Category: U.S. Atlantic

Find upcoming events from Maine to Florida, along with detailed destination reviews of major hubs and lesser-known small towns. If you’re looking for the best cruiser resources, you’ve come to the right place. Each month, Southern Boating posts Regional Reports that cover the Atlantic Coast in detail. Chesapeake, Southeast Seaboard, the Carolinas, and down to Miami, Southern Boating keeps you updated on marinas, events and the resources you’ll need to successfully navigate the U.S. Atlantic.

Annapolis, Maryland

Aside from having a boatload of historical colonial charm, Annapolis is blessed with an abundance of everything cruisers treasure.

It’s late in the afternoon near the end of a warm and clear summer day as you idle past Green Can “1SC” (Spa Creek) and enter Annapolis Harbor. Port side, small sailboats from the youth sailing programs at the Severn Sailing Association and the Eastport Yacht Club are drifting in or being towed slowly in to their respective harbors. Golden evening light bathes the kayakers, standup paddleboarders, tourist-laden schooners, water taxis, power cruisers, and sailboats that populate the harbor. A little farther ahead in the fairway, heavenly smells of grilled fish and beef drift out over the water from the Chart House, one of several worthy waterfront and numerous non-waterfront restaurants around the harbor.

To starboard, the city mooring field beckons to those who wish to spend the night in full view of the Annapolis skyline. The vista sweeps west to north: from the Spa Creek lift bridge past the spires of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and St. Anne’s Episcopal Church to the tall dome of the Maryland State House and the distinctive collection of buildings comprising the United States Naval Academy (USNA). A hard turn to starboard at the end of the mooring field steers you into City Dock, the manmade inlet that leads you into downtown Annapolis’ city center. The free dinghy dock at the end of this watery runway—nicknamed “Ego Alley” for the passage of visiting and local boats wanting to see and be seen—opens up a world of restaurants, specialty shops and on-shore activities for visitors who come here to experience “Camelot on the Bay,” as the city was described in a 1988 National Geographic feature.

I was fortunate enough to relocate to Annapolis in 1982 and, acquiescing to its Siren-like charms, am determined to stay. I’ve owned and operated all kinds of boats in this area since and continue to be swayed by its seasonal attractions, both watery and terrestrial. The Chesapeake Bay is an uncommonly interesting and varied cruising ground, and Annapolis remains a jewel in the crown of waterside cities and towns waiting to be explored.

Situated on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay and served by a deepwater channel leading to the mouth of the Severn River that even megayachts find easy to navigate, Annapolis offers a plethora of anchoring or mooring options, an active water taxi service, numerous marinas, and a wealth of restaurants and specialty shops—all closely bundled near the waterfront. There are two fuel docks and a handful of marinas in the harbor proper nearly within throwing distance of the mooring field. Additionally, there are more facilities on nearby Back Creek, a 10-minute boat ride around the tip of the Eastport Peninsula just south of Annapolis Harbor.

Once you’ve picked up a city mooring, tied up in a nearby slip or dropped a hook in the anchorage off the USNA just outside of “1SC”, launch the dink or hail a water taxi (410-263-0033, VHF 68), and set a course for the outdoor waterfront bar at Pusser’s Caribbean Grill for one of their trademark “Painkillers”—a tasty blend of Pusser’s rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple and orange juice. If you’ve decided to get off the boat for a night or two, you’ll appreciate the fact that Pusser’s is on the site of the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel (a Marriott Autograph Collection property). Save some time to admire the historic black and white prints in the hall connecting the restaurant and shop to the hotel’s entrance.

Upon leaving the hotel, head left across the Spa Creek lift bridge to enjoy Eastport Peninsula restaurants on or near the water, including the new Blackwall Hitch with its upstairs outdoor dining with views of the harbor, Carrol’s Creek Café with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the harbor near the bridge, or the Chart House for magnificent views of the harbor from its enclosed dining area. Just down 4th Street you’ll find the Boatyard Bar & Grill, a true sailor’s hangout, and Lewnes Steak House—the antithesis of crowded, noisy restaurants and a purveyor of excellent beef.

Take a right turn instead, and you’ll wind up at the traffic circle at the base of Main Street, which is lined with shops and restaurants of all kinds. If you like fresh sushi, Joss Café and Sushi Bar is two-thirds of the way up Main Street. You can also explore other restaurants that surround City Dock. For hearty pub fare and a great raw bar, don’t miss McGarvey’s—a true local watering hole. There are many other restaurants from which to choose, both in Eastport and in downtown Annapolis—these are just some of my favorites.

There’s always something happening on City Dock. If you visit in July, for instance, musical groups from the USNA perform free concerts every Tuesday evening from 7PM to 8PM. Many of the restaurant bars feature nightly bands, including the Rams Head Tavern, which is located just one block west of Church Circle at the head of Main Street. Next door to the restaurant, Rams Head On Stage hosts national and regional musical groups of all kinds throughout the year (ramsheadonstage.com/calendar). In June alone, two-time Grammy Award-nominated American saxophonist Mindi Abair brings smooth jazz and rock to town, the Oak Ridge Boys will perform their four-part harmonies and country hits, Gregg Allman will play soulful and dynamic blues, and The Temptations will croon their hits from the 1960s and onward. This is a small venue that most musicians truly appreciate, and the performances I’ve enjoyed there live brightly in my memory.

If you’re looking for a bit of exercise, there are a couple of good walks that won’t disappoint. The USNA offers guided walking tours of the grounds, including a memorable museum of naval history and a visit to the crypt of John Paul Jones (usnabsd.com/for-visitors/public-tours). Colonial Tours Annapolis (colonialtoursannapolis.com) and Annapolis Tours by Watermark (annapolistours.com/our-tours/colonial-stroll) both offer tours through the Historic District of Annapolis, which was the country’s Colonial Capital for two years beginning in 1783. Docents in colonial dress introduce you to colonial life in Maryland, show you where two of the signers of the Declaration of Independence resided, and the inside the Maryland State House where George Washington resigned his commission.

If artwork is your passion, Annapolis has a mixture of sites and galleries worth your time. The Annual Annapolis Art Walk takes place during August in case you’re in the neighborhood while moving a boat south for the winter (artinannapolis.com).

If you’re in Annapolis earlier than that, create your own tour starting with the Annapolis Marine Art Gallery adjoining City Dock, which displays outstanding nautical works from noted national artists such as John Barber. The McBride Gallery on Main Street is absolutely a must-see for local and regional artists across a wide range of media.

Want to know more about Annapolis? A detailed guidebook and identical interactive online guide is free for the asking at visitannapolis.org. It’s your best source for events, attractions, accommodations, restaurants, shopping, and services. If you’re downtown enjoying a meal, sipping a frosty drink, listening to music, or exploring Annapolis by water this summer, perhaps I’ll see you there!

By John Wooldridge, Southern Boating June 2016

CRUISER RESOURCES
—Dockage and Fuel—

Transient city moorings
annapolis.gov/government/city-departments/harbormaster/facilities/moorings-Moorings in harbor above Spa Creek bridge and in Back Creek—17 slips in newly renovated City Dock.

Annapolis City Marina
annapoliscitymarina.com
(410) 268-0660; VHF Channel 09
-One of two fuel docks in Annapolis Harbor

The Yacht Basin
yachtbasin.com
(410) 263-3544; VHF Channel 09
-One of two fuel docks in Annapolis Harbor

South Annapolis Yacht Centre
sa-yc.com
(410) 263-1643
-Above the Spa Creek drawbridge

Old Towne Marina
otmarina.com
(410) 263-9277
-Above the Spa Creek drawbridge

—Accommodations—
Annapolis Waterfront Hotel
annapoliswaterfront.com
(888) 773-0786
-Marriott Autograph Collection

The Maryland Inn
(410) 263-2641
historicinnsofannapolis.com

-One of three historic inns a two-block walk from the dinghy dock

—Eateries—
Chart House
chart-house.com/locations/annapolis
(410) 268-7166
-Upscale seafood and steak fare on the waterfront

Carrol’s Creek Café
carrolscreek.com
(410) 263-8102
-Elegant seafood restaurant on the waterfront

Blackwall Hitch
theblackwallhitch.com
(410) 263-3454
-Upscale New American fare overlooking the harbor

Pusser’s Caribbean Grill
pussersusa.com
(410) 626-0004
-In the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, dockside bar

McGarvey’s Saloon & Oyster Bar
mcgarveysannapolis.com
(410) 263-5700
-Classic American saloon with great pub fare and raw bar

Joss Café & Sushi Bar
 josssushi.com
(410) 263-4688
-About a one block walk up Main Street; fresh sushi and other Japanese fare

Festival and Food in Oriental, North Carolina

Cruisers migrating south along the ICW this fall should time their stops in Oriental, North Carolina, to coincide with a few special weekends. The 3rd Annual “Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival” takes place on Saturday, October 15th. The town invites musicians from around the region to play from the porches of homes and businesses along the waterfront with a selection of folk, blues, country, and pop features. Shiloh Hills and The Carmonas are headlining the festival this year and will take the main stage overlooking the Neuse River at 3:30PM. The festival will take place rain or shine since alternate indoor locations have been arrranged.

On October 22nd a seasonal favorite spices up Oriental Harbor with the 9th Annual Chili Cook-Off from 11AM to 2PM at the Oriental Marina and Inn. Local chefs offer a variety of chili to taste, and proceeds from the $10 admission tickets support the local theatre. At the conclusion of the event, visitors vote for their favorite chili.

If you don’t get enough to eat at the Chili Cook-Off there’s a new grocery store in Oriental. This favorite ICW stop has been without a grocery store for some time, but the owner of a nearby Piggly Wiggly opened a well-stocked, brand new store in town. Locally and lovingly referred to as the “Piglet”, it’s only a short drive or bike ride from the nearby marinas.

ICW Local Knowledge
A prized possession of all boating enthusiasts is “local knowledge”—a familiarity with conditions in their home waters. Knowing where they may run aground at low tide keeps local cruisers out of trouble, but cruising in unknown waters presents a challenge. Hank Pomeranz is making cruises in unknown waters much easier. Pomeranz offers a free seminar sponsored by Zimmerman Marine and Southport Marina titled Weather and Navigation Briefs on the Dock every evening during peak ICW cruising season. Transient mariners get “local knowledge” of the shifting ICW channel north and south of the marina’s location near the mouth of Cape Fear River. Pomeranz refines his seminar each day by taking reports from cruisers that call in conditions. Attendees also receive a detailed weather forecast for the following 36 hours, which Pomeranz is uniquely qualified to present as a retired U.S. Navy meteorologist. The seminars are scheduled to begin in mid-October and will run every evening at 6PM for two months.

Long Awaited Seagate Yacht Club
Delray Beach has one of the most vibrant downtown centers in all of Florida and will be even easier to visit by boat with the opening of the Seagate Yacht Club on November 1st with a new clubhouse, pool and captain’s lounge. The Seagate Yacht Club is on the property of the former Delray Beach Yacht Club only a few blocks south of the Atlantic Avenue Bridge over the ICW. The club is open to both members and transient cruisers and is an easy walk away from great shopping and award-winning restaurants along Atlantic Avenue.

By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating Magazine October 2016

Welcome to Mumfest 

New Bern, North Carolina, hosts Mumfest on October 8-9, a fantastic fall destination for Mid-Atlantic cruisers filled with the vivid colors of the season and family activities. The festival includes street performers, ticketed and free music, children’s entertainment, crafts, rides, and delectable food in the beautifully restored downtown and waterfront. This year’s entertainment includes the Xpogo team—a stunt team on next generation pogo sticks. Their stunts reach incredible heights, and they hold 15 world records and several Guinness records. The Tryon Palace Gardens are free and open to the public during the weekend with country music artists performing on the South Lawn. Galley Marina has more than 400 feet of day dockage and 400 feet of transient dockage with 25 slips for boats up to 100 feet. If you arrive ahead of the festival, take part in the Eastern North Carolina Boat Show hosted by the New Bern Grand Marina Yacht Club and Hatteras Yachts on October 1-2. mumfest.com

Chestertown docking
Historic Chestertown, Maryland, on the banks of the Chester River plans to revitalize its town-owned marina right after Downrigging Weekend in late October. Money for the first phase of the two-year project comes from a real estate sale to Washington College and from the state’s Waterway Improvement Fund. The work will focus on the bulkhead and boat ramp. A second phase, scheduled for the fall and winter of 2017-18, includes demolishing the existing marina store and replacing it with high tide flooding mitigation in partnership with the Fish Whistle restaurant. The town has applied for a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is also asking $1.5 million from Governor Hogan’s capital budget.

Rally to the Cup
Registration is now open for Offshore Passage Opportunities’ Rally to the Cup, which departs from multiple east coast ports including Annapolis on June 7, 2017. This allows enough time for arrival in Bermuda before the June 17th start of the 35th America’s Cup finals. The rally will provide dockage at St. George’s Dinghy and Sports Club for the first 20 to 25 boats registered and a designated anchorage area (with launch service) or a berth along the wall in St. George’s. The rally fee includes planning and logistics, three socials, weather forecasting by WRI, Radio Net, and help with customs and immigration as well as logistics in Bermuda, a rally burgee and T-shirts for the crew. sailopo.com

Take the Wheel in Annapolis
City Dock in Annapolis will transform into a gigantic boat extravaganza with the annual sailboat show October 6-10 followed by the powerboat show October 13-16. Among many attractions at the sailboat show is an on-and-off the water learning opportunity entitled Take the Wheel Interactive Workshop designed to fast-track boating knowledge and to narrow boat search lists. During the afternoon on-the-water part of the program, registrants can sail aboard mono and multihulls and get a stem-to-stern look with wind in the sails. There’s also the opportunity to try before you buy at the powerboat show’s Demo Dock. usboat.com   

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine October 2016

Cruising through the Nation’s Capital

Arrive at our nation’s capital by water and gain a whole new (non-political) perspective.

It’s hardly a secret that Washington, D.C., is a wonderful place to visit; just ask the 20 million people who explored the area last year. Most of them, of course, arrived by car, train, bus, or airplane. But the best way to visit Washington is by water. The real secret is that our nation’s capital has always been boat-friendly, and now it’s even more so with some brand-new marinas and others newly improved. Here’s a guide to Capitol cruising:

Many of Washington’s marinas offer front-row seats to the capital’s many attractions and are within walking distance of the iconic monuments, memorials, and museums that draw large crowds. Others are destinations in their own right and still offer easy access to the capital. And there’s so much to do in Washington—countless great restaurants, boutiques, historic areas, art galleries, parks, bike trails, jogging paths, and more—you’ll barely scratch the surface of this city’s sights in a long weekend. A week or longer would allow for a solid city exploration.

Washington is certainly easy to access by boat. The mouth of the Potomac is about 90 nm up the Chesapeake from Norfolk, Virginia. Another 96 nm up the Potomac leads you right to the District. You know you’re getting close when you see Mount Vernon, George Washington’s magnificent plantation home. If you want to visit by boat, hail the dockmaster on VHF 16. The small Mount Vernon wharf is built for tour boats, but there’s usually room for a few recreational boats, too. As you pass by Mount Vernon, make sure you toll your ship’s bell, a tradition that dates back to December 14, 1799, the night Washington died.

Images from a Capitol Cruising adventure: 

After Mount Vernon, it’s only eight miles to the capital. The channel quickly winds to the right, hugging the Maryland shore close to Fort Washington, and then the massive Woodrow Wilson Bridge comes into view, which has 76 feet of vertical clearance and carries both I-95 and Capital Beltway traffic across the Potomac. Just before the bridge on the Maryland side is the National Harbor Marina—hard to miss with its 180-foot Ferris wheel at the end of the dock. The marina is part of the nine-year-old National Harbor complex, which has a 2,000-room convention center, 4 hotels, 150 shops, and 30 restaurants on a 300-acre waterfront, and a 350-room MGM casino is scheduled to open just up the hill at the end of 2016. The marina welcomes transients and provides 80 slips (max 220-feet LOA), immaculate restrooms and showers, free laundry, pump-outs, phone, cable, Wi-Fi, and all of the comforts of home.

Less than a mile up the river, the Alexandria (Virginia) City Marina is in the midst of the charming Old Town district. Founded in 1749, the quaint area has restaurants, boutiques, and a Metro subway to Washington. The beautiful waterfront is home to 23 acres of parks, walking and biking trails, and a view of Washington just a few miles up the river. The marina has 40 slips (22 reserved for transients) as well as restrooms and showers. A Chart House restaurant is at the top of the dock, as is the Torpedo Factory building, which dates back to WWII and is presently filled with working artists’ studios.

Also on the Virginia side about a mile north of Reagan National Airport at the Pentagon Lagoon is Columbia Island Marina, which only welcomes powerboat transients. The marina is in a beautiful park run by the National Park Service and has 386 slips for boats 20-50 feet in length.

In passage to Washington is Hains Point, the southern tip of East Potomac Park that splits the waterway into two routes: continue along the Potomac shore on the protected Washington Channel toward its three large marinas or head right toward the two marinas up the Anacostia River. Choose the Anacostia route and you’ll shortly arrive at James Creek Marina, a 297-slip stop that offers the District’s only fuel dock (gas and diesel) as well as a ship’s store, clean restrooms and showers, pump-out, and a picnic area. Transients are welcome.

A bit farther up the Anacostia River is the brand-new Yards Marina situated beside the Washington Navy Yard and part of The Yards Park, a waterfront destination area with a waterfall, boardwalk and play areas. The marina has 50 slips (25 for transients) but no showers or laundry facilities. It’s just south of Capitol Hill and east of the Washington Nationals stadium.

If you choose to traverse the Washington Channel, you’ll find yourself in the midst of a major multi-year, multi-billion-dollar waterfront redevelopment project called The Wharf, but don’t worry—the marinas are still operating. The first marina is The Wharf Gangplank, which has 309 slips, restrooms and showers, laundry, and 24-hour security. The Gangplank can handle yachts up to 125 feet LOA and welcomes transients. From here it’s an easy walk to the Washington Monument or the Jefferson Memorial.

The second marina is The Capital Yacht Club, a private club that welcomes guests, with 86 slips, including 20 for transients. It can handle yachts up to 220 feet LOA. The club has restrooms and showers, pump-out, cable, free Wi-Fi, and a taxi stand outside the gate even though it’s only a 15-minute walk to the National Mall.

The final marina on the Washington Channel is just beyond a fixed highway bridge with 37 feet of vertical clearance. Washington Marina has 150 slips (20 for transients) and room for yachts up to 125 feet LOA. This full-service marina boasts a ship’s store and service department, showers, pump-out, 24-hour gated access, and is just a 10-minute walk to the Tidal Basin.

Once your boat is tied up, one of your first stops must be the White House. View the front of the House from across the street at Lafayette Park. Other popular sights include a walk up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and a look out over the Reflecting Pool, National Mall and Capitol Building in the distance. Spend as much time as possible on the Mall, a large, open, grassy park where the Smithsonian Institution runs a group of museums including the Museum of Natural History and the Air and Space Museum. Pay homage at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and National World War II Memorial, and walk across the Arlington Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery where U.S. Presidents and many notable historical figures rest. Take a cab up Connecticut Avenue to the National Zoological Park and see the pandas and many other amazing animals.

The District is filled with great restaurants, but for a special treat try Café Milano in Georgetown. The classic Italian dining room, wall murals and a warm-weather sidewalk café makes it a favorite among the political set; President Obama took Michelle there for her 49th birthday. Downtown and around the corner from the Treasury and White House, Old Ebbitt Grill has been a Washington institution since 1856 and a favorite of both President Grant and President Theodore Roosevelt. It’s open all day for every meal, has four bars upstairs and boasts a 2015 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. My personal favorite is The Monocle Restaurant on Capitol Hill’s Senate side, where steak and crab cakes are lunch and dinnertime specialties. The Monocle is a hangout for staffers and lobbyists—you’ll probably see a Senator or two.

—By Peter A. Janssen, Southern Boating Magazine July 2016

 

—CRUISER RESOURCES—

Dockage

National Harbor Marina
168 National Plaza, National Harbor, MD
(301) 749-1582 • national lharbor.com

Alexandria City Marina
0 Cameron Street, Alexandria, VA
(703) 746-5487 • alexandriava.gov/marina

Columbia Island Marina
George Washington Memorial Parkway, Arlington, VA
(202) 347-0173 • columbiaisland.com

James Creek Marina
200 V Street Southwest, Washington, D.C.
(202) 554-8844 • jamescreek.com

The Yards Marina
335 Water Street Southeast, Washington, D.C.
(202) 465-7080 • yardspark.org

Wharf Gangplank Marina
600 Water Street Southwest, Washington, D.C.
(202) 554-5000 • gangplank.com

Capital Yacht Club
660 Water Street Southwest, Washington, D.C.
(202) 488-8110  • capitalyachtclub.com

Washington Marina
1300 Maine Avenue Southwest, Washington, D.C.
(202) 554-0222  • washingtonmarina.com

–Attractions–

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C.
(202) 456-1111 • whitehouse.gov

U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
First Street/East Capitol Street Northeast, Washington, D.C. (202) 226-8000 visitthecapitol.gov

Smithsonian Institution
(202) 633-1000 • si.edu 

National Museum of Natural History
10th Street/Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C. (202) 633-1000 naturalhistory.si.edu

National Air and Space Museum
600 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington, D.C.
(202) 633-2214 • airandspace.si.edu

National Zoo
30001 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C.
(202) 633-4888 • nationalzoo.si.edu

–Restaurants–

Café Milano
3251 Prospect Street Northwest, Washington, D.C.
(202) 333-6183 • cafemilano.com

Old Ebbitt Grill
675 15th Street Northwest, Washington, D.C.
(202) 347-4800 • ebbitt.com

The Monocle
107 D Street Northeast, Washington, D.C.
(202) 546-4488 • themonocle.com

Beaufort, North Carolina

In Beaufort, North Carolina, preserving the past is the way of the future.

Often referred to as the Inner Banks of North Carolina, the Crystal Coast offers an abundance of pleasures for anyone seeking adventure or serenity on, under or simply near the ocean. Beaufort, NC is one such pleasure.  The broad, sandy beaches stretching out from the dunes are legendary. Surfcasting and offshore fishing are some of the best in the world. With over 2,000 shipwrecks, “the graveyard of the Atlantic” provides scuba divers with warm water and 75 feet of visibility as they explore the depths.

A coastline dotted with marinas and marine services of all sorts satisfies the demands of the transient yachtsmen and weekend wave warriors. Moreover, families suffering from vacation desperation may partake in boat tours to Cape Lookout, bike and walking tours, food tours, bus tours, nature and wildlife tours, night tours, air tours, historic and heritage tours, and even ghost and vampire tours. Or they may simply relax and build lifelong memories amidst the peace and serenity of a beach cottage in the dunes.

Tucked behind Cape Lookout and Shackleford Bank with its fabled feral horses, the town of Beaufort is deeply rooted in maritime history and arguably the jewel of this coastal crown. Having grown up in a small New England coastal community, I have a special appreciation in my heart for those unique places that seem to cling to the edge—places that exist on that space between water and Earth, the demarcation line separating the known from the unknown.

Beaufort Roots

Founded in 1709, Beaufort still remains a welcoming port of call for modern cruisers churning their way up and down the ICW as well as for bluewater sailors darting into the Beaufort Inlet such as the pirate Edward Teach—better known as Blackbeard—regularly did in the early 18th century.

Legend has it that Blackbeard would run his ship Queen Ann’s Revenge up into Taylor Creek adjacent to Front Street and enjoy the various pleasures of the town while his crew was busy with the duties of repair and provision. Blackbeard met his violent end at the nearby island of Ocracoke in 1718, but the maritime industries of Beaufort have continued to flourish while the town itself has evolved into one of the most charming and active historic waterfront communities on the East Coast.

 

Rooted in a history of boatbuilding and fishing, the neighboring Harkers Island is home to a long, proud legacy of watermen that reaches back to the mid-18th century. Ebenezer Harker acquired the island in 1730. He and his family aslso built a plantation and boatyard, thus planting the seeds of a boatbuilding tradition that continues to this day.

Jarrett Bay

Hundreds of years after at the age of 18, Randy Ramsey became the youngest charter fishing boat captain on the island. Armed with the local knowledge and experience in dealing with the demands of commercial fishing, young Ramsey felt there had to be a better boat design to improve performance and handling in the often rough and treacherous sea conditions. In 1986, he began the design and construction on his first boat in a tin shed with a fellow captain and islander Jim Luxton. Completed in 1988, the 52-foot plank on-frame sportfish Sensation proved a success in delivering and sustaining the now legendary “Carolina ride”. Such were the humble beginnings of Jarrett Bay Boatworks (JBBW).

In 1999, Ramsey moved the company to its Beaufort location on Sensation Weigh, which created the Jarrett Bay Marine Industrial Park. The 175-acre park located on the central coast of North Carolina at ICW MM 198 is about halfway between New York and Florida. With an ever-expanding variety of marine specialty service operations and a 220-ton capacity Travellift, the park is capable of handling virtually any repair and refit requirements for yachts, cruisers and commercial fishermen. The marina welcomes vessels ranging from 17-foot center consoles to 130-foot luxury motoryachts and offers transient docking and fuel.

A conversation with JBBW’s vice president Tate Lawrence reveals that JBBW is not content to bask in the sunshine of past glories. The Carolina design has evolved along with the development of vacuum bag construction, stronger and lighter materials and more powerful engines among other progressions. “Every boat is different—truly custom as is each customer,” says Lawrence. The over 90 custom boats delivered to date is a testament to the JBBW commitment to excellence. The 90-foot project in the shed is about halfway through its 3-year birthing process—handmade all the way and obviously worth the wait.

A History Worth Seeing

Fittingly, Beaufort is home of the North Carolina Maritime Museum. The museum is the official repository for all of the artifacts from the wreck of Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge discovered in 1999. There is also a display of more than 5,000 seashell specimens from over 100 countries around the world. Located across the street at the museum’s Watercraft Center, volunteers actively build and restore boats in an effort to preserve the Crystal Coast’s tradition of “backyard boatbuilding” and the annual BoatBuilding Challenge.

The center is also the jumping-off point for the annual Beaufort Wine and Food Weekend. It’s a delightful event where residents open their historic homes. Highlights include the combined efforts and generosity of the wine community, winemakers, local eateries, and fabulous guest chefs. All donate their time and talent during the flavorful 5-day event, which culminates with the Grand Reserve Tasting Auction on the waterfront. Beaufort offers spectacular coastal scenery, significant maritime history, a strong sense of community coupled with great food, and an easy pace of life.

—Story & photos by Jim Raycroft, Southern Boating Magazine July 2016

CRUISER RESOURCES

— Dockage —
Beaufort Docks
500 Front Street, Beaufort, NC
(252) 728-2503
-Year-round marina in a downtown location offering fuel, repairs and more

Jarrett Bay Boatworks/Jarrett Bay Marine Industrial Park
530 Sensation Weigh, Beaufort, NC
jarrettbay.com; (252) 728-2690
-Year-round marina offering fuel, major repairs and re-fit services

Town Creek Marina
232 West Beaufort Road, Beaufort, NC
towncreekmarina.com; (252) 728-6111
-Marina offering fuel and repairs

Cape Lookout Bight
34°37’22″N, 76°31’28″W
Lookout Bight, Harkers Island, NC
-Anchoring area

–Provisions–
Food Lion Grocery Store
1901 Live Oak Street, Beaufort, NC
foodlion.com; (252) 504-2442

Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store
1500 Live Oak Street, Beaufort, NC
pigglywigglystores.com; (252) 728-7262

Taylor’s Creek Grocery
525 Front Street, Beaufort, NC
taylorscreekgrocery.com; (252) 838-1495

–Eateries–
Beaufort Grocery Company
117 Queen Street, Beaufort, NC
beaufortgrocery.com; 252-728-3899

Backstreet Pub
124 Middle Lane, Beaufort, NC
historicbeaufort.com/backstreet_pub1.htm; (252) 728-7108

La Perla
1103 North 20th Street, Morehead City, NC
laperlarestaurantmhc.com; (252) 222-3808
-Caribbean cuisine

–Sites–
Cape Lookout National Seashore
1800 Island Road, Harkers Island, NC
nps.gov/calo; (252) 728-2250
-Discover Cape Lookout Lighthouse, spend time camping and fishing and enjoy the Shakelford Banks wild horses.

North Carolina Maritime Museums
315 Front Street, Beaufort, NC
ncmaritimemuseums.com/beaufort; (252) 728-7317
-Get a taste of coastal cultures and nautical history.

This (Earthquake) Is A Test, Only A Test

A 3.7 magnitude earthquake recorded off the Florida coast on July 19th was actually a 10,000-pound explosive charge detonated by the U.S. Navy. The explosion was used in a shock trial test of the USS Jackson roughly 168 nm off shore by Daytona Beach, although the Navy will not confirm the exact, classified coordinates. Shock trial tests are used to determine a ship’s ability to remain seaworthy when faced with the impact of underwater explosions.

Seismographs as far away as Venezuela and locations across the U.S. registered the “earthquake” at 4PM. Differentiating natural quakes versus induced quakes such as those that occur with fracking can be hard for geophysicists to determine. Even scientists were unsure if the seismological event was natural or manufactured. However, once a Navy spokesman reached out and confirmed the time and location of the test, researchers were able to revise the categorization of the explosion.

Boating enthusiasts in the area were issued a warning prior to the test telling them to stay away from the test location. The USS Jackson is a new Independence class of littoral combat ship—designed to conduct anti-submarine and surface countermeasure operations across the globe. The ship also underwent a series of stress tests this summer. The last Navy shock trial tested the USS Mesa Verde in 2008.

The Navy has faced criticism by environmental activist groups for its shock trial tests as well as its use of high-intensity long-range sonar, both of which can disturb and harm a variety of protected marine mammals. In order to comply with environmental regulations, the Navy informed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) about the testing in advance. NOAA’s Southeast Mammal Stranding Network Coordinator was on guard, and teams of observers oversaw the testing to ensure that no protected species were injured.

Southport Wooden Boat Show
Enjoy everything Southport, North Carolina, has to offer at this year’s 7th Annual Southport Wooden Boat Show. The show will take place in and around the charming and historic Old Yacht Basin from 10AM until 4PM. A variety of wooden boats will be on display, and visitors to the show can meet and greet the exhibitors to learn more about the craft of wooden boat building. Visitors will also be able to vote for their favorite boat entry in the People’s Choice Award.

Little sailors can try their hand at building their own boats (with or without assistance) and test their seaworthiness at the popular Nauti-kids events. Presented by the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport, staff and volunteers will be around to assist any participants as they build and paint their own vessels. The North Carolina Aquarium will also have a booth on display where children can see a showcase of live animals such as hermit crabs, snails, anemones, sea stars, and other sea creatures that can all be discovered just off the coast of North Carolina. Stop by the station to learn more about the area’s interesting and diverse wildlife. southportwoodenboatshow.com

By Susanna Botkin, Southern Boating Magazine September 2016

Philadelphia — Colonial Coast

Philadelphia’s rich waterfront scene offers
cruisers a glimpse into the past.

When most people think of Philadelphia, they probably conjure up images of Independence Hall, Betsy Ross sewing a flag, Valley Forge, Ben Franklin flying a kite, the Liberty Bell—the city that’s the birthplace of our nation. Philadelphia certainly is all that but also so much more, with world-class museums and cultural attractions, historic homes and some of the best parks in the U.S. But what most people don’t realize about Philadelphia is that it also has a lively, active, welcoming waterfront scene along the Delaware River with several modern marinas all within walking distance of many historic sites. Philadelphia, as it turns out, is a major boating destination.

In many ways, Philadelphia is ground zero for American history buffs. The first European settlers to arrive were the Dutch in 1623, although the English conquered the entire area soon after. In 1681, King Charles II of England granted William Penn, an early real estate entrepreneur, a charter for what is now Pennsylvania as partial repayment of a debt.

Penn, a Quaker, wisely paid the local Lenape tribe for the land to make peace and named the city Philadelphia, Greek for brotherly love. Because of its waterfront location and relatively friendly relations with the Indians, the city prospered. Indeed, by the mid-1750s, Philadelphia surpassed Boston as the biggest port in America and the second largest in the British Empire, just behind London. At the same time, Benjamin Franklin founded many city services including a library and one of the first hospitals in the colonies.

Philadelphia was also home for the Revolution. Meeting in Philadelphia, the Second Continental Congress created the Declaration of Independence in 1776. After the war, the Constitutional Convention deliberated there, and from 1790 to 1800 Philadelphia was the temporary capital of the newly created United States while the Federal City (now Washington, D.C.) was under construction. The city developed as a textile and manufacturing center during the 19th century and, growing on Franklin’s heritage, became a cultural and scientific center as well.

Getting there by boat is straightforward. If you’re coming from the Atlantic, Philadelphia is 83 nm up the Delaware from Cape May; if you’re coming from the Chesapeake, it’s 35 nm above the C&D Canal. The main waterfront area and the marinas start about three nm after you pass under the Walt Whitman Bridge.

First comes Penn’s Landing, which is hard to miss since it’s home to a 359-foot tall ship, a 344-foot Navy cruiser dating to 1895, and a 307-foot WWII submarine. Penn’s Landing has 34 slips, with 6 for transients. It can handle yachts up to 150-feet LOA and offers 30-, 50- and 100-amp service. Penn’s Landing does not have bathrooms or showers, but it does have rental foot-powered swan boats, kayaks and canoes, plus the Moshulu, a four-masted barque that is the the oldest and largest square rigger still floating. Launched in 1904, today Moshulu is a restaurant—the only one on a tall ship. Almost next to Moshulu is the Navy cruiser Olympia, the oldest steel warship still floating and Admiral Dewey’s flagship during the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898. Tied up next to it is the submarine USS Becuna launched in 1944 and credited with the sinking of several Japanese ships during the war. Both Olympia and Becuna are registered as National Historic Landmarks and are open for tours.

The next marina up the river is Pier 5, with 110 slips (6 for transients) on floating docks inside a new 128-foot breakwater. Pier 5 does have heads, showers and laundry, and 30- and 50-amp service. It can hold yachts up to 128-feet LOA. Just a stone’s throw farther up the river and immediately north of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Philadelphia Marine Center is the largest marina in the area, with 338 slips, including 65 for transients. It can handle boats up to 130-feet LOA, and has 30-, 50- and 100-amp service. The Philadelphia Marine Center has heads, showers and laundry and is the only one of the three marinas with pump-out facilities plus gas and diesel fuel docks.

After you’ve tied up the boat, you won’t have to worry about things to do. At Penn’s Landing, the Independence Seaport Museum exhibits show the history of shipbuilding along the Delaware, a boat shop dedicated to traditional boat building and a full-scale replica of a 1700s coastal schooner.

It’s just a short walk to Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both signed. The iconic Liberty Bell is nearby. Its message, “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof,” was a rallying cry for abolitionists to end slavery.

The Betsy Ross House built around 1740 is now a museum with period actors and only a five-minute walk away. From there it’s also just a few blocks to Elfreth’s Alley in the heart of the Old City, a street with 32 restored buildings dating from the 1720s to the 1830s; it’s the oldest residential neighborhood in the U.S.

To continue the colonial theme, take a tour bus or rental car 24 miles out to Valley Forge, a national park with 30 miles of trails and picnic areas. A five-mile inner loop includes George Washington’s command center, the troops’ huts, cannon, and parade grounds where the Continental Army trained and suffered during the terrible winter of 1777-78, while the British occupied Philadelphia.

Back in town, the Philadelphia Museum of Art holds 200 galleries spanning 2,000 years. It is one of the most important museums in the world with Italian, Flemish and early Renaissance masterpieces, plus the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. And if you want to imitate Rocky Balboa, run up the 72 steps leading to the museum.

After all this touring, it’s time to eat. If you’re still in a historic mode, head for the City Tavern near Independence Hall, a replica of a 1773 restaurant where the Founding Fathers gathered. The staff is in colonial costumes, and the menu is devoted to 18th century American food, including sweet potato biscuits (Jefferson’s favorite), turkey potpie and ale made from Washington’s own recipe.

Having lived in Philadelphia for five years, I can state that no trip there is complete without a visit to the Reading Terminal Market in the center of downtown. An urban farmers’ market since 1892, Reading Terminal now has more than 100 merchants in stalls and storefronts, with everything from Amish specialties to artisan cheese and fresh meat.

For another local favorite, take a cab to the Roxborough neighborhood for Philadelphia’s legendary cheese steak at Dalessandro’s Steaks open from 11AM to midnight. Place your order at the counter; everyone from Philadelphia lawyers dressed in suits to construction workers in hardhats eats here. Then for a more traditional dinner, head for Pesto in South Philly, which looks plain on the outside but has delicious southern Italian food on the inside. The portions are large and the staff is friendly.

By Peter A. Janssen, Southern Boating Magazine September 2016

PHILADELPHIA CRUISER RESOURCES

DOCKAGE

Penn’s Landing Marina
301 S. Columbus Blvd.
(215) 928-8803; marina@drwc.org

Pier 5 Marina
25 N. Columbus Blvd.
(215) 545-1500; thepiersmarina.com 

Philadelphia Marine Center
235 N. Columbus Blvd.
(215) 931-1000; philamarinecenter.com

ATTRACTIONS

Independence Seaport Museum
211 S. Columbus Blvd.
(215) 413-8655; phillyseaport.org

Independence Hall
520 Chestnut St.
(800) 537-7676; nps.gov/inde

Liberty Bell
6th and Market Streets
(215) 965-2305; nps.gov/inde

Betsy Ross House
239 Arch St.
(215) 629-4026; historicphiladelphia.org

Elfreth’s Alley
126 Elfreth’s Alley
(215) 627-8680; elfrethsalley.org

Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
(215) 763-8100; philamuseum.org

Valley Forge
1400 N. Outer Line Dr.
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 783-1099; nps.gov/vafo

RESTAURANTS

Moshulu
401 S. Columbus Blvd.
(215) 923-2500; moshulu.com

City Tavern
138 S. 2nd St.
(215) 413-1443; citytavern.com

Reading Terminal Market
51 N. 12th St.
(215) 922-2317; readingterminalmarket.org

Dalessandro’s Steaks
600 Wendover St.
(215) 482-5407; dalessandros.com

Pesto
1915 S. Broad St.
(215) 336-8380; ristorantepesto.com

 

Chesapeake Cowboys’ season finale at the Baltimore Yacht Basin

Extreme boat docking will make its debut this month on the western shore at Nick’s Fish House and the Baltimore Yacht Basin. The Chesapeake Cowboys are bringing their season finale boat docking competition to Nick’s and the yacht basin located on the middle branch of the Patapsco River in Port Covington. Boat docking competitions are a 50-year-old sport and family tradition on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay, and this event will mark the first competitive docking event on the western shore. Workboats and charter boats compete within their divisions to motor from a designated point before a hard reverse into the dock where pilings are lassoed during a timed competition. The cowboys compete for cash, prizes, trophies, and bragging rights. The festivities kick off at Nick’s on Friday, September 23rd at 6PM, with an official Chesapeake Cowboys Captains’ party. The party will continue at the yacht basin on Saturday, September 24th at noon with live bands, local brews, crab picking, and oyster shucking contests. The docking competition will run through Saturday and concludes with a “Grand Finale Shootout,” where the best of four Captains will compete for the fastest time to be crowned “King of the Bay.” chesapeakecowboysboatdocking.com

More access at Hart-Miller
Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources has opened an additional 300 acres of Hart-Miller Island for recreational purposes such as biking, hiking, camping, and nature watching. Accessible only by boat, the island has more than a half-mile of beachfront open to the public. The south cell of the island will be open and staffed Thursdays through Mondays from 11AM-4PM. The cell contains over eight miles of trails that circle around a large pond and include picturesque views of the Chesapeake Bay. Bike rentals are also available on the island. Located at the mouth of Back River, the 1,100-acre artificial Hart-Miller Island used to be two islands called Hart and Miller. In 1981, Maryland began the creation of what is now Hart-Miller Island by construction of a dike that linked the two islands. The resulting impoundment was filled with material dredged from the Baltimore Harbor, its approach channels and the channels in the upper Chesapeake Bay. Along with the new hiking and biking trails, Hart-Miller Island currently features swimming, wading, sunbathing, picnicking areas, 22 campsites, and an observation tower that offers a bird’s eye view of the beachfront and the bay. dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/hartmiller.aspx

Trawlerfest take two
The threat of Hurricane Joaquin forced last year’s Chesapeake Bay Trawlerfest to be canceled as Maryland and Virginia declared a state of emergency. Event organizers will try again this year at the Bay Bridge Marina in Stevensville, Maryland, featuring what should be an impressive array of seminars and boat and trade displays offered in a rendezvous-style format with evening events and activities. This year’s Trawlerfest will run from September 27th through October 1st. Attendees can expect course offerings on such topics as diesel engines, the boat buying process, boat handling, coastal navigation, and cruising the Intracoastal Waterway. baybridgemarina.com/events   

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine September 2016

Hurricane amnesia

Hurricane season is once again upon us and technically runs from June 1st through November 30th. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects a near-normal season, however, they also warn that current and changing climate signals make predicting this season exceptionally challenging. History shows that our currently dissipating El Niño patterns could potentially lead to the hurricane-friendly conditions of La Niña. “This is a more challenging hurricane season outlook than most because it’s difficult to determine whether there will be reinforcing or competing climate influences on tropical storm development,” explains NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center lead seasonal hurricane forecaster, Gerry Bell, Ph.D. “However, a near-normal prediction for this season suggests we could see more hurricane activity than we’ve seen in the last three years, which were below normal.

Here’s the breakdown of NOAA’s 2016 predictions:

–70 percent likelihood of 10-16 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher)
–Of the named storms, 4-8 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher)
–Of the hurricanes, 1-4 could become major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph and higher)

One thing is true: It’s been more than 10 years since a hurricane has hit the southeast seaboard, so any 2016 activity could cause more damage than anticipated since communities may not be prepared for a normal season. Many southeast residences seem to have some kind of “hurricane amnesia” due to the lack of hurricanes for so many years, which is particularly concerning. According to NPR member station WJCT reporter Ryan Benk, “A [AAA] survey shows nearly half of Floridians are not actively preparing for hurricanes. And less than a quarter said they won’t evacuate, even if told to.” Those residing along or close to the coast, a population that has grown by nearly 50 percent in the last 40 years, are especially vulnerable to risks posed by hurricanes and storms.
And it’s even more challenging to forecast this season’s progression and potential impact because of La Niña’s unpredictable behavior. “There’s even more information now strongly suggesting that there’s at least a 75-80 percent chance that we will go into a La Niña pattern,” says AccuWeather Atlantic hurricane expert, Dan Kottlowski. “Historically, some hurricane seasons that have followed a transition from El Niño to La Niña have been very active. It’s possible we could flip from one extreme to the other, from below-normal seasons the past three years to an above-normal year in 2016.” If La Niña takes hold this month, it would most likely last through December.

Changes in global atmospheric circulation patterns supplement La Niña and are responsible for weather extremes in certain spots around the world. These weather extremes are routinely contrary to those associated with El Niño. Steve Graham of NASA characterizes La Niña: “These patterns result from colder than normal ocean temperatures inhibiting the formation of rain-producing clouds over the eastern equatorial Pacific region while at the same time enhancing rainfall over the western equatorial Pacific region (Indonesia, Malaysia and northern Australia). These patterns affect the position and intensity (weakening) of jet streams and the behavior of storms outside of the tropics in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.”

By Alana Schindel, Southern Boating Magazine August 2016

All hands on deck

With their new nonprofit status, the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament reduced the entry fees and simplified calcuttas, making the event even more attractive to offshore fishing fans. This year’s tournament takes place August 15-20 and is based at the Pirate’s Cove Marina in Manteo, North Carolina.
Last August, the crew aboard Capt. Rob Mahoney’s Viking 66 Sea I Sea pocketed $175,400 for reeling in 15 billfish overall—releasing 11 white and four blue marlin—throughout the three days of fishing. The 68 Bayliss Uno Mas mounted a serious challenge on the last day with the crew and Capt. Tommy Lynskey releasing 11 billfish, including five on Friday to earn second place honors and a sum of $117,840.
A total of 56 teams and 425 anglers participated for $468,000 in prize money and released 322 billfish during the week, including 239 white marlin, 39 blue marlin, 32 sailfish, and 12 spearfish. Who’s going to take home first place honors this year? pcbgt.com

Ladies only
Participation continues to grow for Bahia Marina’s annual Poor Girls Open, a ladies-only billfish release tournament held August 17-20 that benefits breast cancer research. Last year’s tournament off of Ocean City, Maryland, saw 100 boats with Reel Joy’s winning crew releasing nine fish. Anglers also reeled in wahoo and dolphin as well as a 149-pound tuna caught by Nora Warren on Maverick.
Capt. Steve Harman started the tournament as a way for locals to have a fun, affordable competition while raising money for an important cause. The Poor Girls Open has donated over $100,000 to the American Cancer Society in the last three years alone. Plenty of charter opportunities are available for non boat-owning participants or those not local to the area. bahiamarina.com

What’s out there
End-of-season pricing is typically the best time to find a bargain, and if you’re looking to buy, “The Tar Heel State” is holding a couple of solid events to see what’s on the market this month. More than a dozen marine dealers representing over 40 manufacturers will display remaining 2015 and new 2016 models at the Carolina Fall Boat Show & Sale at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, August 19-21. Admission for all three days costs $7. The following week (August 26-28) brings the Charlotte Convention Center’s first Mid-Atlantic Fall Boat & RV Show and Sale, where attendees may preview 2017 models and browse a full lineup of family sport boats and personal watercraft for sale. ncboatshows.com

A holiday on the bay
Australia-based Mariner Boating Holidays will cruise the Chesapeake Bay waters August 20-September 2. Setting sail from Annapolis, the itinerary mostly features stops on the eastern shore of Maryland and ends with a leisure day in Baltimore followed by a peaceful night at anchor on the Magothy River.
The company has held two yacht rallies so far this year: one amid the French Riviera and the other traversing Sweden. Next year’s planned rallies include visits to Cuba, Croatia and Greece among other compelling destinations. The key qualification for joining the rally is “a desire to see yourself on the deck of a sailboat in one of the world’s great travel destinations.” marinerboating.com

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine August 2016

Moonlight sails on Charleston Harbor

Schooner Pride sails into the moonlight July 19-20 on Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. The classic 84-foot tall ship sails for an hour and a half with live acoustic music on board. Guests may hoist and trim sails or simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Beautiful views of the Ravenel Bridge, the Battery’s historic residences and pelicans are highlights along the ride, and it’s common to see dolphins playing and racing along the bow throughout the sail. schoonerpride.com

New name, same waters

Off the ICW just north of the Surf City Bridge, the dormant Beach House Marina came to life as Topsail Island Marina this spring. An 8-foot-deep channel leads to the protected facility’s floating docks with depths of the same range. Two dozen restaurants, a marine store, retail shops, an IGA grocery store, and the beach are only two blocks from the family-owned and operated business. Pets are welcome and Topsail highlights its superfast Wi-Fi. Ten transient berths handle boats up to 100 feet at $2 per foot. topsailislandmarina.com

Sail Away

The South Carolina Maritime Museum holds youth sailing camp sessions throughout the summer to prepare your little ones for life on the water. Sessions last half a day (morning and afternoon sessions) and are offered Monday through Friday, July 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, and 25-29. Each session has 6-10 campers and takes place aboard the Optimist Prams, a sailboat designed with kids under 16 years of age in mind—simple enough for an 8-year-old yet challenging enough for a 15-year-old, and a certified instructor evaluates the sailing knowledge and experience of each camper to place them in the most appropriate group before beginning each session. While in sessions, campers learn the basics and essentials of sailing as well as boat safety. Registration fees come with a U.S. Sailing Course book, a skills logbook and a T-shirt. Visit the museum’s website to register. scmaritimemuseum.org

Morningstar Marinas upgrades

Increased shore power and enhanced Wi-Fi greet visiting cruisers at Golden Isles’ Morningstar Marinas, St. Simons, Georgia. General manager Chris Ferguson says, “The new 100-amp shore power will allow the marina to cater to vessels ranging from 25 feet to more than 100 feet on a daily basis.” Also, the vast marina now has onSpot Wi-Fi. “OnSpot is the foremost expert in marine Wi-Fi…[it is] fast, reliable and secure…throughout the entire marina,” adds Ferguson. morningstarmarinas.com/golden-isles

West Palm Beach channel closures

Due to ongoing bridge construction in South Florida, the channel in the Flagler Memorial Bridge area will be completely closed July 5-13. Half-channel closures are set for July 14th to August 1st. flaglerbridge.com

Salty coast

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast, Florida, provides the opportunity for youth ages 8-17 to experience hands-on saltwater fishing to develop their skills through a series of workshops. The workshop costs $20 per person and runs for three hours (9AM-12PM) each Friday from July 8-29. In addition to learning standard fishing techniques, participants are educated on the importance of conservation and safety practices. All necessary supplies are provided by the park. Call (386) 446-6783 for details. floridastateparks.org

By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating Magazine July 2016

Beautiful blooms festival

The annual Mt. Harmon Lotus Blossom Art & Nature Festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 6th, from 10AM to 4PM. The historic Tidewater Plantation near Earleville, Maryland, offers docking for cruisers visiting the 200-acre nature preserve. Arriving by boat on Back Creek, a branch of the Sassafras River, is a much more pleasant ride than trying to navigate the long, winding, unpaved, single lane road leading to the property. The festival showcases the rare American Lotus, which is usually in full bloom along the shallows bordering the plantation. Artisans and vendors display nature-inspired fine arts and crafts, and historic reenactors entertain visitors with old-time cooking and homesteading. For a full list of exhibitors and activities, email info@mountharmon.org; mountharmon.org
Gone fishing!
This year’s Dare County Boat Builders Foundation fishing tournament will honor Sonny Briggs, one of the most experienced boatbuilders on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Proceeds from the offshore fishing tournament promote awareness of the historical and cultural heritage of boatbuilding in Dare County, North Carolina, and support educational opportunities for students. This year’s 30 deserving students received a total of $27,250 to help fund the cost of their education. Lines can go into the water beginning at 8:30AM on Thursday, July 28th, and will be pulled out by 2:30PM on Saturday, July 30th. Sign up during registration night at the Pirate’s Cove Marina Tournament Pavilion in Manteo on Wednesday, July 27th, from 5-8PM, mingle with fellow anglers while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres beginning at 6:30PM, and attend the captain’s meeting at 7:30PM. An advance registration form can also be downloaded from the event’s website. The tournament is open to all boats—custom and production. An awards banquet caps the tournament on Saturday night from 6-8PM. Complete rules and entry information can be found on the official tournament website. dcbbf.org

City purchases tall ship

Mariners get to see the schooner Virginia sailing along the Elizabeth River for many years to come as the Norfolk City Council approved a plan for the Nauticus Foundation to buy the tall ship. Docking for the 122-foot vessel is planned to be near the battleship USS Wisconsin, and the public may tour it for free. The foundation received $1 million in state funding—rebated money from a city roads project—to buy the ship. They plan to use it to teach underprivileged children how to sail. Launched in 2005, Virginia is a reproduction of a ship that first set sail in 1917. nauticus.org

Funding for the Hall

The National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) announced that the Merrill Family Foundation donated $250,000 to match a state grant for the planning, design and permitting of a new facility at the site of its current location at the Annapolis City Dock adjacent to the Naval Academy. The new facility intends to boost the educational and public programming of NSHOF, which includes curricula for middle/high school students, a free public sailing program, boat exhibitions, regattas for injured veterans, and public access to Spa Creek. nationalsailinghalloffame.org

Florida anchoring ban bill and at-risk vessel bills effective July 1

Despite fervent opposition from cruisers, Florida passed a law banning overnight anchoring in several popular locations, with a few exceptions. Starting July 1st, anchoring from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise is banned on the section of Middle River between Northeast 21st Court and the ICW in Broward County, Sunset Lake in Miami-Dade County and sections of Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County lying between Rivo Alto Island and Di Lido Island, San Marino Island and San Marco Island, and Biscayne Island. Exceptions pertain to mechanical failures, certain weather conditions, special events, government vessels, construction or dredging vessels, and recreational fishing. Fines start at $50. The law may be offset by the results of the FWC’s Anchoring & Mooring Pilot Program in January 2017.
Also effective July 1st, at-risk vessels will be fined from $50-$250 in Florida. At-risk vessels are described as follows: vessels taking on or have taken on water without an effective means to dewater, vessels with spaces on the vessel that are designed to be enclosed that are incapable of being sealed or remain open to the elements for extended periods of time, vessels that have broken loose or are in danger of breaking loose from anchor, vessels that are left unattended or stored aground in such a state that would prevent the vessels from getting underway, or vessels that are listing due to water intrusion, are sunk or partially sunk.

Miami Science Barge

A floating ecological laboratory and environmental education center sits atop a 30- by 120-foot barge next to the Perez Art Museum at Museum Park. Cages encircling the barge contain developing oysters, crabs, seagrass and mangroves, while remotely operated underwater cameras capture action below the surface. Solar panels, biodiesel generators and batteries provide renewable energy, as local seawater and rainwater enable zero discharge. It is the sole Miami winner of the 2015 Knight Cities Challenge that strives to make the 26 Knight communities “more vibrant places to live and work”. Program Director Matt Haggman says the barge is “an exciting way to connect and focus our community on creative ways to think about innovation and sustainability.”

North Carolina bridge construction

A new bridge will replace the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge that crosses the Oregon Inlet. Construction began in March with completion expected in August 2019. Broadcasts and bulletins convey information and updates to mariners on work conducted 24/7. Construction equipment including a work trestle/loading dock with a lit 245′ breast-line surround the bridges. Civil Constructors’ tugs and vessels monitor VHF-FM channels 13 and 16. For details, visit: ncdot.gov/projects/bonnerbridgereplace.

Free entertainment at Carolina Beach, NC

Why wait another month for fireworks? Visit Carolina Beach, North Carolina’s Boardwalk, and enjoy music from the gazebo every Thursday this summer at 6:30PM and then fireworks at 9PM. Both are free and open to all. Carolina Beach Harbor’s dock at Gibby’s Dock and Dining is a suggested tie-up spot.

By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating Magazine June 2016

Harborfest celebrates its 40th year along the Elizabeth

There’s no shortage of things to do June 9-12 along the water in Norfolk. That’s when the largest, longest-running, free maritime festival in the country, Norfolk Harborfest, returns for its 40th year. The festival’s four days of activities and attractions include a massive Parade of Sail on Friday with tall ships, character vessels, power cruisers, sailing craft, antique and classic wooden boats, military vessels, tugs, and more.

The parade draws thousands of onlookers stationed at vantage points along the Elizabeth River as the fleet travels down the river toward Town Point Park. Public tours of the ships begin at noon on Saturday and Sunday and conclude at sunset. Other festival attractions include fireworks, musical entertainment, mermaids, Fly Board propulsion, tugboat contest, workboat race, build-a-boat challenge, wine and craft beer garden, boardwalk arcade, and the acrobats of The Red Trouser Show.

Visiting mariners can dock alongside the park promenade for easy access to the festivities. Advance registration is highly recommended. Transient docking is also available at the nearby Waterside Marina.

Later in the month the park will host the 27th annual Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Food Festival June 24-26. More than 8,000 pounds of live crawfish straight from Louisiana will be boiled up with sausage, corn and potatoes throughout the weekend. Jambalaya, file gumbo, crawfish and shrimp etouffee, po’ boy sandwiches, alligator sausage, Cajun boudin, beignets, and fresh Louisiana Gulf oysters will also be ready to devour or nibble, however y’all please. festevents.org

Fishing on the Banks

It’s peak season for visitors on North Carolina’s Outer Banks and also prime time for inshore and offshore fishing. With blue marlin, white marlin, mahi-mahi, wahoo, cobia, king mackerel, bluefish, tuna, flounder, crabs, shrimp, and croaker roaming the waters, something’s bound to bite. All you need is the right bait, spot, equipment, and a little luck.

A small to mid-size boat will get you to where frying-pan fish are found. If you want to increase your chances, inshore fishing charters are available to fish the sounds, inlets or near-shore waters using light tackle or fly fishing gear. Large yachts and big-game memories can be found through the charter-fishing folks, most notably at Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Island. Split the cost between six anglers and a $1,500 to $1,700 charter becomes reasonable and logical considering all the tackle, fuel and know-how that’s necessary for a successful Gulf Stream fishing expedition. If you want to give it a go yourself, the staff at Frisco Rod and Gun has useful advice and everything you’ll need. obxguides.com/charter-fishing

Opry Thursdays

Coastal breezes and eclectic twang will fill the air at the OBX Island Opry Show at Roanoke Island Festival Island Park on Thursday, July 7. Island Opry music events at the park’s amphitheater are held the first Thursday in June, July, and August. July’s lineup features Emily West, Love Cannon, Malpass Brothers, Boot Rooster, and Jonny Waters & Company. Docking is available for yachts up to 150 feet at the nearby Manteo Waterfront Marina. Manteo also offers free overnight tie-up with no services on a space-available basis, or you can anchor in good holding between the Waterfront Gazebo and Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse and take your dinghy to the dock. islandopry.com

By Christopher Knauss , Southern Boating Magazine June 2016

Marina Palms Yacht Club & Residences, North Miami Beach, FL

The all-new, full-service marina at Marina Palms Yacht Club & Residences is now open and features brand new construction at a prime location on the ICW in North Miami Beach, Florida. Designed for vessels up to 100 feet LOA, the marina and private boat club allow residents to experience the benefits of a waterfront lifestyle. The property’s former marina built on the shores of Maule Lake was a popular boating destination in the 1970s and 80s, but the facility fell into disrepair until 2013 when crew started clearing the marina basin for a current depth of 9′ to 12′. The dock system features two fixed dock fingers that flank the north and south side of the marina and a floating dock spine that cuts down the center of the basin. All 112 slips have electricity and fiber optic cabling for voice, data and high speed Internet. The fuel station and high-speed dispensers are fed from two 12,000-gallon tanks providing both diesel and gasoline service. A fulltime dock master, dockhands and a yacht concierge will arrange for vessel cleaning, maintenance, provision, and even plan entertainment for yacht owners. The marina is the centerpiece of Marina Yacht Club & Residences, a development that features two, 25-story condominium towers with 468 units. marinapalms.com

By Nathalie Gouillou, Southern Exposure May 2016

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