported surprisingly shallow water depths in the passage from Spanish Cay south to Green Turtle Cay. Depths of 6-7 feet were reported in an area open to ocean waters and charted at 12-15 feet. There was visual evidence of new sand washed in from the cut. This is probably not a widespread problem but may occur in isolated spots throughout the Abacos and Exumas after Hurricane Matthew.
Spanish Wells Yacht Haven has completed their major two-year-long renovation. New docks are in place with power and reverse osmosis water, a new swimming pool, laundry, and showers. A new restaurant, Wreckers, opened in April. Marina management also reported that some dredging was done in their entrance channel area providing improved access to their slips.
Chub Cay Marina in The Berry Islands remained closed at press time due to damage from Hurricane Matthew. The resort itself and many private homes were also extensively damaged. Repairs are underway but the specialized contractors needed for the marina infrastructure are in short supply at this time. In the northern Berrys, Great Harbor Cay Marina fared much better. Despite some land-side damage, the marina is in full operation and the community is recovering quickly.
By Rex Noel, Southern Boating Magazine February 2017
Enjoy fun in the sun and rum when Sunsail kicks off its new 8-day B.V.I. Rum Flotilla in February. “The idea is to give a distinct group of travellers, namely rum aficionados and foodies, a bespoke flotilla experience,” says Nicole Smirlis, brand manager for the Americas of the Clearwater, Florida-headquartered global yacht charter company. “This includes stops at some of the B.V.I.’s best rum hotspots including distilleries, bars and restaurants that serve their own local rum with delicious cuisine to match.” Examples include a Happy Hour at the Bitter End Yacht Club’s Windward Mark Bar complete with the resort’s signature rum punch, a Pusser’s Painkiller Party at Marina Cay’s Hilltop Bar and a tour of the Callwood Rum Distillery in Cane Garden Bay, the oldest continuously operating rum distillery in the Caribbean. Departure dates for 2017: February 3rd, February 24th, May 26th, June 30th, November 17th, and December 8th. sunsail.com
Test your mettle on the Round Redonda Race
Some of the world’s swiftest-sailing, high-tech yachts manned by talented international crews head to Antigua in February for the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s (RORC) Caribbean 600. This epic 600-mile race course departs Antigua’s Falmouth Harbour on February 20th and navigates around 11 Caribbean islands from Guadeloupe to the south and Anguilla to the north. This year, organizers of the Jolly Harbour Yacht Club’s (JHYC) Valentine Regatta will offer an opportunity for all-comers to test their mettle like the big boys on one of the Caribbean 600’s legs in the first-ever Round Redonda Race set for February 14th. “This is a race open to anyone,” invites Grahame Williams, JHYC commodore. “The classes will be decided once the entries are known. Several local and visiting sailors are expected to race their boats.” The start takes place outside Jolly Harbour near Cades Reef and is a downward leg to Redonda. The return to Falmouth is a beat into the wind. Redonda is a 0.6 square-mile uninhabited island located 37 miles to the west of Antigua. As for the RORC Caribbean 600 itself, 70-80 entries are expected, including the multi-time Maxi72 world champion Belle Mente and new Infinity 46 Maverick with its DSS foil. It’s great fun to go up to Shirley Heights and watch this fantastic fleet take their mark, get set and go. jhycantigua.com; caribbean600.rorc.org
Dominica’s Yachtie Appreciation Week
The beautiful “Nature Island” of Dominica is hard to visit by boat since there are no marinas. Moorings were also non-existent until now. But thanks to the spearheading of Han Schmitt, owner of Huntington, NewYork-based crew network service, Offshore Passage Opportunities, along with the Dominica Marine Association (DMA), nonprofit Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services (P.A.Y.S.), and the Dominican government, nearly 40 moorings have been installed in Prince Rupert Bay for use by visiting cruisers. In celebration, cruisers are invited to Yachtie Appreciation Week February 12-19, 2017. “Highlights of the week will include discounted tours to the Emerald Pool and Boiling Lake, an afternoon soccer match between the local high school and boat boy/yachtie team, and farewell dinner and music at historic Fort Shirley,” says Schmitt. In addition, adds Hubert Winston, president of the DMA and owner of the Dominica Marine Center in Roseau, “We will also host a dinghy poker run that includes five local beach bar hops.” sailopo.com
By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating Magazine February 2017
A Wilmington, NC trio is making fresh water green in an innovative way.
Nature has done a pretty good job of providing water for a few million years now, but it isn’t always the type of water we need where we need it. For example, many island and coastal communities have plenty of seawater at their shoreline but often struggle to produce enough fresh drinking water economically. If you happen to be cruising along the coast of North Carolina, you may see a young company’s attempt at a solution to this problem. Saros Desalination, founded by Chris Matthews, Justin Sonnett and Laura Smailes, has placed a test buoy just south of Masonboro Inlet. The buoy concept, explains Sonnett, “is for the buoy to be part of a wave-driven seawater desalination system, which has a minimal operational carbon footprint and that is powered solely by ocean waves. The Saros EcoH2O innovation aims to utilize renewable resources to provide inexpensive, clean water to developing coastal regions, areas looking for sustainable desalination solutions and communities struck by natural disasters.” The next phase of testing could see additional buoys placed in the vicinity of Wrightsville Beach fishing piers to enable easy transfer of seawater to a shore-based unit. More information on this unique project or how to contribute to their fundraising efforts can be found at sarosdesalination.com.
Beaufort International Film Festival
Beaufort, South Carolina, isn’t just a favorite destination for cruisers. The city and its scenery also draw filmmakers with notable box office hits like Forest Gump, The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides, and The Great Santini. This combination creates the perfect opportunity to tie your boat up at the Downtown Marina of Beaufort February 15-19, 2017, for the 11th Annual Beaufort International Film Festival. The festival will feature screenings of original films, screenplays and workshops with the directors. Join actors and producers for the awards and requisite cocktail parties, and you will feel like Hollywood has moved east. Information on tickets and screening times is available at beaufortfilmfestival.com.
Florida art festivals
Starting in February there’s no better place to appreciate the work of fine artists and craftsmen than the open-air spaces of Florida’s coastal towns. Begin with the 16th Annual Hobe Sound Festival of Arts February 4-5. This festival is set up along four blocks of A1A at 11954 SE Dixie Highway in Hobe Sound, Florida. Also produced by Howard Alan Events & American Craft Endeavors is the 27th Annual Downtown Stuart Art Festival. This festival has become a premier event in central Florida with artists coming from around the nation to display their work. The festival runs February 25-26 on SW Osceola Street in downtown Stuart. Additional information on both the Hobe Sound and Stuart festivals can be found at artfestival.com.
Finally, consider visiting the ArtiGras Fine Art Festival in Jupiter, Florida. This highly anticipated event takes place February 18-20. Artists’ work will be on display at Downtown Abacoa, 1200 Town Center Drive in the city. Tickets may be purchased in advance at artigras.org.
By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating Magazine February 2017
