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.
The St. Marys River at the Georgia-Florida border has been the hub of the U.S. East Coast
commercial shrimp industry for more than a century. Modern trawl net and fishing boat
designs invented in the area in the early 1900s are still being used today. St. Marys, Georgia, celebrates the local shrimping industry and its history on Saturday, October 7th with the 45th Annual Rock Shrimp Festival. If you like shrimp, you will find it prepared at the festival in every possible way, from chilled to boiled and from fried to fricasseed.
Newly added to the event’s activities this year is a Songwriter’s Showcase featuring an afternoon and evening of music performances. Stages will be set up on the waterfront at St. Marys Park. The festival is organized by the Kiwanis Club of St. Marys, and proceeds are used locally to fund Kiwanis youth programs.
THE HISTORIC MARITIME TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN, located on the banks of Maryland’s Chester River, offers Chesapeake Bay cruisers much to see during its 14th Annual Downrigging Weekend Tall Ship and Wooden Boat Festival (October 27-29). The event started in November 2001, when the newly-launched schooner Sultana and the Pride of Baltimore II sailed together on the Chester before both vessels “downrigged” for the winter. The combination of cool breezes, fall colors at their peak and migrating waterfowl flying overhead make it a great time for a celebration.
Over the years, the festival has evolved into one of the largest tall ship gatherings on the East Coast. Expect to see a waterfront packed with ships, schooners and wooden boats, live musical entertainment, lectures by nationally recognized authors and filmmakers, and opportunities to sail aboard a tall ship. Plenty of space for small boat and dinghy docking is available at Wilmer Park. A good place to anchor is along the far shore, opposite the town’s waterfront. sultanaeducation.org
The “Sailing Capital of North Carolina” and one of the most popular stops for seasonal
cruisers along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), Oriental, North Carolina, is expanding services to boaters passing through.
The town’s new grocery store, Piggly Wiggly— known locally as “The Piglet”—now has a dedicated boater’s shuttle running to every marina in the village. The Piglet, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, has made this favorite ICW stop even better!
A different type of booze cruise: boat to these Virginia Vineyards
An inviting and picturesque location to take in the colorful fall season in Chesapeake country is Ingram Bay and the waters of Mill Creek, Virginia. There you will find Jacey Vineyards on a peaceful 150-acre waterfront parcel in historic Northumberland County. Mean low water is about 6 feet, so anchor in Mill Creek and bring your dinghy to the docks. The vineyard is a short walk from on-site piers. The planting originated in 2004, with Vidal Blanc, Petit Verdot and Zinfandel grapes, and has expanded with Albarino, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Current tasting hours are Saturdays from 11AM to 4PM. Staff is limited and special events are scheduled, so it’s a good idea to call ahead.
(804) 580-4053; jaceyvineyards.com
Speaking of grapes, just to the south on the Rappahannock River is the Tides Inn in Irvington, with classic, comfortable guest suites, golf course, spa, and marina (accommodates vessels up to 150 feet LOA). It is located where the tourism-friendly Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail meets the Virginia Oyster Trail. This charming resort features excursions such as wine tastings along the Virginia Wine Trail, as well as sailing and an abundance of other on-the-water activities. tidesinn.com
What’s in a name? If the name is ‘Wilmington’, it’s Riverwalks. The two coastal cities of Delaware and North Carolina share a whole lot more than just a name and a scenic Riverwalk. They share street names (Front, Water, Market and Orange, to name just a few), historic downtowns and some great eats.
Who will win the battle of Wilmington?
Delaware’s port city sits on the Christina and Delaware rivers and is chock-full of activities as the cultural and entertainment capital of the state.
EAT:Harry’s Seafood Grille (101 S Market St) Fresh seafood, reasonable prices, open atmosphere. What’s better than that? harryshospitalitygroup.com/harrys
DRINK:Nomad Bar (905 N Orange St) Aptly described by someone as “…stepping into someone’s living room to listen to a live band.” inwilmingtonde.com/places/nomad-bar
DOCK:Delaware City Marina A full-service marina and boatyard with slips, storage, ship’s store, gift shop, fuel, ice and a full array of marine services. delawarecitymarina.biz/
DO: Riverwalk (N Market St) Lined with activities, eateries, bars, museums and more. riverfrontwilm.com/
North Carolina’s port is the most accessible coastal area in the state. With a rich history and frequent events, the city is always bustling.
EAT:PinPoint (114 Market St) A rotating menu features local seasonal offerings from local farmers & fishermen. pinpointrestaurant.com/
DRINK:The Blind Elephant (21 N Front St ) A 1920s prohibition bar located in an abandoned alley creates a cozy atmosphere and serves top-shelf drinks. blindelephantspeakeasy.com
DOCK: Port City Marina A protected, deep water, full-service marina that can accommodate boats up to 250 feet is situated in the heart of downtown Wilmington. portcitymarina.com
DO: Riverwalk (5 N Water St) A wide walkway with scenic views, the Riverwalk also boast markets and events each weekend. riverfrontwilm.com/
Who should win the battle of Wilmington? Let us know in the comments!
My first trip to Montauk was not by boat. It was aboard what I called my “land yacht,” a 1965 Volkswagen Microbus I used as a part-time crash pad when I needed to put in some late- night studying for a college exam. I would park it near the campus, get a couple of slices of pizza and hit the books. It didn’t matter when I fell asleep, only that I woke up on time.
The Cat and I—yes, that was its name—were known to take off on a whim, and when one of my buddies suggested we hit the road for Montauk, it was merely to find our way east and keep going until we ran out of land. However, once the VW’s time had come—with well over 120,000 miles on it—it was, as Melville opined, high time to get to sea. My first charge was a 24-foot Owens cabin cruiser with a forward V-berth and an old hand pump-activated head—not much more. (As the years passed, I eventually worked my way up to a 93-foot gem, but that’s another story.) Each time I set out on a watery journey from my homeport in the Gerritsen Creek area of Brooklyn, New York, I ventured farther away until finally, I made it out to Montauk.
The town has a rich history. Its indigenous tribal people existed on the harvest of the fertile land as well as the seemingly inexhaustible supply of food from the forests and the sea. And it is this last notion, with that special tie to all things nautical, that has drawn cruisers and fishermen to these unique environs for generations. While many settings near and far adhere to the same mantra, Montauk has long been known as the Sportfishing Capital of the World and for good reason. With its location jutting out some 100 miles into the Atlantic Ocean, it is perfectly situated for the annual migration patterns of many of the most sought-after pelagic fish, including tuna, white and blue marlin, striped bass, bluefish, wahoo, the major variety of sharks, and others. Tournaments are plentiful and there is a daily buzz that can be felt from just before dawn to well after sunset.
The inshore and offshore action, even out to the legendary Canyons, always seems to be right on the money. From top-of-the-line sportfishing boats bristling with the latest electronics and impressive tourney accouterments—hydraulically operated outriggers, cockpits the size of your home living room, freezer compartments and ice-making machines, custom fighting chairs, and a seasoned crew—to center console models with quad outboard power hanging off the transom, to flounder pounding, fl uke drifting and porgy hooking outings on the family cruiser, everyone will be in the bite.
Ironically, it is from shore that elite fishermen ply their Zen-like approach to piscatorial adventures. “Trust me, with surf fishing, it is definitely not about the catching,” one veteran of “sudsing” the long rod once told me. I can confirm he was absolutely right. While I’ve plied the shoreline for years, with catches few and far between, I am very good with that. There is something really special about the time just before dawn, when the eastern horizon begins to glow, the surf line is a gentle hush with the living ocean heaving slightly and there’s just the hint of breeze coming off the calm water.
Then there is the moment at day’s end, when the last arc of the sun is about to disappear and, as the soft evening colors start to wrap things up, you glimpse a swirl of the white, combing, incoming waves.
There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing a guide.
Surf fishing on Montauk is unparalleled, and if you have never participated in this sport, now is the time to make it happen. There is specialized gear, including rods and reels, all sorts of plugs, poppers, lures, feathers, and gadgets and gizmos—some homegrown by the locals—that have proven to be fish producers. But as my aforementioned wizened old salt also intoned, “Fish have tails.”
While many local surf casters are reticent to divulge their secret spots and techniques, I have met some who will gladly share. Then again, you can always get a guide. One of the most popular is Bill Wetzel, a licensed pro who will take you on a six-hour excursion in his beach buggy, all tackle included, and guarantees everything but the weather and the fish.
During some downtime from fishing, you might want to explore this area’s abundant history. With great all-around views, a visit to the Montauk Point Lighthouse is a must. Commissioned by President George Washington in 1792, it is the hands-down image of what the hamlet is all about. Wear comfortable sneakers to climb the 137 steps to the top.
The striper action along the beach is excellent. If you’re an early riser, grab a cup of coffee and a tasty banana nut muffin to go and catch the sunrise. Looking for a day at the beach? Did you bring your surfboard? Ditch Plains, Kirk Park and Navy beaches are the places to go. Let somebody else drive the boat and visit Block Island via the Viking Fleet. Or if you’re up for some horseback riding, check out the trails at the family-owned-and-run Deep Hollow Ranch. Founded in 1658, it’s billed as the oldest working cattle ranch in the country.
Dining also tops the list of things to do in during your stay. As one would expect, seafood reigns supreme. Gosman’s Dock, established in 1943, offers its famed restaurant, topside deck, inlet café, fish market, and clam bar. Reservations are required. The Gig Shack on Main Street is also a dine-out delight. With its extensive menu featuring fish tacos, ribs and lobster rolls, laid-back ambiance and live music, this watering hole guarantees a great night out. If you have a taste for pulled pork, BBQ and onion rings, saunter over to Rick’s Crabby Cowboy Café. The seafood is outstanding as well, and the kids will love roasting marshmallows over the outdoor fire pit for s’mores. Alternatively, opt for fine dining at the Muse at the End, which showcases a wide variety including steak, chicken, fish, salads, and other delicious surprises. Just thirsty? Ask your marina manager to recommend the best bars; there are plenty from which to choose.
The area offers an excess of first-class, full-service marinas. Check with any of the online marina guides for suggestions, but make your reservations well in advance. One of my all-time favorites is Gone Fishing Marina, a 180-slip facility that can accommodate boats up to 66 feet in length with a 6-foot draft. And Dave’s Gone Fishing restaurant, where every table offers a spectacular view of the surroundings, is a definite crowd-pleaser. If you have a large boat, consider mooring at the Montauk Yacht Club. With the ability to accommodate vessels up to 220 feet with a 12-foot draft, this 232-slip marina provides first-class resort amenities, including three restaurants, bonfires, surf and paddleboard lessons. The 170-slip Star Island Yacht Club is a full-service facility with a huge ships store, Travelift, on-site dining, heated swimming pool, and more. People come to enjoy the myriad of social events, such as fishing tournaments and cruising club rendezvous.
For those coming for the fishing, check in with your marina manager for all the seasonal regulations, throwback sizes, limits per species, permits, if any, and other important information you’ll need. If you prefer the experience of local knowledge to increase your fishing success, try your hand with Montauk Outfitter, licensed and insured experts in kayak as well as surf fishing. If your boat is not rigged out for fishing, there are many opportunities to private charter a boat for the day, evening or half-time angling.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Montauk as much as I have over my many years of visiting. It’s a fishing wonderland with plenty to discover.
Tangier Island is a remote, rustic and beautifully weathered area occupied by seafaring residents who speak a tongue stained with a dialect from their Old English ancestors and a surprising diversion from more typical and mainstream Chesapeake Bay cruising locales.
Lying nearly in the middle of Virginia’s emerald-green Chesapeake Bay waters, Tangier Island is a tiny sliver of marsh-peppered sand measuring just a mile wide by three miles long. It is so isolated that it can only be reached by boat.
The island’s residents stubbornly cling to every last inch of what’s left, as wind, waves and climate change steadily wash pieces of it away forever. Adversity and rugged beauty have left a charming patina on the island.
Visiting Tangier feels like going back in time. Folks crisscross the island using motorized and electric golf carts and scooters. Sometimes travel by outboard-powered skiff proves far more efficient than any other mode of transportation. You can’t buy liquor here, and the locals are quite conservative about outsiders consuming any bootleg booze they’ve brought along with them, as religious faith plays an important role in islanders’ lives. A doctor visits the local medical clinic once a month by helicopter, when weather permits.
Even electricity is piped in from the mainland. Still, Tangier’s residents relish their individuality and freedom. Visiting the island to soak in their culture and way of life—as well as to experience Tangier’s amazing scenery and wildlife— is well worth the pit stop.
Discovered more than 400 years ago by Captain John Smith, Pocomoke Indians occasionally inhabited the island before it was fully settled around 1686 by a Cornishman named John Crockett. Today, the last names of 450 permanent residents also include Pruitt, Thomas, Parks, and Evans. Many centuries of isolation have left locals with a heavy accent handed down by their Cornish ancestors, a sort of Old English similar to the thick brogue some Downeast North Carolina residents speak. Tangier’s population swells and recedes by a few hundred each day as tourists arrive and depart on ferry boats to get a look at the place and bolster the local economy in the process. Tourism aside, the island’s rhythm from April until November is dictated by crabbing. Today, some 70 watermen continue to work the plentiful waters around Tangier.
There are two limiting factors when it comes to cruising the area: your boat’s draft and your need for supplies. If your boat draws more than about six feet, dock in Crisfield, Maryland, and take the daily ferry to Tangier Island, about 15 miles across Tangier Sound. The Steven Thomas (800-863-2338) leaves Crisfield at 12:30PM daily and returns from Tangier, departing at 4PM sharp. Other ferry services include the Joyce Marie II (757-891-2505) from the eastern shore town of Onancock, Virginia, or the Chesapeake Breeze (804-453- 2628) from the western shore hamlet of Reedville, Virginia.
Other ferry services include the Joyce Marie II (757-891-2505) from the eastern shore town of Onancock, Virginia, or the Chesapeake Breeze (804-453- 2628) from the western shore hamlet of Reedville, Virginia.
Cruisers who want the full Tangier experience stay at Park’s Marina, the island’s sole marina, which has 25 slips and showers for slip holders but no pump-out. Fuel is available from two fuel docks on Tangier’s main watery thoroughfare.
There’s a general store and a few restaurants on Tangier but very little additional supplies, sundries or engine, and mechanical parts. There are, however, two motels and a handful of bed and breakfasts on the island. If you choose to visit by boat, there are two off-ramps from the main Chesapeake Bay channel into Tangier Island proper. The easiest approach is through what is identified as “Tangier Channel” on the chart but called “North Channel” by locals.
It lies on the west side of the island, starting at flashing green “1W” before making a dogleg at flashing green “3” and flashing red “4.” The other access is through the charted “Entrance Channel” to the east. This route requires rounding the Tangier Sound Light, keeping clear of green can “3,” and then pointing toward flashing green “1E” into the Entrance Channel. This passage has similar depths to Tangier Channel—around six feet at mean low water—but is considered somewhat more reliable because the ferry and mail/supply boats run it every day, helping to keep sediment from filling the channel in.
The first thing that will likely come into sight as you approach—by ferry or your own boat— are the many worn and weather-beaten crab shanties that line both sides of the thoroughfare. With dry land at a premium, watermen use these stilt-supported shanties as places to stow their crabbing and oystering gear and secure their boats. The two entrance channels eventually meet in the middle, forming a small harbor that is often the center of waterfront activity on the island. Small outboard-powered skiffs crisscross the harbor at a frenetic pace, interrupted only by the comings and goings of traditional Chesapeake deadrise workboats heading out to the crabbing grounds or returning home to sell their catch. Buyboats from the mainland visit the island daily to secure these catches and return them to shoreside processing facilities. Watching—and listening to the banter during the transfers—can be quite entertaining.
If you have an outboard-powered dinghy, poke in and out of Tangier’s interesting nooks and crannies. Start by motoring slowly along the waterfront where watermen at their crab shanties work on their nets and crab pots or tinker with the engines on their boats. The handful of shanties with water pouring from them are soft-shell crab shedding facilities.
Blue crabs grow by occasionally shedding their hard exoskeleton for a larger shell. These shedding facilities buy crabs scraped up or trapped by watermen from the local grass flats and then put them in pens until they shed. Once a crab discards its old shell, it must be immediately plucked from the water or the shell will quickly harden. This makes shedding crabs a 24/7 operation. Once you’ve had a soft-shell crab sandwich, you’ll realize the hard work is worth it.
You can also take your dinghy to some of the marsh islands north and east of Tangier. The Uppards, a collection of islands north of Tangier proper, is particularly fascinating. Once inhabited, they are now abandoned and actively being washed away leaving hints of civilization, including headstones and human bone fragments that lie in the wash zone scoured by the waves. Indians left items behind here, too. A careful eye can find an arrowhead or two in the sand on a walk around the shoreline. Port Isobel is an island just east of Tangier and owned by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. They’re friendly to visitors, and the area is great for birdwatching.
No matter which marshy island you set foot on, biting black flies take painful chunks out of visitors not covered in insect repellent; you’ve been warned. Once you’re back ashore, walk around the island—or rent a golf cart—to take in the scenery. Don’t be surprised by the cemeteries in many of the homes’ front yards. Space is a premium on the island, so some families use their own land for laying relatives to rest. You’ll also see huge stacks of orange and yellow crab pots, beautiful old churches and homes with no lack of character and interesting style.
Visit the Tangier History Museum (16215 Main Ridge Road, 757-891-2374) for the local scoop, so to speak, and learn how the island has changed over the years. A trip to Tangier isn’t complete until you’ve sampled locally caught seafood that’s prepared in true Chesapeake style. Soft-shell crabs and crab cakes are a favorite on the island, and the folks at Fisherman’s Corner know how to prepare them just right.
Four Brothers Crab House and Ice Cream Deck is also a great place to grab a crab cake or soft-shell sandwich to go, but you should make it a point to get ice cream one evening and enjoy it on the deck outside the take-out window. Here, you can listen to the locals talk politics and engage in gossip with their unique and colorful accents. Lorraine’sSnack Bar is another joint serving great seafood sourced from local waters.
Visit Tangier while you can. Scientists estimate it may be overcome by water completely within 50 years, if the current rate of sea level rise continues. When you get there, you’ll discover a beautiful, rugged place populated by interesting folks who march to the beat of their own drummer, no matter what Mother Nature throws their way.
Colonial history and coastal culture make The City By the Sea a must on your cruising bucket list.
One of New England’s most popular coastal communities, Newport, Rhode Island, is a year-round destination that flaunts historic charm, spectacular scenery, extraordinary culinary delights, sweeping ocean views, and a crisp, refreshing sea breeze.
Nicknamed The City By the Sea for its location on the southernmost tip of Aquidneck Island—approximately 37 miles southeast of Providence—this resort town is also known for its Gilded Age-era opulent mansions and gorgeous beaches.
Once the summer playground of America’s socialites—think Vanderbilt, Astor, Kennedy—Newport today still offers a rich colonial landscape of cobblestone streets and brick buildings set alongside a breathtaking waterfront. If Newport isn’t already on your cruising bucket list, it should be.
Freedom to Boat
Founded in 1639, Newport was one of the largest and most important seaports during the Colonial Era before the American Revolution. It is also the birthplace of religious freedom; Newport was the new nation’s first city where everyone was allowed to worship without government interference. The Rhode Island Royal Charter of 1663, drafted by Newport physician and minister John Clarke and approved by King Charles II, officially gave the colonists the freedom to elect their own governor, write their own laws and outlined rules for religious tolerance.
By the early 20th century in the era known as the Gilded Age—a time of economic upturn—many of America’s wealthiest families descended upon Newport and built extravagant mansions to host some of the most lavish parties in town. The social scene was always in full swing along Bellevue Avenue at palatial sites: the Vanderbilts’ The Breakers and Rough Point, William Henry Kings’ Kingscote, William Shepard Wetmore’s Chateau-sur-Mer, and Jackie Bouvier’s childhood home, Hammersmith Farm on Harrison Avenue, where she married John F. Kennedy in 1953. Today, visitors can stroll through these swanky estates for an intriguing look at what life was like for the rich and famous names of that period.
Views for Days
If days of cruising have made your legs long for exercise, the Cliff Walk is a 3.5- mile trek along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and an opportunity to explore some of the beauty and history of Newport. A combination of paved and rocky roads, this pathway offers some of the most picturesque views, so keep your sneakers tied tight and your camera handy. Sights include Forty Steps, a popular spot for swimming or fishing from the cliffs; lovely views of the impeccably manicured lawns of Bellevue Avenue mansions; and Bailey’s Beach (aka Reject’s Beach), a private stretch of shore that the Gilded Age elite designated for the common folk. cliffwalk.com
The Newport Boat show takes hold of the official start of boat show season. Photo Credit: Discover Newport.
An overhead view of Fort Adams, Newport, RI.
Views overlooking the Pell Bridge in Newport, RI. Photo Credit: Hyatt Regency
Bluewater Grill serves up a mean clam linguini.
The south end of the Newport Cliffwalk. Photo credit: Discover Newport
The gorgeous coastline in Newport, RI. Photo Credit: Onne_van_der_Wal
The famous garden at the even more famous Breakers Mansion in Newport, RI. Photo Credit: Discover Newport.
History buffs will enjoy a guided tour of the fortress at Fort Adams, the largest
coastal fortification in the U.S. Take in the panoramic view of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay—New England’s biggest estuary—from the top and explore the soldiers’ underground listening tunnels below. And for the truly adventurous, rent a barrack and stay overnight. fortadams.org
Food and Wine
Make your way along the coastal trail and toast the good life with a glass (or
bottle) of red or white at one or all of Newport’s three coastal vineyards: Greenvale Vineyards (401-847-3777; greenvale.com), Newport Vineyards (401-848-5161; newportvineyards.com) and Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard (401-635-8486; sakonnetwine.com). Wine tastings and tours are offered daily at each.
Fine wine is always better when paired with delicious food. The Grill at Forty 1° North is an exclusive waterfront restaurant with a menu featuring grilled meats, seafood, a raw bar, and locally sourced selections. The Grand Tower— with oysters, clams, shrimp, whole lobster, Alaskan king crab legs, and tuna tartare—is the perfect start to your meal. If you still have room after that seafood bonanza, the Surf & Turf entrée includes filet mignon, poached lobster, wild mushrooms, and potato purée. Save room for dessert; the Apple Streusel Tart and Pineapple Cheesecake are worth all the calories. Whether dining inside or out, enjoy magnificent views of the harbor in this elegant setting. 41north.com
For a more casual meal, try the Skiff Bar at the Marriott Newport. Try a local craft brew (perhaps a Newport Storm Amber Ale), along with delicious appetizers such as lobster sliders and flatbread pizza. Don’t miss the spectacular view! mainsail-restaurant.com/skiff-bar/
Or indulge in a lobster roll and a cup of New England Clam Chowder from Bluewater Bar + Grill, a contemporary farm-totable restaurant with a variety of seafood items on the menu, as well as chicken or steak for landlubbers. Bring the kids; they get their own menu. bluewatergrillri.com
Marina Mania
Cruisers have their pick of marinas on Narragansett Bay and in Newport Harbor that offer dock space for small boats to huge yachts. Take a break from navigation, leave your boat in the marina and go on a narrated sightseeing tour, seal-watching or a fishing excursion. The Jamestown-Newport Ferry provides easy access to a variety of attractions, shopping and dining, and a round-trip ticket lets you hop on and off as often as you’d like. jamestownnewportferry.com
As host of some of racing’s most esteemed regattas, including 50 years of the America’s Cup (1930 to 1983), Newport has been called the Sailing Capital of the World. The Museum of Yachting opened in 1979 and merged with the International Yacht Restoration School in 2007. Stop by to watch as students build or restore boats, and view the different exhibits that highlight Newport’s famous sailing history. iyrs.edu
Before you leave, be sure to buy some antiques, handmade gifts and souvenirs at Bowen’s Wharf, Bannister’s Wharf or Brick Market Place. More than 60 shops and boutiques tempt shoppers with many unique items from which to choose. Take home a couple of nautical-themed accessories and you’ll feel like you never left town.
Newport International Boat Show
Thursday, September 14th –Saturday, September 16th, 10AM to 6PM Sunday, September 17th 10AM to 5PM.
The 47th Annual Newport International Boat Show (NIBS), one of the largest in-water boat shows in the country, encompasses more than 13 acres of Newport, Rhode Island’s downtown waterfront and will host hundreds of exhibitors from around the world with new powerboats and sailboats ranging from 15 to 90 feet, plus a variety of accessories, equipment, electronics, gear, and services for boaters. NIBS is the official kickoff to the boat show season.
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in educational seminars and hands-on training courses, including Boat Buying 101, and view special programs, such as the 12th Annual Newport For New Products (NFNP), which showcase new boats and products that are making their U.S. debut at the show. On Friday, September 15th, awards will be given for creativity, innovation and practicality in nautical solutions and design to the best new powerboat, sailboat, navigation product, and boating operation, maintenance or safety product. New for this year is the “Green” category honoring one boat and one product based on its eco benefits and features. newportboatshow.com
A new island has formed rather quickly in Cape Hatteras.
A new island has unexpectedly and rapidly emerged south of Cape Point, a popular surf, kayak and fishing destination at the southern tip of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Large sandbar formation and shifting shoals are not unusual along the barrier islands of the Southeast coast.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore personnel have been watching a shoal forming in this area for some time. According to Dave Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, which oversees Cape Point, this formation is “unusually large compared to what we’ve been seeing in recent decades.”
The new island—one mile long and several hundred yards wide—is locally being referred to as “Shelly” Island due to the abundance of shells found on its shoreline.
Anglers can test their luck in a couple of fishing tournaments this month on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The Kitty Hawk Surf Company Kayak Fishing Tournament is Saturday, September 16th. Fishing is allowed anywhere between Wright Memorial Bridge in Kitty Hawk to the north, Hatteras Inlet to the south, up to one mile offshore to the east, and west to the Currituck and Manns Harbor shorelines.
Tournament species include flounder, speckled trout, and red drum. All fish must be caught from a watercraft, and wading is not allowed. It’s a photo catch-and-release tournament, and all pictures must include a custom badge that will be distributed at a Captain’s Meeting the night before the event.
The Hatteras Island Surf Fishing Challenge, Friday, September 22nd to Sunday, September 24th, features four divisions: bluefish, sea mullet, flounder/black drum, and Spanish mackerel/pompano (species chosen depending on fishing reports). Five weigh-in spots are located throughout the islands.
The cost to enter is $60 per angler before September 12th and $70 thereafter, with more than $8,000 in cash and prizes going to the winners. The tournament ends with an awards ceremony at Camp Hatteras. fishermanspost.com
If we want trash-free seas, that means cleanups, everybody, everywhere.
Join the ranks of more than 11 million people that have come together around the world each fall for the past 31 years to fight for trash-free seas and coastlines. Saturday, September 16th is this year’s Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), named one of the largest volunteer efforts in the world. Last year, the Ocean Conservancy organized more than half a million people in 112 countries to remove 18 million pounds of trash from the world’s oceans and coastlines. Not only does the organization clean up our shorelines, it helps change behavior. In communities where coastal cleanups have been organized, less debris is generated locally following the event.
Last year, the Ocean Conservancy organized more than half a million people in 112 countries to remove 18 million pounds of trash from the world’s oceans and coastlines. Not only does the organization clean up our shorelines, it helps change behavior. In communities where coastal cleanups have been organized, less debris is generated locally following the event.
An interactive map containing all of the details for planned events can be found at the Ocean Conservancy’s website: oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas.. ICC events planned in the Southeast include eight Southeast include eight locations in North Carolina, one in South Carolina, one in Georgia, and six in Florida.
By Bob Arrington Southern Boating, Setember 2017; Photo courtesy of the Ocean Conservancy.
September is my favorite month on the Chesapeake Bay and the Mid-Atlantic for several reasons: Most summer vacationers have departed; the weather is cooler and more comfortable and the fall colors make it a great time to cruise and to fish.
If you like seafood, you’ll love the Maryland Seafood Festival. The 50th annual seafood festival is September 9th and 10th at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis. The tented beach event offers delicious seafood dishes, interactive cooking demonstrations, and cook-off competitions, along with maritime-related exhibits, contests and family fun. Local craft beer and wine will be available. Throw in the live music, sand soccer, and fireworks, and you have a very entertaining scene.
A portion of the festival’s proceeds goes toward local nonprofit organizations, including YMCA Camp Letts and the Foundation for Community Betterment. Tickets are available online and at the door. The park’s large marina has six finger piers for temporary day-use docking on a first come, first-served basis. visitmaryland.org
SEPTEMBER STARTS THE BIG BOAT SHOW SEASONin Newport, Rhode Island, but you don’t have to travel that far north to get your boat show fix. North Carolina will host the 2nd Annual Wilmington Boat Show September 8-10 in Wilmington, North Carolina. After a successful first run with more than 70 vendors and great attendance, everyone is excited about a bigger and better event this year. The show takes place in multiple locations, including the Wilmington Convention Center, Port City Marina and The Shell and Battleship North Carolina. For more information, including a list of vendors and advance ticket purchase, go to wilmingtonboatshow.com.
If your interests are specifically in wooden boats, there are more North Carolina boat shows for you. The 8th Annual Southport Wooden Boat Show will be held Saturday, September 30th at the Old Yacht Basin in Southport. A record number of attendees are expected at the show to view boats in and out of the water. For a unique experience, Duke Energy sponsors an Educational Pavilion that supports the show’s mission: “To promote interest in and disseminate knowledge of the craft and art of wooden boat construction, to support efforts to preserve wooden boat construction and skills, and to celebrate the region’s maritime and boatbuilding history.”
The North Carolina Aquarium and Fort Fisher Underwater Archeological Branch will also contribute interesting exhibits for attendees’ enjoyment. Don’t miss the “Taste of Cape Fear” and Ship’s Store tents featuring local seafood dishes and numerous vendors offering nautical-related products. Show details can be found at southportwoodenboatshow.com.
By Bob Arrington Southern Boating, September 2017, Photo by Chris Schnell
Cambridge, Maryland bids adieu to summer with Summer Send-Off Festival
The historic maritime town of Cambridge, Maryland, knows how to send off summer with three of my favorite “B” words. This year’s Summer Send-Off festival—themed “Blues, Brews and Barbecue”—will be held on Saturday, September 16th from 5PM to 10PM in the downtown area, a short distance from available docking at the Cambridge Municipal Yacht Basin. Located on the Choptank River near the mouth of Cambridge Creek, it has a maximum depth of 13 feet and is a comfortable stop for boats from 20 feet to 200 feet.
The festival is held on Poplar and Race streets and features barbecue-inspired foods, live entertainment, and craft beer. RAR Brewing is returning as this year’s sponsor of the Main Stage and will serve its full line of beer, which is brewed in downtown Cambridge at its Poplar Street taproom and new canning facility on Gay Street.
The fun includes pedaling miniature tricycles, running in flippers and a SCUBA mask, and racing with an egg on a spoon. The fastest team gets bragging rights and a $100 donation to their favorite charity.
Crevalle Boats now has a Northeast dealer at Tradewinds Marina near Baltimore. The dealership will off er three Mercury Verado-powered models with anglers and families in mind: the 24 Bay, 26 Bay and 26 Open. Described by the company as crossover or hybrid-style boats for the family, these models offer a Porta Potti, built-in removable coolers, eight cup holders, three insulated livewells, lockable rod storage, a forward cushion package with reversible back rests, coffin box cooler with cushion set, and electronics.
The primary sales area for Crevalle has been from Corpus Christi, Texas, around the Gulf Coast to the Florida Keys and up to Sneads Ferry, North Carolina. The addition of Tradewinds Marina, a family-owned and operated business with more than 34 years of service to Maryland, extends Crevalle’s reach another 400 miles to the north.
