St. Augustine Municipal Marina is now the second Clean and Resilient Marina in Florida. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection gave the marina its designation in the fall of 2014 for sustainability, environmental responsibility and the ability to bounce back from manmade and natural disasters. The marina is the first municipal marina out of more than 2,000 Florida marinas to earn the honor.
Riviera Beach, Florida, rolls out the welcome mat for megayachts as the nearby ICW will be widened and deepened from 10 to 15 feet to allow boats up to 330 feet to visit Rybovich Marine Center, Viking Yachts and other local marine businesses. Viking Development plans new shops, restaurants, a boardwalk promenade, and marina improvements to be ready by April 2015.
Fort Lauderdale also lures megayachts to Pier 66 Marina after completion of phase one of the two-phase renovation. A new power distribution with capacity of 480 volt, 400- 600 amp and three-phase power handles the larger yachts. Sixteen yachts up to 150 feet are easily berthed amongst 127 slips plus the deep-water basin accepts yachts up to 295 feet. The renovated yachting venue with a new captain- and-crew clubroom was a host location for the 2014 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
Rescued man dissatisfied In October 2014 a man in a hydro pod asking for directions to Bermuda was saved by the U.S. Coast Guard 70 miles off the coast of St. Augustine. The disoriented man in the inflatable bubble had only protein bars, bottled water, a GPS and a satellite phone on board, not impressing the Coast Guard with adequate safety. Although taxpayers paid $144,000 for his rescue, he complained that his bubble wasn’t rescued as well. Hearing of a second attempt, an anonymous person remarked that he should be on his own.
Osprey accommodations “Why can’t we get along?” will no longer be asked after new channel markers like the one erected in Georgia’s Skidaway River are in vogue. The new navigational aid at the Isle of Hope provides a platform for sprawling osprey nests whose gangly sticks block necessary navigational numbers. Built last fall, the nest is ready for returning nesting birds to lay eggs this spring.
Transient cruiser accommodations In North Carolina the Swansboro Town Dock is open for transients headed to northern locales this spring. No services were offered at time of publication but may be ready now or are soon to come. A floating dock accommodates 10 visiting vessels with a face dock for vessels up to 40 feet. Shoppers or diners dock for free; overnights are $1.25 per foot. Call (910) 326-2600 for reservations Monday-Friday after 5PM and on weekends call (252) 725-5400.
Conch is still on the menu in the Conch Republic and the rest of the U.S. since the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service did not declare Queen Conch endangered last
fall. Although harvesting conch is still illegal in the U.S., other nations are happy to provide chefs with the delicious delicacy such as The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Nicaragua, and Belize.
A team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered a World War II (WWII) German U-boat and a freighter in August 2014 off the coast of North Carolina. Unseen for over 70 years, the German U-576 was sunk in 1942 by aircraft fire after it damaged two boats and downed American merchant ship Bluefields. According to NOAA maritime archeologist Joe Hart, the location is “a WWII battlefield that’s literally right in our back yard.” The two vessels lay only a few hundred yards apart and highlight a time when 90 vessels sank off of the Atlantic coast during World War II. A war grave, the U-boat seals 45 deceased German sailors within. Still owned by the German government, it is protected by the U.S. at Germany’s request.
Southport, North Carolina, welcomes transients with extended time at their city dock. Visiting boats may now stay 48 hours, not just 24, permitting more time for provisioning and exploration. Check-in at the police station the Southport Marina. The marina gives free weather and navigation briefings at 6:00PM during fall and spring migrations. southport-nc.com
The new Customs entryway at the Marathon, Florida, airport is delayed. Renovations began in late fall 2014 and completion is expected in spring 2015. Law enforcement will meet mariners entering the U.S. from international waters at local docks and await the arrival of an airport Customs agent.
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The Miami-Dade County Mayor wants three coastal cities and the City of Miami to share fireboats and crews. The use of land-based fire crews to staff boats may have created longer response times to a disastrous boating accident, which left four dead last summer. County boats would serve the northern and southern reaches of Biscayne Bay, and Miami would use its boat in the downtown area.
Faro Blanco Marina Resort in Marathon, Florida, opened its new docks last month following repairs from 2005 Hurricane Wilma to make Marathon a Florida Keys yachting destination. Faro Blanco Resort was a ‘70s and ‘80s icon. Its beloved white lighthouse still guides mariners into the harbor, but a new Hyatt Place hotel with two pools, waterside restaurants and a fitness center replaces original structures. The new state-of-the-art 74-slip Faro Blanco Marina & Yacht Club accommodates megayachts and offers extensive amenities. Fishing, dolphin watching and the Turtle Hospital and Dolphin Research Center provide local diversions, and rental cars at the Marathon Airport are just 10 minutes away. faroblancoresort.com
The St. Augustine Shipyard marina opens this month to provide mariners easy access to historic Old St. Augustine and the Atlantic. It accommodates boats up to 120 feet with more than 300 new slips. Dry storage handles boats up to 42-feet LOA weighing up to 35,000 pounds. Amenities include boat valet service, ship’s store and fuel, boat maintenance and repair service, free pump-outs, and a fish cleaning station. A pedestrian promenade with shops, restaurants and hotels is in the works. staugustineshipyard.com
The Yacht Club in Delray Beach will soon be a commercial marina. The 1960s yacht club gives way to a more contemporary nautical facility with 44 slips offering dockage up to 130 feet. Amenities include an Olympic swimming pool with tiki bar, free parking, a clubhouse, and full yacht services and maintenance. Accompanying residences offer waterfront living. theyachtclubatdelraybeach.com
Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park Marina. Photo: Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department
Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park Marina is newly improved. New charter boat docks, a seawall, and state-of-the-art access and security are welcome changes. An extended boardwalk, fender mooring piles, new power and water pedestals, and 10 new transient slips await visitors. New landscaping accentuates the enhancements. miamidade.gov/parks/crandon-marina.asp
Biscayne National Park’s Elliott Key features a newly built marina, campground and boardwalk accessible only by boat. The beautiful 36-slip marina is limited to very shoal-draft boats since it has no entry channel and 2½ feet mean low tide. Daytime visits are free. Overnight stays with a campsite cost $20. Weekdays are quieter. nps.gov/bisc/planyourvisit/elliottkey.html
Carolina Updates A Coast Guard-established temporary safety zone on the ICW at Morehead City, North Carolina, at mile 203.7 remains until April 2015. Maintenance to U.S. 70 Fixed Bridge requires a construction barge needing clearance. Two-hour notification to a work supervisor is only needed for horizontal clearance of more than 40 feet.
South Carolina needs reports and photos during “king tides” to assess storm damage during its highest seasonal tides. This year’s remaining “king tides” occur September 6-12, October 6-11 and November 5-8. mycoast.org.
The Marina at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, now offers easier hiking and biking to the Atlantic Ocean and the ICW via a 21-mile trail and park network. The trails will connect ponds and waterfronts, new parks including dog parks and a YMCA. This scenic, safer pathway replaces three miles of congested sidewalks and side streets.
Look Out for Manatee Laws mandate that cruisers slow down in manatee protection zones through November 15th. Watching for manatees in springs, rivers and Atlantic waters during warmer months should become a habit according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Mariners help prevent collisions if they wear polarized sunglasses, look for circles in the water’s surface, watch for manatee snouts, and adjust throttle near spotted manatees. myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/manatee/protection-zones.
Four South Carolina marine businesses received hefty Boating Infrastructure Grants (BIG) this year. The Charleston City Marina replaces electrical receptacles on its MegaDock with about $20,000; The Myrtle Beach Yacht Club replaces its fuel system with nearly $45,000; Beaufort’s Downtown Marina upgrades its transient dock with almost $1 million, and St. Johns Yacht Harbor constructs 50 transient slips and installs a state-of-the-art fueling system with over $953,000. Boating excise duties finance the BIG trust fund.
The aggressive lionfish significantly threatens Florida’s native wildlife and habitat. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) held a Lionfish Summit in 2013 to catalyze the necessary changes for reduction and easy removal of lionfish, and to develop markets for them. The commission launched the free app “Report Florida Lionfish” with educational information, safe handling guidelines and a data-reporting form for public lionfish spotters and harvesters. App users can also share their photos of lionfish in Florida waters. Those without smart devices may submit reports at myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/lionfish.
Miami Megayacht Marina will provide much-needed slips for 200-foot megayachts on the Miami River next summer. This 14-slip facility replaces an existing well-worn marina. Each covered slip comes with sheltered parking for three vehicles, indoor storage and quarters for captain and crew (unique in the U.S.). Covered tender storage, an owner’s vault and additional flexible space are also included. Marina amenities include a clubhouse with a coffee shop, internet, dining area, spa, exercise room, media room, and swimming pool. Marine-related businesses are onsite. Dredging and a new seawall are planned. The Miami Megayacht Marina is expected to revitalize the area and its economy.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, was the final destination for 67-year-old kayaker Alexander “Olek” Doba. He paddled solo more than 6,000 miles from Portugal over the course of 195 days. After leaving Lisbon last October he encountered storms, mechanical problems, a challenging Gulf Stream, and winds that blew him off course. In April, Doba and his 21-foot kayak was escorted into a New Smyrna Beach harbor by 15 local kayakers. When he kissed Florida’s sandy soil his admirers on shore called him a “tough guy.”
ICW drawbridges in Daytona Beach’s Volusia County and other ICW locales will vanish in future years due to expensive bridge maintenance with custom-made parts and tender costs as much as $400,000 per year. A high-rise bridge replacing a Volusia County drawbridge next year will cost $43 million with mostly federal funds. Although expensive to build, high-rise bridges’ annual costs are less. ICW cruisers will still have to wait for bridge openings since fundraising for new bridges takes time.
S.E. Seaboard boat drivers of certain ages will now be required to take classes on safe boat handling. States’ age requirements are North Carolina, under 26; South Carolina, under 16 if operating a boat with 15 horsepower or more; Georgia, born on or after January 1, 1998; Florida, born on or after January 1, 1988, if the boat has 10 horsepower or more.
An enormous fishhook named Bermuda appears on the Atlantic Ocean approximately 650 miles off the U.S. coast. Although blue-green waters surrounding its pink shores are inviting, its treacherous reefs have caught over 300 ships in 5 centuries. Shakespeare’s The Tempest tells the tale of the British vessel Sea Venture, which fell victim to the Isle of Devils while battling a hurricane in 1609. She carried supplies to starving Jamestown, Virginia, when Captain Somers beached her and saved all 150 onboard, who then survived by fishing the island’s bountiful seas. They enjoyed a warm climate—compliments of the Gulf Stream—and skillfully built ships out of cedar, thus beginning Bermuda’s status as a major maritime center. The British Navy built an outpost, the Royal Naval Dockyard, and several forts there to protect colonial interests in the Caribbean and America after Bermudian blockade-runners invaded several U.S. waterways. Due to the Bermuda Sloop rig’s innovative triangular sails, Bermudian ships would scurry past square-riggers close on the wind. Smaller versions of these ships called Bermuda Fitted Dinghies filled Hamilton Harbor during island regattas—they still sail there today.
World-class racing yachts join them in June when the Newport to Bermuda Race—the oldest regularly scheduled ocean race—takes place. Run biannually by the Cruising Club of America and Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, this year’s race was its 49th since its start in 1906. Yachts sail 635 miles from Newport, Rhode Island, to Bermuda, crossing challenging Gulf Stream currents as described by the race’s first winner, Thomas Fleming Day, who said, “You don’t stop to parlay with a Gulf Stream in June.” The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club clears its docks for over 150 boats after they pass Gibb’s Hill Light, maneuver Town Cut channel and check through customs in St. George’s. Last year 37,000 shots of Bermuda’s Gosling’s rum were served to 4,000 partygoers. Silver trophies in the shape of Bermuda’s aids to navigation are awarded to top skippers and crews, with the grand prize being the highly coveted St. David’s Light trophy. The longevity and success of this historic race is, perhaps, the main reason behind Bermuda being considered as a venue for the 35th America’s Cup in 2017.
The Gombey dancer is an iconic symbol of Bermuda’s folklife. Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
St. Peters Church. Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
The widest range of shopping choices is in the City of Hamilton. Most shops are on Front Street. Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
The Dockyard Marina can moor 100 yachts and has a clubhouse. Photo: Nancy Spraker
The dockyard exhibits the influence of the British. Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Mooring is common in Flatt’s Inlet across from the Aquarium. Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Surrounded by a dry moat and accessed by a drawbridge, the fort has a large number of tunnels and towers. Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Enjoy high tea at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel. Photo: Nancy Spraker
Hamilton City Hall’s wind vane is fashioned after Sea Venture. Photo: Nancy Spraker
Crystal Caves attraction in Hamilton. Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
Bermuda Regiment Band is a tradition dating back to the colonization. Photo: Bermuda Tourism Authority
In 2014, with June’s sailing events spent, July brings sport fishing to the island with the Bermuda Triple Crown. The 10-year-old premier Atlantic marlin competition is three major billfish tournaments in one: The Bermuda Billfish Blast July 3-7; the Bermuda Big Game Classic July 9-13; and the Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament July 16-20. During The Bermuda Billfish Blast on July 4th, anglers cast lines simultaneously with others around the globe in hopes of catching the day’s biggest marlin caught in the Blue Marlin World Cup. A 768-pound blue marlin won it for Bermuda’s Queen of Hearts last year. The largest marlin ever caught in the series was reeled in by Southern Exposure in 2005 weighing a whopping 1,023 pounds. The biggest single cash prize ever awarded was $400,000. Profits can be made since competition costs average $33,000. Last year thirty-six teams from the U.S., Canada and Bermuda competed, and even more are expected this year with the sponsoring Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel’s new marina.
The ever-so-pink Fairmont Hamilton Princess—where The Triple Crown trophies are divvied out—overlooks the harbor in Bermuda’s capital city. The “Pink Palace”—where Bermuda does business—opened its doors in 1885 as a posh hotel for affluent Americans, and a statue of its frequent guest, Mark Twain, sits on a bench in the lobby. Ian Fleming used its Gazebo Bar as a setting in the James Bond film Dr. No.
High Tea in its Heritage Court is an elegant indulgence. The hotel has recently experienced a $90-million redevelopment that includes a state-of-the-art marina that opens this month. It has 60 permanent berths for Bermudians with several for visiting boats up to the size of superyachts. As Bermuda’s only full-service marina, it offers integrated pump-out facilities, floating docks and full-length finger piers. Hotel amenities including provisioning are available to visiting yachts.
The Pompano Beach Club began as Bermuda’s first fishing club in the 1950s as a small fishing lodge that took guests on daily deep-sea fishing trips, then served the day’s catch in its dining room that evening. Generations of the Lamb family upgraded it to a more luxurious resort that’s known for its attentive service. The Club still remembers its roots, however, and arranges sport fishing for visiting anglers staying at resort villas that are named after local game fish. Guests can watch stingrays swoop through shallow waters below and white long-tailed seabirds circle above their balconies. All rooms enjoy a sunset view over the ultra-blue Atlantic.
Yachts sailing the Atlantic bound for Europe, the Caribbean and the U.S. visit Bermuda as a convenient stopover. In 2004, the first motor-cruising flotilla made a historic Atlantic crossing when 18 trawler yachts departed Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and cruised over 1,800 miles to the Azores. The Nordhavn Atlantic Rally enjoyed their midpoint with a weeklong stay at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, where captains and crew took their dinghies into bays and reefs for snorkeling and wreck diving in 80-degree, crystal clear water. On land, they rented scooters to explore the sights, restaurants, and pubs of the Royal Naval Dockyard, the town of Hamilton, and Bermuda’s original settlement, St. George’s. The island’s efficient bus and ferry system is also a fun and affordable way to connect the dots—ticket books are readily available. Royal Naval Dockyard houses the National Museum of Bermuda that conveys Bermuda’s maritime importance, including the Sea Venture shipwreck, cruise ships, indigenous fishing gear, and boats such as the fitted dinghy on display. Hamilton’s Front Street shops offer everything from Gosling’s rum to Irish linens. St. George’s is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with fine examples of 17th-century Bermudian buildings capped with white-stepped roofs for collecting drinking water.
Getting to this beautiful and historic island may seem daunting with its reefs, but shipwrecks seldom occur now. However, the reefs do extend 10 miles out to the north and west, and along all channels and inland bays. As always, local charts should be studied carefully and eyeball navigation is necessary for narrow passages. Visiting international yachts are only permitted to approach Bermuda from the east end of the island since immigration and customs are located in St. George’s. St. David’s Light is a recognizable local fix and Town Cut, the channel to St. George’s, is easily identified both night and day. Several existing marinas and another one in the works, a dinghy club and some pleasant anchorages are nearby. Online customs and immigrations forms, navigation tips, marine services and weather information can be found atmarineandports.bm.
Increased future rail traffic is certain to impact Fort Lauderdale’s marine industry. A high-speed passenger train between Miami and Orlando under the project name “All Aboard Florida,” and projects in Port Everglades and the Port of Miami require building several new bridges over 30 or more waterways. The New River railroad bridge in central downtown Fort Lauderdale is a main concern and when closed offers a slim four-foot clearance. Since many of the area’s refit and repair yards are up the New River, the slow-paced bridge would be closed more often. A 2009 study showed the bridge closing for 20 minutes, 11 times a day. Fear is that with added hindrance to marine traffic, repairs and jobs in the area’s marine industry will go elsewhere. Concerned citizens and boat owners are encouraged to contact Governor Rick Scott, state legislators, and Florida congressional delegation. allaboardflorida.com
Shipwrecks rich with history A mysterious shipwreck near St. Augustine, Florida, was identified as the Bermuda schooner The Deliverance, wrecked in a brutal 1947 storm. The vessel was named after the original Bermudian Deliverance that helped settlers in Jamestown in 1608. The shipwreck of the SS Central America in 1857 led to the first worldwide financial crisis and is now being raised off the coast of North Carolina. Within its hold is 21 tons of gold worth $100 million. Its recovery by Tommy Thompson in 1988 led to litigation against him and his eventual fugitive status in 2012. And finally, budding maritime archaeologists are measuring and mapping century-old Carolina duck hunting skiffs to create models using 3-D printers at East Carolina University’s Maritime Studies Program. By doing so, students learn how a boat is put together—a prerequisite to examining shipwrecks.ecu.edu/cs-cas/maritime
Free dockage in North Carolina Mariners Wharf’s free docks in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, are even more inviting to visiting cruisers this season with new restrooms and showers. Elizabeth City is on the ICW halfway between Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. Restrooms are free and showers are $5, payable at Elizabeth City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau or the Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. offices. Both offices are closed on weekends. discoverelizabethcity.com
Another friend to ICW transients is the North Carolina Museum in Beaufort, North Carolina, known for its artifacts from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge. The expansion on Gallants Channel just north of downtown brings deep-water fixed 1,500-foot wharfs, 10-slip floating docks, and a 110-foot face dock. Short-term dockage is just $1 per-foot per-night or $10 per foot per month. Water and power are available, but there are no shore-side facilities as of yet.
Biscayne Bay navigation notes Severe shoaling continues to be a problem along the ICW near Bakers Haulover Inlet near Biscayne Bay Buoy 7B south to DBN 11 and from Biscayne Bay 6A to Biscayne Bay DBN8. Channel depth and width vary, and at any tide boats may be pushed east or west out of the channel. Cruisers should contact dredge Jenni Lea II on VHF channel 13, 16 or 78, or local tow boat operators for information on a good deep water passage around the shoal.
