It was unfathomable just a few years ago, but the Potomac River is making a comeback.
Thanks to the efforts of many people and groups like the Potomac Conservancy, the Potomac River may be safe for swimming in our lifetime. The graded health of the river has risen from “D” to “B” in only 10 years.
Potomac Conservancy was formed in the summer of 1993 by a group of local recreationalists concerned about inappropriate development, clear-cutting, and other activities that were beginning to have a negative impact on the unspoiled character of the Potomac Gorge.
“The Potomac is now on the verge of being one of the nation’s great river recovery stories,” writes the Washington Post.
More work and vigilance is definitely necessary, but for the first time in generations, parts of the river are clean enough for anglers to eat their catch and safe enough for children to wade in. Being able to safely swim in the entire river is a goal worth pursuing as new challenges emerge.
The Potomac River is a source of drinking water for more than five million people living around Washington, D.C. A 2018 report from the conservancy said that pollution declined, wildlife returned and more land was protected. All of these factors are contributing to the river’s rebound. Because of this, more people are returning to the river for water-related activities.
American shad, bald eagles, and other native wildlife are also returning. The Potomac is the only river in the Chesapeake Bay region where shad populations exceed restoration goal numbers. However, invasive species like blue and flathead catfish and northern snakeheads could still threaten those numbers.
A decline in tree planting along streams and an increase in paved surfaces have slowed recovery. Polluted runoff remains the biggest threat to water quality.
Earth Day is in April, but Clean the Bay Day is in June
As beautiful as the Chesapeake Bay is, there’s no denying that plenty of debris winds up in its shallow waters and shorelines. This not only diminishing aesthetics but also harms the life it sustains. Hence, how Clean the Bay Day came about.
Without government programs to declutter the Bay, each year on the first Saturday of June, thousands of Virginians descend on rivers, streams, and beaches of the Chesapeake watershed to remove litter and debris. Clean the Bay Day has become a Virginian tradition. The event is a yearly opportunity for families, military installations, businesses, clubs, and civic and church groups to give some TLC to local waterways.
This year’s 30th Annual Clean the Bay Day is Saturday, June 2nd. Since the event began in 1989, more than 150,000 volunteers have removed over 6.5 million pounds of debris from some 7,390-plus miles of shoreline. The most common items found are plastic bottles and bags, aluminum cans and cigarette butts.
Other items have included a rusted-out car that volunteers managed to pull out, a dishwasher and stove, a complete bed frame, shopping carts, a mannequin head, an old cash register, a computer, a full gas can, car batteries, a Weed Eater, and much more.
Clean the Bay Day is only possible with participation and partnerships. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and dozens of partners, including municipalities, nonprofits, businesses, and corporate sponsors, all chip in. You can find out how to help on the CBF website. The website also includes helpful things you can do every day to make a difference.
There’s a new Division USCG Commander for Maryland’s Eastern Shore
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary of Chesapeake Bay Eastern Shore has a new division commander. Thomas M. Stokes, Sr. of Easton, Maryland, was conferred during a Change of Watch ceremony in January at the Fisherman’s Inn at Kent Narrows. Stokes joined the auxiliary in 2013 as a member of Flotilla 21-03. He has earned certifications as a boat crewmember, instructor and in recreational boating safety. Flotilla 21-03 meets the first
Monday of each month at the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School in Easton.
The ceremony included the news that a new flotilla is now forming on Kent Island. Anyone interested in joining can call David Bourdon at (443) 262-8390 or email davidbourdon@atlanticbb.net for more information.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is an all-volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and was created by an Act of Congress in 1939. With more than 32,000 members who support the Coast Guard in its non-military and nonlaw-enforcement missions, membership and units are available in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S.V.I., American Samoa, and Guam. Auxiliary members conduct safety patrols on local waterways, assist in search and rescue, teach boating safety classes, conduct free vessel safety checks, and participate in many other activities related to recreational boating safety. Membership is open to anyone 17 years of age and older. Information on how to join is available online through the auxiliary’s recruiting website.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: winter Chesapeake fishing!
Anglers can enjoy fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay and on the Atlantic Coast year-round, and December is typically one of the best months to catch large fish.
Striped bass, known locally as rockfish, tend to congregate in locations where the rivers and tributaries come into the Chesapeake. Jigging with heavy sinker lures such as Stingsilvers and large plastics is typically the best tactic to reach down and catch them, and it’s also a fun and active method. When a large rockfish hits your lure, there’s no doubt about it, especially when using braided line. Trolling large lures down deep is another effective tactic. As the water temperatures drop into the 40s, the fish get a little sluggish, but they need to eat all year long.
A fully heated cabin will keep you warm for the run to the fishing grounds. Hiring a professional charter is also an option, and many captains continue to run their boats until the end of the month. Under current regulations, the season in Maryland turns into catch-and-release only beginning January 1st until the opening of the spring trophy season in mid-April. The spring trophy season on the Chesapeake for stripers in Virginia usually begins in mid-May. The season is open all year on the coast with a 28-inch minimum size.
The Chesapeake is the largest striped bass nursery area on the Atlantic coast. Seventy to 90 percent of the Atlantic striped bass population uses the bay to spawn, which occurs from April to early June. After spawning in the spring, most large stripers move to coastal waters. They spend the summer along the New England coast and the winter near the mouth of the Chesapeake near Virginia Beach and on down to North Carolina.
A 73-pound striped bass caught January 23, 2008, by Frederick Barnes of Chesapeake is the Virginia state record. Barnes made the record-setting catch in the Atlantic about a half mile north of the 4A buoy located north of Rudee Inlet and off Fishermen’s Island. The fish hit a trolled red and white Stretch 30 lure.
The North Carolina striped bass record is a 64-pound fish caught by Keith Angel off Oregon Inlet in 2011. The Maryland state record fish of 67.5 pounds was caught by Devin Nolan in 1995 Bloody Point just south of Kent Island.
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
SAILING FOR SCOUTS
The Sea Scouts of the ship Nautilus will be plying the waters of the upper Chesapeake Bay, July 23-29, as part of their annual activities. Sponsored by the Zion Mennonite Church of Souderton, Pennsylvania, the Sea Scouts are Ships (troops) composed of young adults ages 14 to 20. During the summer, the Ship gathers on Sunday afternoons at the Lake Nockamixon Marina for a short meeting and then either sailing, motor boating or both.
This year’s long cruise will be headquartered at the Rodney Scout Reservation in North East, Maryland. soudertonseascouts.org Camp Rodney, in operation since 1923, is located on more than 900 acres of upland woodlands at the head of the Chesapeake Bay and features over a mile of waterfront. Its summer program includes the opportunity for a crew of Scouts, along with a captain and a first mate, to sail a 38-foot sailboat on a five-day cruise, anchoring at a different place each night. delmarvacouncil.org
Featured Image Credit: Adobe Stock | Source: Own work | Author : Ben Schumin | Date: 2011-01-29 | Permission: Own work
WITH BOATING SEASON IN FULL SWINGin Chesapeake country, summer fun includes cruises to popular ports and new destinations, of which there seems to be no end. Urbanna, Virginia, is an old favorite along the banks of the Rappahannock River, and Urbanna businesses sponsor the Music Under the Stars concert series from May to September. July 15th is a great day to visit since Julius Pittman & The Revival, a rock and soul band, will perform a free concert from 6:30PM until dark. Bring a cooler, grab a chair and sit back with the locals.
Everything you need—groceries, wine, beer, pharmacy, doctor, dentist, library, fuel, and even a pool—is within walking distance of Urbanna Creek and its marinas, or take a trolley for 50 cents.
The Urbanna Town Marina (804-758-5440) has a dinghy dock and transient slips with 30- and 50-amp service, cable TV, laundry, and bath house. A long dock accommodates boats 50 feet and up, and wide-beam vessels have use of an extra-wide 27-foot berth. Bridge Marinas (804-758-2642), an 88-slip facility with seven transient slips, offers docking with 30- and 50-amp service, shower facilities, fuel, and a boater’s lounge with a TV and kitchen. urbanna.com
Boats are back and fuel is available in the Gunpowder River area now that the Joppatowne Marina, formerly Gunpowder Cove Marina, has opened under new ownership. Barb and Mark Gorrera have reopened the upper Chesapeake Bay marina with a familiar general manager running the show, Don Rogers, who worked more than 40 years for the former marina.
The marina has 245 wet slips (10 transient slips) and approximately 500 high-and-dry slips that can accommodate boats up to 40 feet. Mariners must pass under a railroad bridge to get there, which has a clearance of 12 to 14 feet with normal tides. The approach and dockside depth is around five feet.
—By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine April 2017
Wave reduction will protect an Outer Banks reef structure
Outer Banks anglers should see more fishing opportunities in the years to come due to artificial reef work being done near the Bonner Bridge. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has built a living shoreline wave-attenuating structure about a mile west of the bridge. The 500-foot long structure is made up of blocks of concrete that allow water to pass through and around it while limiting the force of waves.
The reef structure is made of stacked concrete with natural rock embedded in it. The project is part of NCDOT’s bridge demolition and replacement plan, which will be completed in 2019. The goal of the reef is to aid the growth of seagrass by creating a 50-acre “wave shadow” on the lee side. Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) will benefit from a reduction in wave action. NCDOT plans to monitor the SAV growth and marine species in the reef over the next five years.
Young crabs and shrimp will use the structure and the seagrass beds as a refuge to hide from predators, while species like sea trout, striped bass and flounder will search those vegetation beds to find food. Spotted sea trout, grass shrimp and bay scallops spawn in SAV habitats.
Water depth surrounding the structure at low tide ranges from two to three feet, and there are no fishing or access restrictions. The reef is well marked, visible and out of the way of navigation channels. It’s accessible when transiting “the Crack” channel between the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center and Old House Channel. Please be mindful that boat propellers can uproot and kill swaths of SAV, leaving scars across the grassbeds.
NCDOT also plans to restore four existing artificial reefs along the northern Outer Banks with the demolished bridge material. An additional new reef is planned and will be funded from fishing license fees. An estimated 80,000 tons of debris from the demolished bridge will be used to build up the old structures with work targeted to begin by late 2018 and continue for about 10 months.
An additional reef is planned for a location about 2 miles south of reef No. 160, or 8 miles south of the Oregon Inlet. The plan is to sink two retired vessels to anchor each end of the reef and then to sink used concrete pipe in between. The reef will rise 25-30 feet above the ocean floor in about 70 feet of water.
—By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine April 2017
But a bigger deal is the legal drama over who will receive $2.8 million of winnings from this year’s White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland. In August, Phil Heasley, aboard Kallianassaof Naples, Florida, caught a 76.5-pound white marlin to win an estimated $2.8 million, which was reported as the largest individual cash prize in sportfishing history. Tournament rules state that anglers cannot fish until after 8:30AM, but adherence to the tournament’s rules is in question and the prize money is now in escrow.
Heasley, president and chief executive officer at ACI Worldwide, caught the only “qualifying” white marlin in the tournament, fishing along with Capt. David Morris and mates Kyle Bohannon and Joseph Hagen. According to a court document filed by White Marlin Open Inc. (WMO), Heasley, Morris, Bohannon, and Hagen were on Defendant Heasley’s vessel when he caught the white marlin. None of them passed multiple polygraph tests administered by two examiners.
Heasley contends that he and his crew did not violate tournament rules. In September, Heasley and his attorneys filed a notice of removal to have the civil case removed from Worcester County Circuit Court and transferred to a federal court. That’s where it stands now. Richard Kosztyu, who caught the winning tuna in the tournament, would gain the most if a judge rules against Heasley. Kosztyu has received $767,091 and would receive an additional $2.3 million. The circuit court document is available on the WMO website. whitemarlinopen.com
Time for stripers Striped bass fishing is a fine winter fishing activity at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Action typically picks up in the Virginia Beach area in October and runs through April. With their annual migration, tens of thousands of stripers move through the area in search of schooling bait fish. Located in the middle of two food-rich currents—the Florida Current coming up from the south and the North Atlantic Current coming down from the north—and two great bodies of water for winter fishing, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach is an ideal feeding place. Add the 17-mile-long Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to the mix and you’ve got plenty of structure for anglers to target hiding fish. Anglers can also try to cash in on their catch this season by participating in the Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout. This year’s benefit tournament runs December 8-10 with weigh stations at Rudee Inlet and King’s Creek Marina on Cape Charles. midatlanticrockfishshootout.com
Good clean fun at Harbor East The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has certified Harbor East Marina in Baltimore as a Maryland Clean Marina. The facility earned the recognition after adopting best management practices from the Maryland Clean Marina Guidebook, meeting all environmental and regulatory requirements and passing a site inspection. Harbor East is a 200-slip marina that can accommodate vessels up to 125 feet. Transients are welcome. The marina offers easy access to many of Baltimore’s best attractions including the National Aquarium, Harborplace (shopping and dining), sports venues, the convention center, and others. Harbor East also plans to participate in the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership, a collaborative effort to restore the state’s oyster population. As part of the program, oyster gardens will be installed at the marina, where baby oysters will be planted and protected. harboreastmarina.com
By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine December 2016
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.
The annual Rotary of Annapolis Crab Feast, usually held in August, features all-you-can-eat steamed and Old Bay seasoned crabs, part of a complete menu
Two must-see historical destinations are the Maryland State House and the William Paca House and Gardens.
Music of all kinds is on tap in Annapolis, including outdoor concerts of Colonial and Revolutionary eras at the William Paca House.
Susan B. Campbell Park at the harbor end of City Dock is a gathering place for strollers, as well as the site for free concerts and special tours of visiting vessels.
Water taxis make getting from a mooring or marina to shoreside pleasures quick and easy.
Annapolis City Marina houses one of two fuel docks in Annapolis Harbor proper.
Pussers Caribbean Grill has an outstanding view of boats transiting City Dock
Cruisers who take the tour of the United States Naval Academy witness the pageantry and tradition of the Noon Formation of Midshipmen.
Two must-see historical destinations are the Maryland State House and the William Paca House and Gardens.
Cruisers strolling the brick sidewalks of Main Street and its offshoots will discover a pleasant mix of historical buildings, great restaurants, galleries, and shops.
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!
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
Boating tragedies in Florida’s waters prompted Governor Rick Scott to write a letter to the state constituents supporting proposed boating safety legislation. The legislation encourages emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and personal locator beacons (PLB) to be part of all boaters’ onboard safety equipment, reducing registration fees for all classes of boats with the equipment.
Proposed law for FWC pullovers
Some say that overzealous Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers ruin great days on the water with their random checks. Others say they are necessary to deter illegal fishing, hunting and safety violations. Under a law proposed by Florida State Representative Ritch Workman, officers would need probable cause before stopping boaters. Workman said he wants to see more reasonable stops with FWC officers checking boats only if suspicious activity is observed. Workman said he envisions a safe boating sticker placed next to the boat’s registration after it passes inspection to limit boaters being hassled. If the proposed law (House Bill 703) passes, it would take effect July 1, 2016.
Improved Cuba charts
With increased cruising to Cuba from the U.S., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Cuba are working together to improve nautical charts especially in the Straits of Florida. Following up on a Spring 2015 meeting with U.S. and Cuban chartmakers in Havana to work on a new international paper chart—INT Chart 4149 covering south Florida, The Bahamas, and north Cuba—the group then met in Maryland to discuss future collaboration and improving nautical charts.
Shipwreck artifacts returned
Updating the discovery of items from the Confederate CSS Georgia shipwreck, 30,000 articles were raised. Unique items kept for archiving by the U.S. government include small buttons, hilts of knives and swords, an intact glass bottle, leather boots, and an earring. Texas A&M is studying 13,000 articles at their lab, and 16,697 non-unique articles were returned to the mud of the Savannah River in plastic boxes, which, according to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers archaeologist Julie Morgan, will help preserve them. The Confederate gunship was sunk in 1864 in the Savannah River by its own crew to prevent the ship’s capture by Union troops during the Civil War.
Shoaling at Lockwoods Folly Inlet
North Carolina’s Lockwoods Folly Inlet Intersection near Cape Fear River, Little River Buoy 47, has a 250-yard shoal extending into the federal channel with depths from less than one foot to five feet at mean low water.
Handicapped sailor sails solo
Be on the lookout for Cliff Kyle aboard his 26′ Pearson Abby Normal traveling south on the ICW. Sailing solo can be challenging and for a man with one leg it could be more so, but Kyle throttles full steam ahead with a cheery disposition. “One thing sailing teaches you is how to handle what’s thrown at you and navigate through it,” says Kyle. When his house in Kentucky was foreclosed a couple of years ago, 40-something Kyle headed back to the sea and lived off the coast of Florida in the 1990s. He personally made several modifications on his vessel while sailing to Block Island, Mystic and the Chesapeake Bay. His final destination this season is St. Augustine or possibly The Bahamas.
By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating Magazine April 2016
Cruisers to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor will see more green and more wildlife by the end of this decade.The National Aquarium has unveiled a plan to create an urban wetland to demonstrate how natural ecosystems can improve the health of the harbor and the Chesapeake Bay.
The urban wetland will be in the water between Piers 3 and 4 and consist of habitats such as floating wetlands and underwater shelves with bay grasses and terraced edges. The project’s goal is to showcase natural ecosystems as an aesthetic and practical method to improve water quality.
The 2.5-acre area would be free and open to the public. Work is expected to begin by the end of this year, with completion set for 2019. The project includes interactive exhibits, kayaking, picnic spaces, and educational activities in the middle of the aquarium’s campus off Pratt Street. “We see this as an opportunity for a second renaissance for Baltimore’s harbor by creating not only a commercially thriving place, but also one that is thriving in terms of its health and green space, and as a habitat for animals and humans to enjoy themselves,” said John Racanelli, the aquarium’s CEO.
Laurie Schwartz, president of the Waterfront Partnership, said her group fully supports the aquarium’s plans. “We’re excited about bringing the National Aquarium’s conservation and educational components outside,” she said. “It really helps advance the Inner Harbor 2.0 objective of creating a more dynamic harborfront area.”
Judge the soup
Crab soup lovers will get their fill at the East Coast She Crab Soup Classic at the 24th Street Park in Virginia Beach on April 9th. The rain or shine event showcases an open competition among local restaurants who serve their individual recipes and compete for People’s Choice Awards, the winners of which are determined by the ballots of those attending and a panel of four regional cuisine experts. Tickets are sold in advance and offered at the gate if available. (The event is limited to 1,500 paying guests.) Children 12 and younger who are not sampling and are accompanied by an adult are free. Dogs and beach chairs are not permitted in the tasting area.
Smoked duck tacos
The Duck & Wine Festival is slated for April 30th in the town of Duck on North Carolina’s Northern Outer Banks. Festival attendees are invited to sample each restaurant’s special dish paired with a selected wine. Ticket sales are all online this year and the event has sold out in the past. The price of a ticket includes a reusable wine tote bag, an event wine glass, a wine lanyard, and cork screw. A good place to park your yacht for the rain or shine festival is Coinjock Marina & Restaurant located on the ICW at Mile Marker 50, an ideal stop for mariners traveling north and south along the waterway.
By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine April 2016
Bone Up on Your Boating Skills and then enjoy the Tides.
With cooler temperatures prevailing in the Mid-Atlantic region, it’s a good time to take in a boating course or two on such topics as safety precautions, navigating and diesel basics to name a few. Fortunately, our region offers plenty of educational opportunities, many of which are nearby and relatively inexpensive.
Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and North Carolina all offer state-sponsored safe boating classes with schedules and registration available on their state government boating websites. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), for example, offers free instructor-led courses to the public. Pre-registration is required and classes typically fill fast. VDGIF recommends its basic course for anyone 12 years and older with good reading and comprehension skills who want to learn more about safe and responsible boating. By 2016 in Virginia, all operators of PWCs and motorboats with a motor of 10 horsepower or greater will be required to have a boating safety education course completion card on board. The schedule for a variety of courses are on the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons websites—just punch in your zip code. cgaux.org; usps.org
The other option is simply propping yourself in front of a computer. Courses approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators are accepted for certification by all the states. Some courses have a fee. nasbla.org
Scenic wine tasting
Once you’re of legal age or if you already are, a fantastic place to dock is the Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia, for its annual “Taste by the Bay: Wine, Food, Arts and Ale” event on November 21st from 11AM to 5PM. Activities include samplings from local wineries and craft breweries, tastings from local restaurants, live music by Mercy Creek, and shopping—well-timed for the holiday season—for local creations by artisan vendors.
The Tides Inn overlooks Chesapeake Bay and is an 11-minute walk from the Steamboat Era Museum and 5.5 miles from the boutiques and galleries of Kilmarnock. The Inn’s marina on Carters Creek offers new floating docks that accommodate up to 24 vessels ranging from small weekend cruisers to 150-foot charters. The resort also offers tennis, golf and a spa. Lodge Marina, a water taxi ride away from the Tides, provides 36 slips and also accommodates boats up to 150 feet. tidesinn.com
Big fish are back
It’s that time of the year when large migrant striped bass make their way back through Chesapeake Bay from more northern environs. Anglers fishing in the 23rd Fall Classic November 20-22 hosted by the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishing Association hope to hook up with the traveling fish for prize money, bragging rights and, perhaps, seafood to add to this year’s Thanksgiving feast. Some 800 anglers on more than 200 boats are expected to participate in this year’s tournament, which is the last in the club’s tournament series. During the two-day competition, anglers can fish their favorite hot spots throughout the Bay and its tributaries as the MSSA and its volunteers have weigh stations set up from Sandy Point to Point Lookout. mssa.org
By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating, November 2015
