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Located in the heart of Brooklyn Bridge Park between Piers 4 & 5, ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina, the newest marina in New York City, New York, is under construction with new docks being anchored and a state-of-the-art wave attenuation system now in place. Construction is set for a fall completion and a grand opening anticipated for spring 2016.
The marina will accommodate boats from 16′ to 250′ for seasonal docking, a sail club and school, and a members-only harbor club.
The new marina will be the first to be built in New York Harbor in 20 years. Arthur Tay, chairman of the SUTL Group, is the visionary behind the ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina brand, whose expertise and experience earned ONE°15 Marina Club Singapore the title of Best Marina and Yacht Club in Asia in 2009 and again from 2012 to 2014. “Boating and the water have long been passions of mine, and I recognized an opportunity in Singapore to bring the water and that lifestyle to a wider audience,” said Tay. “As we looked to expand the brand into international destinations we identified the perfect opportunity in Brooklyn, with the vibrant, lush public spaces of Brooklyn Bridge Park, Manhattan skyline backdrop and open water. Boaters and water enthusiasts from around the corner and around the world will feel at home at ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina.”
The marina will bring a state-of-the-art wave attenuation from a 17-foot-wide Marinetek concrete breakwater to New York’s busy waterfront. The marina will use 40 percent translucent decking materials to support the New York Harbor’s goal to reestablish a habitat for prey fish. With onsite amenities, concierge and top-notch security measures, the marina will offer 102 slips/berths.
Amenities:
• 102 slips/berths
• Docking for boats 16′ to 250′ in length
• Water, marine grade power and wireless internet to every slip
• Vessel maintenance assistance
• Sanitary pump-out facilities
• Concierge
• 24-hour security and gated access
• Dock master office with restrooms and showers
• Community dock
• Kayak spaces, kayaking instructions and small protected beginner basin
• Sail Club
• Sailing School
Contact:
ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina
Pier 5 (end of Joralemon Street) Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn, NY 11201 One15brooklynmarina.com
Located on the Ortega River in Jacksonville, Florida, Lamb’s Yacht Center began in 1936 and, with the exception of the past 12 years, has been owned and operated by the Lamb family. The marina is now back with the Lambs who are proud to call it their own again. PeggySue Lamb Williams recently re-purchased the marina and is now hard at work along with her three daughters and staff to reawaken the marine center and operate the family-founded marina in the “good old-fashioned way,” she says it was always known for.
Lamb’s Yacht Center offers 242 wet slips accommodating 15-foot to 90-foot boats, transient docking for up to 120-foot, as well as a covered and uncovered storage facility. The marina also provides a full service department boasting a 100 metric ton lift to accommodate haul-out and bottom jobs for all makes and models. Their service department is comprised of skilled painters, experienced mechanical repairmen and repower experts, as well as talented carpenters who can perform repairs both large and small—they can also provide complete refit and refurbishing services including classic and antique boat repair.
Located within the “Jacksonville Marina Mile,” the marine center is among the largest concentration of recreational boating services in the region and is proud to recycle and make an effort to keep waterways clean. Less than five miles from downtown Jacksonville, boaters will find all the additional services for their traveling needs (groceries, restaurants, post office, shops, etc.) within historic Avondale district and its tree-lined streets.
Amenities
• 242 wet slips
• Transient docking for up to 120-foot
• Covered/uncovered storage facility
• 50 Amp/30 Amp/120 V power available
• Two 30 ton hoists/one 40 ton hoist/one 100 ton hoist
• Warranty service center for Yanmar, Cummins and Mercruiser
• Warranty service dealer for Mercury and Evinrude
• Carpentry/paint/fiberglass services
• Concierge service
• Wi-Fi
• Pump-out
• Showers
• Restrooms
• Laundry facility
Contact:
Lamb’s Yacht Center
3376 Lake Shore Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL 32210
(904) 384-5577 lambsyachtcenter.com
Stalking the elusive bonefish with a fly rod across a clear water flats is an ethereal experience, and The Bahamas is one of the world’s finest bonefishing destinations. And what could be better for the Bahamian economy than to have foreign flats fishers spending plenty of money to fish and release their catch? The best thing is that the fishers get their money’s worth—they fish in a beautiful environment, catch plenty of fish and get to spend hours with skilled Bahamian guides.
With good reason, The Bahamas wants to regulate the flats fishery (bonefish, tarpon, permit, and more) to be sure that it is safe and sustainable.
The Bahamas Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and local government have recently proposed new regulations for flats fishing in The Bahamas. The important sections of the proposed bill include:
• Foreigners must have a flats fishing permit for each person and each foreign boat.
• Foreigners, whether fishing from a boat or wading, must employ a certified Bahamian guide for every two fishers.
• There will be a system for certification of guides. The certification will include a boat operator’s license. All guides must be Bahamian citizens.
• Bonefish lodge owners must be Bahamian citizens.
• Fifty percent of permit fees will be put directly into a new Conservation Fund.
Flyboarding off Romora Bay. Photo: Stephen Connett
A bonefish in the flats, its natural habitat. Photo: Beth Swanson / Shutterstock
New pole off west end of Mann Island. Photo: Stephen Connett
The initial reaction throughout The Bahamas has been passionate. Most concerned citizens and guides favor a permitting system, certification of guides, a portion of the fees put into a conservation fund, and other requirements that will help ensure proper use and sustainability of the resource. Yet the regulations that require a guide under all circumstances and for lodge owners to be Bahamian citizens have come under major criticism and caused outrage among second home owners and foreign fishers, many of whom like to fish alone and out of their own boats.
The Bahamian government insists that these are proposed regulations and in a public meeting in late June stated that Marine Resources welcomes comments from concerned citizens, guides, lodge owners, and fishers. A good place to start learning about the new proposed legislation and the reaction is ginkandgasoline.com/saltwater-fly-fishing/is-flats-fishing-in-the-bahamas-over/. The Nassau Tribune is following the developing story; search for “flats fishing” and “Minister Gray” at tribune242.com. Southern Boating readers who want to send comments to the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources can email: fisheries@bahamas.gov.bs.
Romora Bay and Valentines marinas
Romora Bay Marina is proving to be a real asset to Harbour Island with reported record numbers of boaters occupying all their docks in July. Major renovations completed at Romora Bay include fiber optic high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the marina and upgraded generators. The marina at Valentines Residences, Resort & Marina was rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012, and there have been a host of improvements to the property. While it’s not a matter of judging whether Valentines or Romora Bay is the better marina (they are both excellent), it’s a matter of choice, and choice has brought more boats to Harbour Island. The yachts are the beneficiaries of this seeming competition, as both marinas have to stay on top of their games. If you want to be close to town Valentines may be your choice. If you want less noise and maybe a little less wake, Romora Bay may suit you better. romorabay.com; valentinesresort.com
Flying Fish Marina
The Flying Fish Marina in Clarence Town, Long Island is getting into the final stages of its upgrade expected for completion at the end of 2015. The new amenities will be hard to beat. The building that will house two restaurants—the old Outer Edge Grill is moving to the new building’s first floor,—the office and a marine store is being erected on the east side of the old office/gift shop, which is being turned into a housing complex of four apartments to be available for rent. A pool is also being added on the property. The docks have been completely rebuilt—plans to expand from the current 18 slips will come next—and there is always a good supply of fuel and water.
The manager has asked that we pass the word about reservations. This last year the marina was completely full in late spring and early summer because so many boats secure slips for weeks or months at a time. Be sure to call well in advance of your intended arrival. (242) 337-3430; flyingfishmarina.com
Navigation Notes
New marker pole on route to Harbour Island: Last month we mentioned that the aids to navigation from Spanish Wells around to Harbour Island are either gone or deteriorating. Just recently, pilots, marina owners and commercial shippers have invested in a new pole to replace the rusted I-beam off the west end of Mann Island. This is no help on the Devil’s Backbone, but it does provide guidance with the approach to Harbour Island.
NW Channel light: One of the most important visual aids in The Bahamas still hasn’t been replaced. NV Charts and Explorer Charts have the old light correctly plotted. It is best to pass about 100 yards north of this position since some of the broken structure may still be close to the surface.
By Stephen Connet, Southern Boating Magazine, September 2015
On World Oceans Day in June, 70 volunteers with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) attached 1,600 staghorn coral clippings with special glue onto existing coral in the Florida Keys. It was the organization’s most prolific output in a single day. The Plantapalooza aimed to raise awareness of the importance of restoring, preserving and conserving the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. Since its inception in 2000, CRF has planted 30,000 corals on upper and middle Keys reefs. coralrestoration.org
Ongoing spruce-up at Boynton Harbor Marina
With the demolition of an old dive shop building, Boynton Beach will create a green space and boardwalk for the public at its marina. “This will create more space for the public,” said Vivian Brooks, redevelopment agency executive director. “We want people to enjoy the area. Right now there is really nowhere to sit and no shade.” A 250-foot boardwalk and new sidewalks will be built by July 2016. Hibiscus plants and 17 coconut trees will also be planted. Boynton Beach’s redevelopment agency has spent nearly $20 million to refurbish Boynton Harbor Marina with a master building, new entryway features and boat slips since its 2005 purchase. catchboynton.com
Keeping tradition alive
Seminole maritime history comes to life twice a month at the Upper Room Art Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Traditional Seminole artist Pedro O. Zepeda uses a chain saw, his adze and other hand tools to carve an indigenous canoe out of cypress. The 200-year-old cypress log he shapes weighs more than a ton, is 19 feet long and was recovered from 2005 Hurricane Wilma. Working on the project since February, Zepeda says the 12.5-foot canoe should be completed this month. “For me, it was a way to maintain the canoe culture for us,” Zepeda says. “It’s always good to share your culture with other people; it lets them know we are still here and still practice our culture.” upperroomartgallery.com
Seminole Canoe Carvings by Zepeda. Photo: Robin Haines Merrill
Zepeda gets media coverage for his carving a symbolic Seminole Canoe. Photo: Don Parchment
Boynton Beach, Discover the Palm Beaches. Photo: The Palm Beaches CVB
Bridge replaces ferry
A pontoon swing bridge in South Carolina replaced the ferry crossing at Estherville Minim Creek Canal on the ICW (mile 411.5). The bridge closes to marine traffic only when a vehicle needs to cross with yellow flashing lights warning vessels to come to a stop. Wildlife refuge personnel and equipment at Cat Island’s Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center use the bridge only twice daily, if at all, says wildlife director Jamie Dozier. “[The bridge] swings open in about 20 seconds, and we can get everything across and back in 4 or 5 minutes.”
Florida bridge under repair
Work continues at Hillsboro Inlet Bridge (AIWW 1053.9) with completion expected in November. Vertical clearance is reduced by two feet. The north and south side channels are closed to navigation as turbidity barriers are in place and a small barge is behind the fender system. Mariners may request an opening by providing a four-hour advance notice to the bridge tender or by calling (954) 943-1847.
By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating Magazine, September 2015
Sample traditional Latin flavors and rhythms at Fiesta Típica, the signature shore-side event part of Club Náutico de San Juan’s six-decade-old International Billfish Tournament set for September 24-30. On the water, organizers aim to add an exciting new challenge as well as a bold conservation move by setting the regulation weight of fishing line at only 30 pounds instead of the customary 50 or 80 pounds. “We hope to increase participation from world-class anglers around the globe with a change to lighter line,” says tournament chairman Ricky Jaen. The September full moon signals the peak of the marlin season in Puerto Rico’s famous Northern Trench known as Marlin Alley. In addition to Fiesta Típica there is a full program of land activities for non-fishing spouses and spectators. sanjuaninternational.com
Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba, Courtesy of Festival Organizers
Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba, Courtesy of Festival Organizers
BVI-Trellis Bay, Courtesy of BVI Tourist Board
Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba, Courtesy of Festival Organizers
Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival in Aruba, Courtesy of Festival Organizers
The team aboard Picara fights a blue marlin in the IBT., Photo: Richard Gibson
Aruba’s music festival
Go “below the belt” out of hurricane reach to Aruba for the 9th Annual Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival Aruba. Set for September 25-26 at the Renaissance Festival Plaza adjacent to the 158-slip Renaissance Marina, this two-day, open-air concert will welcome groups such as Earth, Wind & Fire; the Mike Stern Band; Jessy J; and the Ploctones. If you’re not into Jazz, there’ll be a good music mix of Latin, Blues, Funk, Soul, and Salsa. “The Festival is not only about great music. We also have an outstanding food court with eight different restaurants, numerous bars, an art gallery, and a tantalizing atmosphere on site,” says Friso Veenman, the Festival’s executive producer. New this year, Eat Local Aruba Restaurant Week follows from September 28th to October 9th. Sample the island’s national dish, Keshi Yena, a spicy mix of beef, goat or chicken stuffed into a round of Gouda or Edam cheese and baked. Participating restaurants offer prix-fixe lunches for $15 and dinners for $30-40. Both events are within walking distance from the Renaissance Marina in Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital city. caribbeanseajazz.com
B.V.I.’s iconic full moon parties
Full moon parties—in reality, hedonistic affairs complete with pain-killing drinks, pulsating music and rumors of psychedelic mushrooms—are an iconic way to celebrate monthly in the B.V.I. This pleasurable practice began back in the early 1970s when Bomba Smith Callwood cobbled together some driftwood, plywood boards, old tires, broken surfboards, and whatever else he could scavenge to build a beachside bar in Capoons Bay. Bomba started his full moon parties soon after, creating a boom in business that landed his namesake Bomba Shack on AOL’s Top Ten list for best beach bars in the world. Today, this full moon tradition has spread to Trellis Bay on Beef Island and to Foxy’s Bar in Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke. Mark your calendar now! All three will happen on September 27th.
By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating Magazine September, 2015
Island Tunes
Bluegrass music fans have the opportunity to hear their favorite tunes September 23-26 at the Bluegrass Island Festival on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The event will be held at Roanoke Island Festival Park, a 27-acre island across from downtown Manteo. Gates open at 11AM on Wednesday and 10AM Thursday through Saturday.
The music lineup includes more than 25 bands with headliners Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis on Friday evening and Cherryholmes Reunion on Saturday evening. Food vendors will serve barbeque, roasted corn, hamburgers, hotdogs, corndogs, and most anything fried. While you’re in Mateo, I recommend a visit to Stripers Bar & Grille, which offers a large variety of seafood treats—the shrimp quesadilla is my favorite.
Public docks are available for free daytime use on the Manteo waterfront next to the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. An excellent paid alternative with daily and overnight docking is Shallowbag Bay Marina, which can accommodate boats up to 65 feet.
This year’s challenge dares participants to visit 10 lighthouses in the Chesapeake Bay area. The Choptank River Replica Light is one of the stops on this year’s Maryland Lighthouse Challenge. Photo: Christopher Knauss
Take the Lighthouse Challenge
Each September for the past 10 years, the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society organizes the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge. This year’s challenge on September 19th and 20th dares participants to visit 10 lighthouses in the Chesapeake Bay area, some not normally open to the public.
Small keepsakes are given at each lighthouse, and there’s a special souvenir for anyone who manages to visit them all. Lighthouses on the list are Concord Point, Seven Foot Knoll, Lightship Chesapeake (which is a boat), Hooper Strait, Choptank River Replica, Drum Point, Cove Point, Piney Point, Point Lookout, and Fort Washington.
This year, all-day cruises are also available on September 17th, 18th and 21st through Sawyer Charters to visit some bonus lighthouses. Participants have the opportunity to view the following lighthouses from the water: Hooper Island, Point No Point, Smith Point, Solomons Lump, and Holland Island Bar. The price includes lunch with a stop at Smith Island for a seafood meal. cheslights.org
Finger-Licking Fun
A less publicized but arguably tastier destination is the annual Ribtoberfest at Town Point Park along the Norfolk, Virginia waterfront. This year’s fourth annual festival and feast on September 26th features mouth-watering BBQ and sides, frosty craft brews, live music, and other family fun. Top local chefs and restaurants will serve everything from ribs, brisket and pulled pork to collards and fried okra.
Mariners can dock along the promenade to enjoy the fun and listen to the music while relaxing on board. For reservations call the Festevents office Monday-Friday at (757) 441-2345 between 9AM and 5PM. If there is no space to dock there, Waterside Marina is close by and is an excellent place to tie up if you’re looking for temporary or overnight docking.
By some estimates there are more than 450 decommissioned oil and gas platforms offshore of Louisiana and Texas in the Gulf of Mexico that have been converted into artificial reefs. Known as Rigs-to-Reefs, the program—using a federal grant managed by the Gulf states—is causing some unusual headaches.
Throughout the lifespan of a producing offshore platform—three to four decades—vertical artificial reefs come to life on the underwater structures of the rig and create a micro-ecosystem that teems with a large diversity of ocean corals, creatures and fish. In the extremely deep waters of the Gulf, these vertical reefs are described by some as “islands” that allow an incredible diversity of marine life to gain a foothold and thrive in what is effectively an ocean desert to all but deep water creatures. As such, the rigs are a very common and productive fishing destination inshore and offshore for charter captains and local fishermen who hook onto the rigs to fish, spearfish or to trawl in their vicinity.
At the end of their life or when their lease comes to an end, these rigs become known as “idle iron,” and what to do with them brings together unlikely allies and unusual opponents. By federal law, once a rig is decommissioned or its lease has expired, oil companies are required to remove them. For the most part, especially in deep water, the older rigs are systematically shut down and then dynamited at their base causing them to sink. This kills the entire ecosystem that cannot survive at some of these great depths.
The federal Rigs-to-Reefs program allows some of these rigs to be decommissioned and to stand in place with their ecosystem intact. This has led to a split within environmentalists—some steadfast for their removal, others embracing these artificial reefs. One side argues that the Gulf should be returned to its natural habitat and that oil companies should not be allowed to get out of their requirement to clean and remove these structures. The other side contends that these decommissioned vertical structures are a net positive for the health of the Gulf and its ecosystem. While both factions opposed oilrigs and the dangers they pose, both agree that U.S. taxpayers should not foot the bill for these programs.
Fishermen and charter captains are wholeheartedly behind the Rigs-to-Reefs program and are vocal about their economic and environmental benefits. Many say that the rigs have even expanded the territory of the red snapper to west of Mobile Bay, where before there were very few.
Offshore oil and gas drilling is a simple reality in the western Gulf of Mexico, and no one questions the accidental success of these vertical artificial reefs. How to properly administer and pay for them, however, is key.
By Harlen Leslie, Southern Boating Magazine September 2015
“I’ve got ¾-inch nylon lines that I use for storms, and the boat gets so much pressure on it with the ropes getting so tight that they become like piano wires,” says Dennis Raziano. “The lines were actually sawing through the boat in places and they started moaning.” Raziano rode out Hurricane Katrina on board his 34-foot liveaboard oyster trawler in the Orleans Marina in West End New Orleans. “I was taught many years ago to never leave the boat. Even if it’s floating down the highway—you never leave the boat.”
The miserable and dangerous adventure Raziano and a few other brave souls went through in New Orleans in the summer of 2005 during and after the storm was ill-advised, but a decade after its landfall on the Mississippi Coast and the levee failures in New Orleans, their stories are now legend. After this terrible chapter, the recreational boating community on the Northern Gulf Coast has made great advances toward rebuilding and now holds thousands of state-of-the-art marinas and mended yacht clubs.
The Katrina damaged fishing pier at West End. Eligible for FEMA funds, even this small infrastructure still lies in a state of disrepair. Photo: Troy Gilbert
Arial of West End. Photo: Friends of West End.
NOLA Municipal Harbor Boat Launch still in disrepair. Photo: Troy Gilbert
The footprints for West End’s old restaurants – Fitzgerald’s, Bruning’s, Jaeger’s, The Dock – will never rise again due to the Army Corps’ insistence that they may interfere with water flow when the outflow canal is closed. Yet the Corps hasn’t seen fit to remove the existing pilings. Photo: Troy Gilbert
Between 200-300 sailors race weekly on Lake Pontchartrain and support the local businesses – with a repaired marina, this would easily be the largest weekly sporting event in New Orleans. Photo: Troy Gilbert
In Mississippi alone, nearly 1,000 slips have been rebuilt in marinas from Pass Christian to Pascagoula, and an entire new marina has been constructed adjacent to the historic and quaint downtown of Bay St. Louis. Out of the 33 Gulf Yachting Association’s yacht clubs from New Orleans to Pensacola—including 3 of the 5 oldest clubs in the Western Hemisphere—18 have been rebuilt or repaired. The 166-year-old Southern Yacht Club of New Orleans has a new 30,000-square-foot facility. Many of the more than 150 years of historic trophies and Olympic medals lost in the dual calamities of fire and water are slowly being replaced, including a Lipton sailing trophy, which was generously rebuilt by the Lipton Tea Company using the original London silversmith.
On the coast, junior sailing programs have been re-invigorated. Fishing tournaments and 150-year-old regattas have quickly returned with participation now getting back to “Pre-K” numbers as boats have been replaced and boat shows have boomed, including the Gulf Coast Yacht and Boat Show that relocated in 2010 to Gulfport, Mississippi.
The one outlier has been the Municipal Yacht Harbor in New Orleans and its 600+ slips. One of three public marinas in the city, the marina’s management board has been battling with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for rebuilding funds and now stands as a flashing beacon of bureaucracy, still without utilities and half empty.
The New Orleans’ boaters and the many businesses that serve them have struggled but learned to make do. New Orleans and this heavy boating community along the Gulf Coast will have endured everything from catastrophic hurricanes to oil spills, yet the strong boating culture and its infrastructure will continue their resurgence. The love of pulling in those red snappers or racing sailboats in century-old regattas will never be quashed on this coast—we are boat people.
By Troy Gildert, Southern Boating Magazine September 2015
Swim with the gentle giants once mistaken for fishtailed maidens, and discover the Florida spot they call home.
If your cruising itinerary includes Florida’s Big Bend coast, there’s a marvelous experience 70 miles north of Tampa and 6 miles up the Crystal River. The area is a first-magnitude spring system comprising more than 40 bubbling springs that stay a constant 72 degrees all year long and where the largest population of manatees in the U.S. calls home. Can you blame them? Their numbers climb during the winter months when they find shelter from the cold, but a few linger throughout the year. Manatees can be seen in many other places, of course, but this is the only place in North America where swimmers can legally interact with them. That in itself is a compelling reason for a visit, but when you add a stay at Plantation Resort on Crystal River, it propels to the top of the list.
From the Gulf of Mexico, pass through King’s Bay and ease between Parker Island to port and Banana Island to starboard. Just past the gazebo, you’ll find Plantation on Crystal River, which offers visiting mariners resort amenities, a boat ramp, boat rentals, charter options, trailer storage, and a 1,600-foot sea wall for tie-ups outside of guest rooms.
It is advisable to get local information on current depths in the Crystal River area as shoaling is common in the projected six-foot depth of the Salt River that connects with Crystal River. At this juncture is the full-service Twin Rivers Marina. Overhead power lines have a 47-foot vertical clearance here. Shallows are commonplace so depth sounders should be minded especially for boats with more than five-foot drafts. Waiting for half-tide or higher might be recommended in waters before the Crystal River channel. Once within the channel, simply follow the markers—red to starboard, green to port.
Enjoy leisurely horseback riding through state forests and grassy trails. Photo: VisitCitrus.com
Have your very own Manatee encounter at Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River, FL. Photo: C Grant / Visit Citrus
Paddle among the gentle giants on the blue oasis of clear and pristine water in Three Sisters Springs. Photo: VisitCitrus.com
Enhance your Crystal River family vacation and manatee encounters with an afternoon diving for scallops. Photo: VisitCitrus.com
visit wild spider monkeys who inhabit Monkey Island on the
Homosassa River. Photo: VisitCitrus.com
Make your trip complete with a stop at Floral City’s Ferris Groves, a staple for fine Florida citrus. Photo: VisitCitrus.com
Scalloping activity, shot on assignment for Citrus County. Photo: VisitCitrus.com
Pete’s Pier Marina is the largest marina in Kings Bay and the only transient marina near the village of Crystal River. It has wet slips, cable TV, dry storage, free pump-outs, shower facilities and fuel. An anchorage is available for shallow draft boats north of an island in the middle of Kings Bay harbor. Depth there is six to seven feet at the mean low water.
Several Crystal River dive centers offer manatee swim tours, but the Plantation on Crystal River’s Adventure Center is experienced and is right at the resort. Plantation on Crystal River is a “Southern Manor” nestled within 232 acres of manicured lawns, surrounded by live oaks, palms, and pines. The upscale resort offers 196 renovated guest rooms, suites and golf villas for groups. Its Tiki Bar serves fabulous burgers, and the West 82° Bar and Grill is famous for their grouper and occasionally serves Maine lobster. Two golf courses are just across the street.
My manatee tour started at 7 AM, with fitting of wetsuits, masks, and snorkels, and then we watched a short video on manatee “manners,” aka passive observation: no swim fins are allowed, no splashing or kicking, no chasing, touching, diving, cornering, riding, holding, pinching, poking, or prodding. Only quiet moves are permitted. If, however, a manatee initiates contact, only then is reciprocal contact authorized, and curious manatees do sometimes visit swimmers.
The first stop was in the canal, where our guide disembarked first to look for telltale bubbles, followed by our group of 12. In a slow fade-in, the entire body of a manatee came within a foot of me as his pudgy nose approached the water’s surface. I could have sworn he glanced in my direction as he breathed in the air. It was difficult to maintain my quiet moves.
Our next stop was Hunter Spring and I saw how Crystal River acquired its name. A manatee was nowhere in sight but the swim in crystal clear water was enjoyable. Next was Jurassic Spring, where a spring bubbled from the earth, its opening teeming with mullet, mangrove snapper and snook. My swim-mates and I—a genial group from Hawaii, California, Florida, and North Carolina, (I represented Georgia)—exchanged snorkeling experiences as we chugged complimentary hot coffee and cocoa.
Much too soon we return to the Adventure Center, peeled off our wetsuits and headed to the center to see what our guide captured on his GoPro.
The Kings Bay area is very protective of their manatees. Borders of manatee sanctuaries are guarded by clearly marked buoys, and the sanctuaries are closed to boating, fishing, and swimming from November 15th to March 31st. Nearby Homasassa Springs Wildlife State Park is a refuge for injured or orphaned manatees as well as native Florida wildlife—whooping cranes, red wolves, Key deer, bears, Florida panther, and one hippopotamus who was made a Florida citizen by a former governor. A 20-minute informative and narrated boat ride there carries you to the park entrance.
Since the manatee experience only takes a few hours, there’s time to poke around The Shoppes of Heritage Village, where all manner of manatee souvenirs are found. A few artists’ studios, one filled with Japanese ceramics and handblown glass, sit next to The General Store’s nostalgic candy. I’ve never seen a tidier Army surplus store than Military Outlet on North Citrus Avenue. The Cotton Club sells Brighton charms and fresh produce. Yet, while mementos serve as reminders of swimming with the gentle “sea cows,” there’s nothing quite like swimming in the same water environment as Florida’s gentle native species whose closest relative is the elephant. I’ll be back. I’m sure of it.
CRUISER RESOURCES Plantation on Crystal River
9301 W. Fort Island Trail
Crystal River, Florida 34429
(352) 795-4211; (800) 632-6262 plantationoncrystalriver.com
Pete’s Pier Marina
1 Southwest 1st Place
Crystal River, Fl 34429
(352) 795-3302 petespiermarina.com
Twin Rivers Marina
2880 N. Seabreeze Point
Crystal River, FL 34429
(352) 795-3552 twinriversmarina.com
If cruising America’s Great Loop is on your bucket list, look for Birdsong Creek’s flashing light and the sign at MM103.7 marking the Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside RV Campground. Located on the south side of Birdsong Creek, 1.5 miles in the deep buoyed channel from the scenic Tennessee River—halfway between the dams on Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and Pickwick—seats the 58-acre recreational complex, family-owned and operated since 1961. Revel in true southern hospitality away from the daily grind while enjoying the greatest of the outdoors in western Tennessee’s Birdsong Marina.
Onsite boat sales, engine repairs, prop sales, 140 covered slips—daily, weekly, monthly, and annual rates are available—ship’s store, and boat rentals are among the marina’s offerings. The resort also includes 26 cottages and lodges furnished with all the amenities of home. Transient cruisers may use the resort’s “courtesy car” for a trip into town for groceries or dinner with a vast choice of restaurants. Catering services (southern style barbecue, country breakfast and more) can be accommodated and served on site under the open-air pavilion—or delivered to your rental units.
Revel in activities including fishing on the Tennessee River, home to more than 100 species of fish and famous for its crappie, bluegill, catfish, stripers, sauger, largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. Artificial fish attractors marked by buoys have been built near all major creeks holding at least 10 feet of water. On land, stop by The Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Museum, Farm and Tour to learn about North America’s only freshwater pearl-culturing operation and shop for some unique jewelry.
Amenities
• 140 slips
• Overnight docking for five boats up to 80′
• 65′ x 65′ lighted, concrete launching ramp
• Citgo gas and diesel
• 30-50 amp electrical service
• OMC, MerCruiser, Volvo Onan engine repairs
• Prop sales and prop repair service
• Emergency towing and underwater divers on call
• Ice, cold beer
• Hot showers
• Laundry room
• Bait, tackle and nautical supplies
There’s cause for celebration for cruisers! The Florida legislature adjourned in April with no anchoring encumbrances in Florida waters. The anchoring restrictions of SB 1548 did not become law thanks to much effort from several municipalities, businesses, boating organizations, and cruisers. The Anchoring/Mooring Pilot Program continues and anchoring restrictions, if any, are not expected until 2017.
A full-time bridge tender now watches the New River Railroad Bridge on the busy New River in Fort Lauderdale as part of a six month test ending October 16th by the U.S. Coast Guard to address boaters’ concerns about All Aboard Florida’s plans to run more than 30 trains a day. The tender communicates with mariners over VHF channels 9 and 16 and telephone number (305) 889-5572. A countdown clock with flashing red and green lights posted at the bridge with horn soundings notify maritime traffic of train approach and bridge closure.
Sailfish Marina of Palm Beach Shores, Florida considers more than a dozen tiki barges used for weekend celebrations on the ICW to be hazardous. The barges are abandoned during the week and have caused more than $200,000 worth of marina damage when torn from their moorings. Hurricanes are the usual culprit although barges break free even in calmer conditions. County commissioners want to regulate and ensure proper securing of the barges for the safety of the marina and partygoers. Since barges aren’t motorized, mooring access similar to those afforded boats may not be given.
Uber for boats is coming to Florida. Coastalyfe, which originated in St. Petersburg in May, uses GPS technology to connect riders with drivers who pick passengers up in their personal boats. “As soon as you start the ride, there’s a $7 flat rate. Then, for every mile you travel it’s $2.97, and for every minute it’s 37 cents,” says CEO Cliff Nees. Drivers are vetted as with Uber. Boats need to be 18-20 feet, less than 20 years old and in good condition. Rides are not booked in advance but are on demand.
Coastal communities dependent on oyster, scallop and clam harvests in North Carolina and Florida are at economic risk from excessive carbon intake in mollusks. A nationwide study published on February in Nature Climate Change showed vulnerability in 15 states. Ocean acidification—the result of oceans absorbing increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and agricultural runoff—harms mollusks. The problem has already greatly affected the oyster industry in the Pacific Northwest. Although reducing carbon emissions is the ultimate solution, other remedies include reducing agricultural runoff, diversifying fishing fleets, developing aquaculture in untainted waters, creating early warning systems, and cultivating acidification-resistant species.
The welcoming party continues for mariners at Mariners’ Wharf Park in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with the Downtown Waterfront Market on Saturdays 9AM-1PM through October. The market offers fresh, homegrown produce, baked goods, flowers, and crafts. Mariners’ Wharf provides free dockage with enhanced facilities and cruisers are still greeted with free wine-and-cheese dock parties. For details and to receive the special brochure for boaters Cruise the Carolina Loop visit discoverelizabethcity.com.
By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating Magazine August 2015
Our final day was was sad just like any other last day of a fun-filled vacation. The morning was consumed with cleaning what we called home (power cat) for the past 7 days. We also gathered all of our left over provisions and searched the dock for departing sailors who may appreciate these treasures, like aluminum foil, charcoal, eggs and butter. We were in luck and met a very nice family just one slip over who were from England and taking the journey for the first time. Once we finished The Moorings departing brief we were on our way back to the Road Town fast ferry that would return us to the Charlotte Amalie, U.S.V.I. port and then one final taxi to the airport. We had a few more laughs before our flight back to Miami but it was obvious that our hearts were heavy with the yearning for one more cruise.
Day Six: White Bay, Sandy Cay, and Norman’s Island
We departed Great Harbor on Jost Van Dyke, anxious to explore more of the turquoise waters. We started the morning snagging our first mooring ball at White Bay, home of the famous Soggy Dollar bar and grill where patrons sign the guest book and linger with cold drinks, play a game of ring toss or just relax in the shallow waters with the provided chairs. What a fun way to start the day. Our next stop was a tiny island named Sandy Cay where the waters were crystal clear and the beach was inviting. We anchored for a quick swim and checked out the shoreline and then moved on cruising south to Normans Island. We settled on a mooring location in the Bight for a well-protected evening stay. Once we settled in we jumped in the dinghy’s for late day exploration before a yummy dinner onboard.
Anchored for the evening at Bight on Norman’s Island.
Some of the Southern Boating crew checking out the offerings at Soggy Dollar.
The beautiful Soggy Dollar beach.
The many remembrances of previous visitors to Soggy Dollar.
Alexandra snorkling in Sandy Cay.
A reminder of what every boater should do when cruising—explore.
Day Seven: Privateer Bay, Soldier Bay, and Tortola
Our final day on the water was a bit sad knowing our vacation was coming to an end but we made sure to maximize our time on Norman Island. After a quick breakfast we moved our boats a little further to the west to Privateer Bay to set up our day anchorage to get closer to the snorkeling that included several caves at Treasure Point. They were a little eerie but we loved it! We further explored the coast in our dinghy’s to the farthest western point named Carvel where the waves crashed between the rocks and created quite a spectacle. From there we moved on to Soldier Bay to see what else we could find. We had a nice lunch on the aft deck and then suited up for our final snorkel excursion. A few hours later, as much as we hated to, we were headed back to The Moorings base on Tortola. We finished off the evening with a dip in their pool, so nice after a long day in the salty waters.
Our view during our lunch time.
A pelican, a distant cousin to the Southern Boating mascot, on a rock at Treasure Point in Privateer Bay.
Approaching Carver Bay at Soldier Bay island.
Ashley’s view of the world when the wind is blowing from behind.
Alexandra, Andrew, Ashley, and Mike selfie.
Waiting for the rest of the crew to go exploring in the caves at Treasure Point.
The Southern Boating crew enjoying their diving experience at Treasure Point.
No matter how you spell it, Maine’s Somes Sound may well be the highlight of your summer cruising schedule.
Somes Sound—the only fjord on the east coast of the U.S.—almost splits Maine’s Mount Desert Island in half, providing a unique, protected and enormously appealing cruising destination. Way up in Maine, close to the bustling summer resort of Bar Harbor, Somes Sound is a long way to go for most cruisers. But once you’re there you’re bound to agree that it’s well worth the trip not only for cruising in the sound itself—some of the most beautiful, unspoiled surroundings on the entire east coast—but also because of the extra benefits it offers. Somes Sound is next to Acadia National Park, with 55 miles of hiking, biking and even horse-carriage trails, and two quintessential Down East towns flank it—Southwest Harbor on the near side and Northeast Harbor on the far.
For summer cruisers exploring the Northeast, Somes Sound is an ideal final destination before turning around and heading back south, particularly in late summer and early fall when there’s generally less fog than in June and July. From the popular ports of Rockland and Camden, follow the east shore of Penobscot Bay and turn down Eggemoggin Reach, a classic Maine cruise in its own right. Then head over to Bass Harbor at the tip of Mount Desert Island. Follow the peninsula up about 7.5 miles and you’ll find a wide-open approach to Southwest Harbor.
The famous Somesville footbridge in the charming village by the same name is one of the most photographed bridges in Maine
Sargent Drive flanks the eastern shore of Somes Sound, often described as the only fjord on the Atlantic coast of the United States. Photo: Phil Savignano
Windjammer Margaret Todd. Photo: Maine Office of Tourism
Northeast Harbor is quiet, small and protected. Photo: Maine Office of Tourism
Bubble Pond is a placid body of water nestled between two rounded mountains. A carriage road on the western side provides spectacular views of the mountains. Photo: Cynthia Farr-Weinfeld.
Built of brick in 1858, the cliffside Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse marks the entrance to the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island. Photo: Jeff Dobbs
sticou Azalea Garden in Northeast Harbor is one of the wonderful jewels of Mount Desert Island. Photo: Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Hike up Champlain Mountain, named after the famous French Explorer Samuel de Champlain, for spectacular scenery and exceptional wildlife views. Photo: Phil Savignano
Downtown Bar Harbor advertises the region’s biggest gastronomic attraction. Photo: Maine Office of Tourism.
Private dock for the Margaret Todd, a unique 151′ four-masted schooner designed by her owner Captain Steven Pagels. Photo: Maine Office of Tourism
Founded in 1926, the Abbe Museum exhibits inspire new learning about the Wabanaki Nations. Photo: Maine Office of Tourism
October sunrise over Bar Harbor, ME
In many ways, the Mount Desert Island area is a step back in time. For the first half of the last century it was a favorite summer vacation destination for wealthy families from New York and Philadelphia. Indeed, John D. Rockefeller had a summer “cottage” there and built the carriage trails in Acadia National Park from 1913 to 1940. And with its one main street lined with small boutiques and galleries, Southwest Harbor (year-round population of 1,764) hearkens back to a kinder, gentler era. But Southwest Harbor is also home to a working lobster fleet and is the birthplace of such iconic Down East brands as Jarvis Newman, Wilbur, Ellis, and Hinckley, with John Williams and Morris nearby.
Coming into Southwest Harbor today, you’ll first pass the Ellis yard on your left and then the large Hinckley yard as well; they both offer transient facilities plus any repairs you may need. But farther inside the harbor, Dysart’s Great Harbor Marina is the largest yard in the area with 150 slips and dock space for a 180-foot yacht. Dysart’s is a full-service yard and houses a West Marine chandlery, but it has diesel only at the fuel dock. You can walk to the center of town in a manner of minutes from Dysart’s, but first, fuel-up your belly at the marina—Breakfast at Grumpy’s restaurant is a local institution. (Try the Lobster and Crab Benedict.)
On the north side of the harbor you’ll find half a dozen town moorings and Beal’s Lobster Pier, a working lobster pier with a gas and diesel fuel dock, and a seafood restaurant with picnic tables at the end of the pier. Tie up at the small dock there if you’re eating at Beal’s; they will also deliver fresh seafood to your boat. For more formal dining, Red Sky is back toward the village. It offers fresh seafood but specializes in local organic produce. Don’t bother dressing up for Red Sky—this is Maine, after all, and you’re welcome to come straight from your boat.
At the far side of Southwest Harbor just around Clark’s Point leading to Somes Sound, you’ll find the Claremont Hotel, a six-acre waterfront resort that first opened in 1884. The Claremont offers gourmet dining in its Xanthus restaurant, with water views from every table. The Claremont’s Boathouse restaurant directly on the water is more casual.
And then there’s Somes Sound itself, formed about 14,000 years ago as the last glaciers retreated. Indeed, large boulders deposited by the melting ice sheet mark The Narrows, the entrance to the sound just above Southwest Harbor. About four miles long and often 150 feet deep, the sound is overlooked by Cadillac Mountain—the highest point on the Eastern seaboard at 1,530 feet. Apparently there is some dispute whether Somes Sound actually qualifies as a fjord, since it doesn’t have the extremely high side cliffs associated with Norwegian fjords. Consequently, it is now often called a fjard, meaning a drowned glacial bay. Either way, the place is beautiful and the vistas are unique. Cruising the sound, you’ll see few signs of human habitation since much of it is next to the national park—it feels as if you’re cruising in a wilderness, miles from civilization.
There are some signs of life, however. About halfway up on the left side, the John Williams Boat Company—which still makes elegant Down East style boats—has guest moorings in front of its yard. Their motto, which seems perfect for the setting, is simply “No corporate culture. No dealer incentives. No focus groups. Just boats.” And beautiful boats, at that.
When you’re through exploring Somes Sound, make a broad left turn and head into Northeast Harbor. (It’s only about two miles across from Southwest Harbor on a direct route). At this point you’re entering Maine as it was generations ago. Northeast Harbor is smaller, more peaceful and even more protected than Southwest Harbor, and the little village has fewer tourists. Entering the harbor, Clifton Dock is on the left, with a fuel dock (gas and diesel) and some moorings. Just a bit farther is Northeast Harbor Marina with 56 slips, 70 moorings, 30-, 50- and 100-amp service, and dock space for a 220-foot yacht.
Next to the marina, the Watermark Restaurant and Lounge at the Kimball Terrace Inn offers bistro-style food, local beer and a great view. For a spectacular harbor view, as well as a taste of turn-of-the-century Maine, try the Asticou Inn at the head of the harbor. The classic summer resort has been there since 1882. Peabody’s, the Asticou’s elegant restaurant, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Asticou Azalea Garden across the road from the inn and the Thuya Gardens just up the road are owned and maintained by the Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve. They both have beautiful gardens and terraces, while the Thuya Gardens provide a panoramic view of the harbor. A public landing and dinghy dock at the head of the harbor leads to the gardens and miles of hiking trails.
The easiest way to get around all of Mount Desert Island, however, is to hop on one of the free, propane-powered Island Explorer Shuttle buses. They have stops just a short walk from the marinas in Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor, and go all around the island, including the national park and Bar Harbor. Make note of your favorites, as you’ll most likely be back next summer, and probably the summer after that.
— CRUISER RESOURCES — DOCKAGE
Ellis Boat Company 265 Seawall Rd., Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
(207) 244-9221 • ellisboat.com
