Tag: updates

Summer Festivals in the Caribbean

Six summer festivals in St. Lucia

After a quarter century of successful jazz concerts that put St. Lucia on the map for great international entertainment, government officials have decided to spread the wealth by now offering visitors six festivals to enjoy from May through November. Soliel kicked off in May with the traditional jazz fest at Pigeon Island National Landmark. The party continues this month with Roots & Soul, June 16-18, featuring reggae, hip-hop and R&B. Then, it’s St. Lucia Carnival, a three-week extravaganza from mid-June to mid-July that revs up to the big Parade of the Bands July 17th and 18th. The tenor takes a notch down to a more laid-back pace from August 24-27 for the St. Lucia Food & Rum Festival. This taste-tempting event features culinary demonstrations, rum and wine tastings, and dining experiences that pay tribute to both St. Lucian and international dishes and drinks. The Country & Blues Festival occurs September 15-17, followed by the monthlong Arts & Heritage Festival in October. This means there’s plenty of fun on this Windward Island all summer long. Even better, summer is slow season in the Caribbean, so anchorages are not crowded.

Plus, it’s easy to find dockage at either of the island’s two big marinas: the 253-slip IGY’s Rodney Bay Marina to the north in Gros Islet and the 42-slip Capella Marigot Bay Marina to the south mid-island. Additionally, Rodney Bay has a full-service boatyard, so it’s possible to haul out and work by day and enjoy six festival’s worth of parties by night. stlucia.org/summerfestivalo.

Best-kept secret Caribbean beaches

What are some of the top off-the-beaten-track beaches in the Caribbean? Global charter yacht company, The Moorings, let the cat out of the bag earlier this year by naming its seven favorites. North to south, the first is Playa Tamarindo, a small coral-strewn beach on Puerto Rico’s offshore island Culebra, where “unspoiled” is truly defined. On the sandbar called Anegada, both Loblolly Bay and Cow Wreck Beach—two of the British Virgin Islands’ (B.V.I.) three beaches—offer a delightful mix of Robinson Crusoe seclusion combined with all the comforts of the tropics, like cold beer and hot grilled lobster. Neighboring Guana Island, home of the luxurious all-inclusive resort of the same name, features the haven known as White Bay. Further south, two islands off Anguilla and St. Martin make the list. One is the duo of Prickly Pear Cays, uninhabited except for a small beach bar manned by day, where the sand is as soft as powdered sugar. The other is Tintamarre, nestled within the St. Martin Nature Reserve. The red clay-like mud here is said to have healing as well as beautifying powers. Finally, there’s Anse du Gouverneur on St. Bart’s—pristine, private and picturesque. Moorings bases in the B.V.I. and St. Martin make this septuplet of best-kept secret beaches easily paradise found. moorings.com

OPTIMIST REGATTA CELEBRATES SILVER ANNIVERSARY

More than 100 junior sailors, ages 8 to 15, from over a dozen nations will set sail in the 25th International Optimist Regatta hosted in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., June 12-18. This family-friendly sailing event features a clinic, team race, and three-day fleet race. Beach parties, fire dancers, and costumed Carnival entertainers put a signature spin on the shoreside activities. Former sailors have gone on to collegiate All-America, World Champion, and Olympic sailing careers.

For more information on happenings in the Caribbean, take a look at these Anguilla Villas! 

by Carol Bareuther Southern Boating Magazine June 2017

Fuel-Up at Joppatowne Marina

Fuel-Up at Joppatowne Marina

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

A bit of American History in Eleuthera

A little-known yet fascinating bit of 20th century United States history lies partially hidden in the steadily encroaching forest behind a beautiful Atlantic beach in central Eleuthera. Beginning in 1950, the U.S. Navy established a base here to house an experimental “Sound Surveillance System” (SOSUS) station. This technology used a set of hydrophones on the Atlantic Ocean floor east of the island, which were hardwired back to the base where any sounds could be profiled and matched in an effort to identify and track Soviet submarines. In those early days, the base was little more than a few small, wooden buildings and tents but would grow rapidly through the middle part of the decade.

By 1957, the base had grown into an official naval facility with a complement of 150 Navy personnel and several dozen civilian employees from RCA and Western Electric. At approximately the same time, the U.S. Air Force established an Auxiliary Air Base at the site. Their mission was to serve as one of several tracking stations for the USAF Atlantic Missile Range and track missiles and satellites launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Civilian Pan Am employees managed the Air Force side of the facility. At its peak, the facility also employed 45 Bahamians. The SOSUS system was fully operational in time to play a key role in the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviets attempted to use submarines to break the U.S. blockade of the island. But the SOSUS system enabled the American Navy to locate nearly all of the subs, force them to the surface and send them home. This effectively ended the crisis as Nikita Khrushchev abandoned his plan. The base was ultimately closed in 1980, and much of the equipment was abandoned in place and left to the ravages of the tropical climate. Today, it is a fascinating experience to wander through the ruins and ponder the history. Walking up the entrance road, a guard shack greets you with peeling blue and white paint. Just beyond is the base gas station, complete with the still visible 17¢ price! The left fork ultimately leads to a huge, sloping concrete pad, which was part of the system used to collect rainfall—the primary fresh water source for the base. Hidden in the surrounding trees you will find several huge water storage tanks and a pump house. Downhill from the base a gorgeous beach runs seemingly forever in both directions, and the offshore barrier reef provides great snorkeling. Back at the top of the hill, the remains of the main administration building still contain the office safe and the brig. There are barracks, maintenance areas and much more to explore. An excellent resource is projecteleuthera.org/ruins. The website includes an interactive Google map of the entire base and identifies many of the facilities you will see.

Alabaster Bay, just south of the Governor’s Harbour Airport, is an excellent anchorage in its own right and makes a perfect spot to visit the Navy base by boat. Anchor in a clean sand bottom just off the beach at Cocodimama Resort. Land your dinghy just south of the resort and walk past the resort to Queen’s Highway; turn right and then take a left on the first road and walk across the narrow island until you see the guard shack at the entrance to the base. Use caution when exploring since many of the remaining buildings may be unstable, and the forest contains poisonwood and thorn trees. Please take nothing but pictures from this haunting reminder of our past.

Kayak Fishing Tournament

The annual Extreme Kayak Fishing Battle in The Bahamas will be held at Flamingo Bay Resort on Grand Bahama Island April 20-23. With two days of fishing and a variety of entertainment through the weekend, this should be a fun event for serious kayak fishermen and their families. This is not flat, protected-water fishing. The competitors are after big game fish in open water, including wahoo, mahi, grouper, tuna, and even marlin. Packages are available with round-trip ferry transportation from Florida, including transport for your kayak and gear, Bahamian fishing license, accommodations, and much more. For more information and entry forms visit extremekayakfishingtournament.org/bahamas.

News Update

Chub Cay Marina in The Berry Islands remained closed at press time due to damage from Hurricane Matthew. Reopening is expected in 2017, but the timing has yet to be publicly announced.

The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality recently reported that as many as half of all the gasoline pumps they surveyed dispensed inaccurate quantities of fuel. This wasn’t specifically or even primarily at marinas, but you may want to take steps to ensure you are getting what you pay for when buying fuel in the islands.

Words & photos by Rex Noel, Southern Boating Magazine March 2017

All That Jazz

Bahamian Jazz takes center stage this spring.

At Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, from March 29th to April 2nd, the annual All That Jazz festival will bring together jazz artists from across The Bahamas. They will be joined by prestigious international artists in a series of concerts and events in Governor’s Harbour and the surrounding area. All profits from the event will go to support the Haynes Library downtown (facebook.com/hayneslibraryeleuthera) in its mission to promote literacy and research for the residents of Eleuthera. For details and tickets visit the jazz festival website at eleutheraallthatjazz.com.

Preacher’s Cave

The Devil’s Backbone is a sprawling, jagged reef system spread along the northern shore of Eleuthera. Extending from close to shore well into the Atlantic, it links two of the premier destinations in the area—Spanish Wells in the west and Harbour Island off the northeast corner of Eleuthera. On shore along this route lies an important site in the history of Eleuthera and The Bahamas—Preacher’s Cave.

In 1647, a group of Christians seeking new lands and religious freedom from Bermuda shipwrecked on the Devil’s Backbone reef and came ashore. Led by William Sayles, the shipwrecked sailors made their way to safety and took refuge in a cave. They used a large rock, now known as Pulpit Rock, as their altar and are said to have held church services here for 100 years to commemorate their deliverance from the reef. These were the first Europeans to settle in The Bahamas, and their descendants still make up much of the population of Spanish Wells, Eleuthera and Harbour Island. What became known as Preacher’s Cave is also an important window into the pre-European history of the islands. Archeological excavations have identified a number of Lucayan grave sites here, as well as evidence of everyday life in the period ranging from the 8th to 17th centuries. Genetic links have been found between these graves and current residents of Spanish Wells.

The Devil’s Backbone route offers good water and is transited daily by the high-speed ferry Bo Hengy III, but it is a convoluted passage strewn with shallow coral heads. Grass beds make it difficult to read the deep water, and some of the passages between reef patches are quite narrow. Any cloud cover, a poor sun angle or breaking waves from a northerly swell will obscure the passage, and swirling currents may push you off line making it extremely dangerous. Only those cruisers with extensive experience reading the water should attempt this passage and then only in perfect conditions.

If you don’t want to risk your own boat, the high-speed ferry runs every day from Spanish Wells to Harbour Island in the morning and returns in the afternoon. It is quite an experience to watch from the top deck as the ferry hits speeds of up to 30 knots with reefs clearly visible just off her beam. If you do want to take your own boat, there are a number of experienced pilots available in Spanish Wells. Try hailing “Little Woody”, “A1 Broadshad” or “Bandit” on VHF 16, or inquire locally for other options. The pilot fee generally starts at $100 one way.

Fishing tournament schedule

Many tournaments are held in The Bahamas in the winter months. While the following is certainly not a complete list, it gives some idea of the possibilities.

• February 1-5: Resorts World Bimini Wahoo Tournament, North Bimini. Contact eventinfo@resortsworldoceansports.com or visit resortsworldoceansports.com.

• February 5-7: Hawk’s Nest Annual Wahoo Championship. Contact info@hawks-nest.com or visit hawks-nest.com.

• February 9-11: Sea Spray Abaco Challenge; seasprayabacochallenge.com

• March 26-29: Hawk’s Nest 6th Annual Hang ‘Em High Tournament; hawks-nest.com

Navigation update

In mid-November, a cruising boat reported surprisingly shallow water depths in the passage from Spanish Cay south to Green Turtle Cay. Depths of 6-7 feet were reported in an area open to ocean waters and charted at 12-15 feet. There was visual evidence of new sand washed in from the cut. This is probably not a widespread problem but may occur in isolated spots throughout the Abacos and Exumas after Hurricane Matthew.

Spanish Wells Yacht Haven has completed their major two-year-long renovation. New docks are in place with power and reverse osmosis water, a new swimming pool, laundry, and showers. A new restaurant, Wreckers, opened in April. Marina management also reported that some dredging was done in their entrance channel area providing improved access to their slips.

Chub Cay Marina in The Berry Islands remained closed at press time due to damage from Hurricane Matthew. The resort itself and many private homes were also extensively damaged. Repairs are underway but the specialized contractors needed for the marina infrastructure are in short supply at this time. In the northern Berrys, Great Harbor Cay Marina fared much better. Despite some land-side damage, the marina is in full operation and the community is recovering quickly.

By Rex Noel, Southern Boating Magazine February 2017

Pirates threaten to seize Tampa

It’s not a hostile takeover, however, like Captain Phillips experienced. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

On January 28th, Tampa’s flotilla of private pleasure craft intends to defend the city and square off against the annual pirate invasion for an epic weekend of hedonistic celebration. For 113 years, the city has surrendered amidst a cacophony of cannon fire as Jose Gasparilla, the world’s only fully-rigged pirate ship, shoots its way through thousands of boats that guard the downtown waterfront. Themed around the swashbuckling pirate Jose Gaspar, who menaced Florida’s Gulf Coast in the 1800s, the invasion is followed by a bead-throwing pirate parade that attracts a crowd of nearly half a million. This is the city’s signature social event led by Ye Mystic Krewe, a merry band of elite movers and shakers who don war paint, fake jagged scars and festive costumes.

Transient slips are ransomed for gold at the downtown Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, Convention Center and Harbour Island docks, but if you know a resident along Harbour Island or Davis Islands that flank the channel to downtown, you may get lucky with an unused overnight slip. Now, here’s your tip. Located on the west side of Tampa’s peninsula is a hidden gem, West Shore Yacht Club, with space for vessels up to 80′. Dockmaster Ryan Smith says the weekend is popular and transients enjoy full use of the clubhouse and amenities. By boat you are less than 40 minutes away from joining the flotilla. Other marina venues close by include St. Petersburg Municipal, the nearby Vinoy Resort and marinas in and around Ruskin and Apollo Beach. Gasparilla is a weekend-long participatory sport. It’s best to bring beads for ransom and trade, plenty of that spicy brown concoction bearing the likeness of a certain pirate and ear plugs. gasparillapiratefest.com

Cabbage Key

A far less raucous destination this time of year is secluded and off the proverbial beaten path: Cabbage Key located just south of Charlotte Harbor. Every Jimmy Buffet fan knows that Jimmy sailed here, enjoyed a famous cheeseburger and maybe even signed a dollar like thousands of other mariners who continue the tradition of taping a beer buck to the ceiling. What you may have overlooked are the unpretentious docks with power for an overnight stay. The Inn and famous restaurant sit atop a 30-foot-tall Indian shell mound. Climb the water tower for an incomparable view of nearby Useppa Island Club to the east and Gulf of Mexico to the west. Dinner, the honky-tonk piano and stories well into the night, coupled with a lush, island-like display of tropical flora and fauna help you forget that the mainland and all those tourists covered in oil are just a few miles away. Not to be overlooked is pulling in for a simple breakfast of pancakes and eggs. Winter is an ideal time to visit. The air temperature is perfect and sunsets are as pink as steamed Gulf shrimp, but running the protected ICW is often necessary thanks to the weekly cold front that riles up the Gulf for a day or two. Docks that were rebuilt after a couple of hurricanes a decade ago are solid and well suited for yacht traffic. cabbagekey.com

By Alan Wendt, Southern Boating Magazine January 2017

Atlantic Coast Updates: Operation Sailfish

Sailfish Resort and Marina on Singer Island, Florida, is hosting Operation Sailfish, the opening event of the popular “Quest for the Crest” series of fishing tournaments. From December 7-11, fishing teams from around the region will be competing in this exciting catch-and-release competition. The best of the best will be going after an estimated $700,000 in prize money and the honor of having their team name stamped into the 2016 Operation Sailfish Dog Tag IDs. The Dog Tag IDs are part of the tournament’s military theme designed to honor those who serve in an armed service uniform. A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will be donated to “Operation Homefront,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial and other types of support to the families of military personnel and wounded warriors. bluewatermovements.com

Marlin Bay Yacht Club
The Florida Keys, known for a diverse and eclectic blend of people and cultures, offer homes and boating communities to suit every taste and budget. Starting the last week of November, yachtsmen passing through the Keys will have a new place to call home. The Marlin Bay Yacht Club on Marathon Key will allow the first boats to tie up in their state-of-the-art, deep water marina. Palm Hill Inc. developed the club, and they’re also the owners of the award-winning River Dunes Marina and community in Oriental, North Carolina. Marlin Bay Yacht Club consists of a “99-slip marina, 10,000-square-foot, two-story clubhouse, lagoon-style pool with pavilion and bar, and a 12,000-square-foot harbormaster facility”. In addition to the marina, the community is offering 84 single-family, luxury residences. marlinbay.com

‘Tis the season
Very few holiday light displays have achieved both national and international acclaim, and we are fortunate to have two of them in our southeast coastal communities. Charleston’s Holiday Festival of Lights features more than lights. On display are handmade, holiday-themed sand sculptures, a Victorian carousel and a holiday train ride. The festival has been recognized as “One of the Top 10 Holiday Celebrations” and will run from November

Festive lights illuminate a Charleston bridge. Photo credit: Bluewater Movements

11th until January 1st. The display is located at James Island County Park. ccrpc.com 

Shelter Cove Towne Centre, nestled in the center of Hilton Head Island, lights up the night throughout the holiday season with the Dove Street Festival of Lights. For more than 20 years, Shelter Cove has brought holiday spirit along with nightly entertainment to this popular village center and all for a good cause. According to the Shelter Cove Towne Centre website, The Dove Street Festival of Lights has raised over $120,000 in cash for nonprofits, provided more than 40,000 cans of food for needy families and given 20,000 presents to kids in need. The festival has even been recognized as one of the nation’s top holiday light displays and can be seen nightly from November 19th through December 31st from 6-10PM. sheltercovetownecentre.com

By Bob Arrington, Southern Boating Magazine December 2016

Southern Hospitality for Cruisers

Seasonal cruisers make their way toward warmer weather late in November, and many will arrive in the Southeast by Thanksgiving, this year on November 24th. If you’ll be cruising on Thanksgiving, you’re in luck! 

Many communities offer a Thanksgiving dinner or organized potluck, and transient cruisers can gather together in a warm and inviting setting. The following four are just a few of the locations holding community celebrations.

Beaufort, North Carolina: Ann Street United Methodist Church hosts one of the most popular Thanksgiving dinners in the South. It’s located at 417 Ann Street, only two blocks away from the Beaufort Town Docks. The church provides turkey along with other main features, while cruisers are welcome to bring a side dish. Dinner is served from 12:00PM until 2:00PM.

Port Royal, South Carolina: The Port Royal Landing Marina begins their holiday event the night before Thanksgiving. Cruisers are invited to bring a beverage and stop by while the turkeys are smoking. The Thanksgiving Day meal will be served at 1:00PM—diners need only bring a side dish. The marina is located at mile marker 539 on the ICW.

St. Marys, Georgia: Riverview Hotel hosts a cruiser’s potluck dinner and provides the turkey; cruisers contribute side dishes. Dinner begins at 1:00PM at this historic waterfront hotel on 105 Osborne Street. Docking is available at Lang’s Marina, St. Mary’s Docks or anchoring in the river nearby.

Vero Beach, Florida: The Vero Beach City Marina will once again hold its annual Thanksgiving dinner at the River House adjacent to the marina. Turkeys are donated and prepared by members of the community, Cruisers Living on Dirt, that have settled in the area. Tie up the boat, bring a side dish and enjoy some fellowship with this lively bunch. Dinner will be served at 2:00PM.

Waterfront improvement
There are more reasons for cruisers to visit Fort Pierce, Florida’s renovated waterfront, especially after the successful rebuilding of the City Marina. Just in time for the November 11th Veterans Day holiday, Fort Pierce unveils a multi-million dollar renovation of Veterans Memorial Park. It will occupy eight acres of prime riverfront property. The new Veterans Memorial Park features covered pavilions and a palm tree-lined pond. The park is also home to the Fort Pierce Yacht Club, Liberty Garden, Manatee Center, and the Seven Gables House Visitors Center.

As nice as the new park amenities will be, the real beauty is in the park’s environmental benefits. According to the City Manager’s office, the renovation will prevent over 1,000 lbs. of pollutants and debris from entering the adjacent Indian River Lagoon annually. The new park layout channels surface water through a series of specially designed ponds and swales, which traps debris, nutrients and heavy metals, allowing cleaner water to continue on to the lagoon and river.

PGA Classic
If where you keep your golf clubs on board is as important as where you keep your anchor, you won’t want to miss this favorite annual PGA tournament. The tournament will be played at the Sea Island Golf Club on Sea Island, Georgia, from November 14-20. This popular event has raised more than $4.8 million for a variety of children’s and family charities. Tickets are available at rsmclassic.com.

Rally to the Caribbean this fall—no plane required!

New Caribbean Venue for 2018 Atlantic to Caribbean Rally

Thoughts turn to warmer climates when it starts getting cold up north. One of the most popular ways for sailors to make this migration south is as part of a rally, which offers the benefit of “cruising with company” with other like-minded sailors. Crucial services such as pre-rally safety seminars and professional weather forecasting offer other advantages. Plus, there are social events held exclusively for rally participants that take place before casting off and at the voyage’s completion. This offers the kind of camaraderie you just can’t get by going it alone. These four rallies are headed to the Caribbean this month.

Cruising in company has never been more popular. Case in point, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) has reached its capacity nearly 10 months in advance of the start for the last two years. For 2018, organizers are boosting the slots available on this cross-the-pond fun sailing rally by adding a second, slightly later start and an alternative finish in the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. “The ARC+St. Vincent will leave from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on November 15th, four days after the ARC+ to St. Lucia, and o- er the same pre-start week of activities, seminars, and parties,” says Sarah Collins, communications manager for the Cowes, UK-based World Cruising Club. “Entries will be limited to twenty-five yachts this year, so those keen to pioneer this new route are encouraged to enter early. Since entries opened this summer, new ralliers, as well as returners, have already signed on.”

The ARC+St. Vincent will make landfall at the Blue Lagoon Hotel & Marina, in Blue Lagoon Bay, St. Vincent. This property was purchased in 2015 by an avid sailor and businessman who has turned it into a one-of-a-kind facility complete with small hotel, restaurants, bar, pool, dive shop, and market. Blue Lagoon Bay is located on the southeastern tip of the island, which makes a perfect cast-o- point to explore the Grenadine islands to the south. worldcruising.com;bluelagoonsvg.com

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating October 2018

Honored guests at Chesapeake Bay Beach Club

The newly opened Inn at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club on Maryland’s Kent Island offers all the pleasantries of modern, clean accommodations with a décor that’s been described as “industrial chic meets farmhouse sleek”. Docking for the inn is conveniently available at the adjacent full-service Bay Bridge Marina. If you’re looking for a fine feast, Knoxie’s Table on the first floor of the inn features fresh products from nearby farms and local waters, with seasonal specialties such as Maryland cream of crab soup and duck-fat fries. The Market at the inn offers baked goods and a breakfast and lunch menu that includes scrapple, egg and cheese biscuits and soft shell crab sandwiches.

The inn has 54 guest rooms and suites, wedding and banquet facilities, and the spa offers a soothing Himalayan salt stone massage. The club hosted President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn and their more than 300 guests this past summer in celebration of the Carters’ 70th wedding anniversary and the former President’s 70th anniversary of his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. baybeachclub.com

Get your eye patch

Organizers of the first PirateFest & Boat Show at the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department are hoping for some fine fall weather to grace their fundraising event. The event takes place November 12-13, and money raised during the show will be used to help purchase and maintain a new ambulance for the island community. The event itself is free and will feature pirate costume contests for children and adults, tours of the firehouse, regional vendors with nautical-inspired merchandise, food, and refreshments along with a boat show where you can buy or browse. 2016piratefest.com

Inlet caution
Mariners heading south this month should be aware of the changing inlet conditions along the North Carolina coast. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, shoaling conditions exist at the following inlets: Oregon, Hatteras, Ocracoke, Barden, Beaufort, Bogue, New River, Topsail, Masonboro, Carolina Beach, Lockwoods Folly, and Shallotte. Shoaling conditions increase the potential for groundings. The inlets are subject to continual and sometimes rapid environmental changes, and the aids to navigation in these inlets may not be charted or may not be marking the best water due to continually shifting shoals. Mariners are encouraged to obtain the most recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hydrographic survey information. saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Hydrographic-Surveys

Lights on the water
The Lighted Boat Parade season in Chesapeake waters gets underway with the 20th Annual Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade. This year’s parade will be from 6-8PM on Saturday, December 3rd, along the waterfront in Yorktown, Virginia. The festivities include caroling around a beach bonfire, musical performances and hot cider. Boats in the parade include motorboats, sailboats and Chesapeake deadrise working boats. It’s not too late to sign up to participate. Register by November 10th to be featured in the event program. Judges located on the Yorktown pier will consider categories such as “Wow Factor,” “Color & Light,” “Originality,” and “Spirit”. Registered parade participants can reserve an overnight stay, with limited availability at Wormley Creek Marina at no charge on Friday and/or Saturday night. The public spectator area is at Riverwalk along Yorktown Beach with additional spots at Gloucester Point and Sarah Creek. yorkcounty.gov

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine November 2016

Fishing, Festivities and Fees

The Bitter End Yacht Club (BEYC) is one of the world’s best resorts for sailors, from its nearly always placid North Sound Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands setting to its over 100 vessel fleet of monohull sailboats, performance catamarans and windsurfers. It’s in this vein of catering to sailors of all skills that the BEYC started its Pro Am Regatta 30 years ago. The event is set for October 22-29 this year and pairs professional sailors with amateurs during a week chock-full of festivities that includes fleet racing, team racing and match racing. “We are pulling out all the stops for our 30th anniversary,” says John Glynn, vice president of sales and marketing. “The skipper’s list includes past winners like Ed Baird and Taylor Canfield, plus crowd favorites and industry legends like Dave Perry and Dave Ullman, plus three to five other skippers to be announced.” The event is sailed in IC 24s, a modified J/24 design, with four guests per boat and a rotating pro sailor on the helm. In addition to the racing, guests and pros can mingle at nightly dinners, cocktail cruises and entertaining gatherings. Guests can ask the pros pointed questions about the America’s Cup, Olympics, One Design Racing, and other topics at the highly anticipated Scuttlebutt “State of the Sport” Forum. Cruisers are welcome at the cocktail functions and, in some instances, can join the racing fun. The Pro Am’s Defiance Day coastal races to The Baths for lunch and back are open to all boats, including cruising catamarans. beyc.com/compete

Fishing on B.V.I. charters

As of July 1st, The Moorings power catamaran fleet in the B.V.I. are registered fishing vessels, which allows charter guests to fish after obtaining a proper fishing license. The decision to register the yachts followed a reinforced fishing policy by the B.V.I. government. Fishing in the B.V.I. is highly rated with plentiful amounts of tarpon, kingfish and barracuda. moorings.com

U.S.V.I. mooring fee increase

Unchanged for more than 20 years, annual costs for anchoring and mooring in the U.S.V.I. were increased in May to $10/foot for pleasure craft, $15/foot for liveaboards and $20/foot for commercial craft. Visiting craft can still moor or drop anchor for free for up to 14 days per year; moorings in the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John still charge a fee for overnight use.

Trio of Billfishing Tournaments

Whether you’re cruising to the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles or further south to the ABC islands this month, you’ll find a great billfishing tournament. The Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament takes place October 1-8 out of the same-named port on the northeast coast of Jamaica. The week of angling for big blues is punctuated by a native canoe fishing tournament on the layday plus nightly parties. Next up is the Varadero Aruba Caribbean Cup set for October 20-23 out of Varadero Marina & Boatyard in Aruba; the opportunity to catch a Grand Slam has long hooked anglers on this event. Finally, the St. Lucia International Billfish Tournament is scheduled for October 25-29 out of Island Global Yachting’s Rodney Bay Marina on St. Lucia. Newly placed fish aggregration devices (FADs) should increase the likelihood of fantastic fishing as well as an opportunity to break the island’s 707-pound blue marlin record and win a new car. jamaicasportsfishing.com; preschallenge.com; facebook.com/slugamefishingassociation

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating Magazine October 2016

 

Welcome to Mumfest 

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

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

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

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

By Christopher Knauss, Southern Boating Magazine October 2016

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