North Carolina boat shows

North Carolina boat shows are tough to beat.

SEPTEMBER STARTS THE BIG BOAT SHOW SEASON in Newport, Rhode Island, but you don’t have to travel that far north to get your boat show fix. North Carolina will host the 2nd Annual Wilmington Boat Show September 8-10 in Wilmington, North Carolina. After a successful first run with more than 70 vendors and great attendance, everyone is excited about a bigger and better event this year. The show takes place in multiple locations, including the Wilmington Convention Center, Port City Marina and The Shell and Battleship North Carolina. For more information, including a list of vendors and advance ticket purchase, go to wilmingtonboatshow.com.

If your interests are specifically in wooden boats, there are more North Carolina boat shows for you. The 8th Annual Southport Wooden Boat Show will be held Saturday, September 30th at the Old Yacht Basin in Southport. A record number of attendees are expected at the show to view boats in and out of the water. For a unique experience, Duke Energy sponsors an Educational Pavilion that supports the show’s mission: “To promote interest in and disseminate knowledge of the craft and art of wooden boat construction, to support efforts to preserve wooden boat construction and skills, and to celebrate the region’s maritime and boatbuilding history.”

The North Carolina Aquarium and Fort Fisher Underwater Archeological Branch will also contribute interesting exhibits for attendees’ enjoyment. Don’t miss the “Taste of Cape Fear” and Ship’s Store tents featuring local seafood dishes and numerous vendors offering nautical-related products. Show details can be found at southportwoodenboatshow.com.

By Bob Arrington Southern Boating, September 2017, Photo by Chris Schnell

SUP? West Marine Carolina Cup

SUP, y’all? The West Marine Carolina Cup, that’s SUP.

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, becomes “SUP Central” April 19-23 with the world’s largest Stand-Up Paddle Board Race. In its seventh year, the 2017 West Marine Carolina Cup is expected to draw more than 900 paddlers to compete. Race organizers list five courses: a kid’s race, the Harbor Island Recreational “fun” race, Money Island open race, the six-man outrigger race, and the renowned Graveyard Elite Race. The event also features clinics with something for everyone from beginning paddlers to the experienced.

You won’t want to miss this five-day beach SUP Festival and Expo with fun for the whole family.

Additional information is available at wrightsvillebeachpaddleclub.com/carolina-cup.

When Hurricanes Come, the U.S. Coast Guard Goes Inland

With Hurricane Matthew barreling towards the coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class James Prosser and his wife, Nicole, made the seemingly right decision to send their two young children out of harm’s way to the inland city of Lumberton. Little did they know that the small inland town was also going to take a beating.

Feeling confident about his choice (Lumberton is located almost 90 miles from the coast) Officer Prosser resumed his duties at the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina. Imagine his surprise the following weekend when he received news that floodwaters in Lumberton were rising rapidly while his children were at their grandparents’ home without running water or electricity.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class James Prosser and Master Chief Petty Officer Louis Coleman load Coleman’s trailer with donations during Hurricane Matthew at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina in Wilmington, Oct. 16, 2016.

“Lumberton has been the go-to safe haven during hurricanes for me and my family for about eight years now,” says Prosser. “But after the town was battered by Hurricane Matthew, following two weeks of unusually high rainfall, it became a dangerous place where water was suddenly filling the streets.” By Monday morning, the levee protecting Lumberton had broken, and Prosser was working feverishly with members of the sector command to determine how to best bring his children home.

“They [local officials] were confused as to why we were headed into town at first, but as soon as we explained why we needed to get in, they let us through,” says Prosser. “Most people were trying to leave town, not get in, and we began to see why. Damage from the hurricane became much more evident the closer we got to Lumberton, but I was blown away by the damage we encountered when we got within city limits.”

It quickly became clear that the area was too flooded to continue by truck. Luckily, Prosser and a fellow officer encountered water rescue teams from New York and New Jersey. Prosser found the town unrecognizable and struggled to get his bearings. “Eventually we approached a church that looked familiar. We saw helicopters overhead with people dangling from cables. They were hoisting people from the flooded waters to safety,” he adds.

Prosser was finally able to reach the children via SUV. “When we got there, my two children came running out the door,” says Prosser. “While it was a huge relief to know they were safe at that moment, I knew we were all still in danger. We needed to get out of there as quickly as possible, before we got trapped by floodwaters.” Meanwhile, Prosser and additional officials strongly encouraged others to evacuate the dangerous area. As part of the North Carolina family, Coast Guard Sector North Carolina personnel will continue their response to Hurricane Matthew’s aftermath and the subsequent flooding throughout the region.

Movie star cruises Key Largo canals

Movie star cruises Key Largo canals.

An old steam engine sputters along the canals of Key Largo, Florida these days. Lance and Suzanne Holmquist restored the original 30-foot, steel hulled 1912 steamship African Queen used in the film of the same name starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. They give 80-minute cruises on the vessel for up to six passengers. Captain Wayne toots a steam whistle as it passes homes along Port Largo canals to the Atlantic Ocean. Cruises depart from the Marina Del Mar and cost $49. africanqueenflkeys.com

Bring on the lobster!
Spiny lobster season in Florida, both recreational and commercial, started in late July and continues through March 31st. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) allows up to six lobsters per person per day. Carapace length must be larger than three inches and harvesting of egg-bearing females is not allowed. Lobsters must remain whole until brought ashore—whole lobsters must be kept in a cooler and no tools should alter shells. During the two-day sport season this year (July 29-30) the FWC permitted one extra lobster for every 10 lionfish caught. Divers-down buoys are required when diving.

New marina in historic Wilmington
Port City Marina on the Cape Fear River, North Carolina, 14 miles north of the ICW (Mile 300) opened for business in July. Port City management says, “Due to hard work and dedication we are more than thrilled and proud to be the gateway to historic downtown Wilmington.” The marina handles boats up to 250 feet in their 200 state-of-the-art floating wet slips with a controlled depth of 10 feet in its basin, accommodating deeper drafts in slips along the Cape Fear River. First class amenities—30, 50 and 100-amp electric service, free Wi-Fi, full service fuel dock, and more—as well as concierge services complete the marina. Downtown Wilmington offers restaurants, art galleries and boutiques, and Wilmington International Airport is just 10 minutes away. portcitymarina.com

A spaceport in coastal Georgia?
If Camden County, Georgia, officials have their way, Titusville, Florida, won’t be the only place within the Southeast Seaboard region to be a vantage point for cruisers to view rocket launches. The county has been working to bring a spaceport to a site located on the I-95 corridor next to the Atlantic Ocean for two years. Launches could affect navigable waterways—required to close as per most spaceports’ procedures around the country—and impose timed closures of the ICW. Fallen debris from launch failures might also disturb the birthing of right whales off Georgia’s coast and pose a threat to nearby Kings Bay Naval Base, home to nuclear powered submarines.

Reduced vertical clearance
Work on the main channel at Buckman Bridge on the St. Johns River near Jacksonville, Florida, continues through November. Although horizontal clearance in the channel is unchanged, vertical clearance is 60 feet 6 inches on one half of the channel. The original 64 feet 2 inches remains on the other half. Original vertical clearance will be restored throughout at construction’s completion.

By Nancy E. Spraker, Southern Boating, November 2015

Classic Wooden Boats grace the shores of South Carolina

October 18-19 marks Georgetown, South Carolina’s 25^th Annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show with 140 classic wooden boats displayed on land and water. Children’s model boatbuilding, knot tying, food, and music make it a not-to-miss event. In the Wooden Boat Challenge, teams of two have four hours to build rowing skiffs to compete in a rowing relay on the Sampit River. Funds raised support the South Carolina Maritime Museum. woodenboatshow.com

North Carolina mariner updates
A fixed bridge will replace the Topsail Island Bridge near Wilmington, North Carolina, at mile 260.7 in the ICW. The existing drawbridge has a 13-foot vertical clearance closed and unlimited clearance opened, with a 92-foot horizontal clearance. The new fixed bridge will have a 65-foot vertical clearance closed with a 120-foot horizontal clearance. Date of construction is undetermined.

A mooring field in Beaufort, North Carolina, costs more than expected. More expensive bar anchors with better hold in less mud are being installed instead of the originally planned screw anchors. Total moorings are down to 41 from 46. Sixteen ready-and-able moorings now await transients in the bend of the Beaufort River.

Sailing on the Charleston Harbor. Photo: Explore Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina navigation news
The original Charleston Harbor NOAA harbor chart 11523 from 1936 does not reflect changes from the deepening projects that have moved the sea buoy and channel entrance nine nautical miles to the east. However, the new NOAA chart 11525 includes these changes, plus an additional 345 square nautical miles. It is now available in paper format from NOAA-certified printing agents, a free PDF digital download, or a free raster navigational chart for electronic display systems with a corresponding electronic navigational chart US5SC25M.

Florida diver/snorkel flags
Divers-down buoys now bob in Florida’s waters since state approval in July. The approved buoys must be three- or four-sided with divers-down symbols of at least 12-by-12 inches, and must be seen from all directions. Flags on a float are still permitted. Divers/snorkelers must stay within 300 feet of their flags or buoys in open water and 100 feet in rivers, inlets and channels. Boat operators should idle at the same distance away from flags or buoys. myfwc.com/news/news-releases/2014/july/01/divers-down/

Key West Bight Marina. Photo: Rob-O’Neal

The city of Key West renamed the Key West Bight to Key West Historic Seaport. Key West Historic Seaport has a 150-slip marina and is a great place to dive or snorkel, enjoy fresh seafood, shop, or take a high-speed ferry to Historic Fort Jefferson or the Dry Tortugas.

By Nancy Spraker, Southern Boating October 2014