 I. Forest Fire Smoke May Reduce Visibility on the North Carolina AICW/Alligator River, and on Pamlico Sound
After a week's conflagration, a wildfire is still burning out of control on the peninsula of land that separates North Carolina's Alligator River/AICW and Pamlico Sound. A phone call to Alligator River Marina this morning (5/13/11) confirms that the forest fire is still very much a going concern, and smoke lies thickly over the AICW/Alligator River. Of course, if winds clock around and below from the west or southwest, this same smoke could very well become a navigational hazard on  Pamlico Sound.
All cruisers currently operating craft in northeastern North Carolina will want to check out full details on this blaze at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/wildfire-in-alligator-river-national-wildlife-refuge-dare-county-nc
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 II. New Aid To Navigation Added to Western Florida/Tampa Bay's Manatee River Approach Channel
Manatee River, which lies along the southeastern corner of Tampa Bay, is one of the more popular cruising destinations in this region. Three superb pleasure craft faciltiies including SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR, Twin Dolphin Marina, welcome cruising craft on the Manatee, and there is even a good collection of overnight anchroages.
 For the last year or so, the northern flank of the marked Manatee River entry channel from Tampa Bay has been shoaling. Now, the USCG has taken notice of the impinging shallows by adding a new aid to navigation on the entrance cut. Read full details at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/new-aid-to-navigation-established-on-manatee-river-entrance-channel-tampa-bay |
 III. Dramatic Sinking and Marker Change On St. Augustine Inlet (near Statute Mile 776.5)
St. Augustine, Florida has been much in the news of late, and not only because it will host the first public forum in regards to the new Florida Pilot Mooring Field Program. During the last week, we have posted articles on the Cruisers Net about a dramatic sinking which took place on St. Augustine Inlet, and a change of markers on this seaward cut.
This inlet is shoaling badly, and the impinging shallows prompted one SSECN contributor to warn, "CAPTAINS BEWARE! AVOID THIS INLET UNTIL IT GETS FIXED."
So, all cruisers navigating the waters around St. Augustine, will want to follow these links:
Tragedy in St. Augustine Inlet St. Augustine Inlet Buoys Changed
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IV. Captain Charmaine Identifies a Navigational Conundrum in the Florida Keys (near Statute Mile 1179.5)
We are all very privileged to have Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd as our special SSECN Florida Keys correspondent. Her stories about these fascinating waters and the very special people which populate these specks of land, are without peer.
 Well, Captain Charmaine has done it again, and this time she has identified a navigational oddity/conundrum on the Florida Keys Inside Route, near Islamorada, for which she is asking input from the cruising community!
And, since the potential confusion caused by this "conundrum" might just lead to someone's keel meeting up with the bottom, we are all hoping that some of you out there can shed light on this situation.
Even if you are not familiar with the Florida Keys Inside route, this is an interesting  story which will interest all dyed-the-wool cruisers. Take a gander at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/channel-key-pass-navigational-conundrum-florida-keys-inside-route-statute-mile-1179-5
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V. More on Florida Pilot Mooring Field Program Public Hearings
Yes, I know you just received a special Alert from us yesterday on this topic, BUT two important headlines have already appeared just since we sent out yesterday's notice.
First, the date for the St. Augustine, Florida public forum has been changed to September 26, 2011, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, at the Alcazar Room in City Hall, 75 King Street. Again, WE NEED AS MANY CRUISERS TO ATTEND AS POSSIBLE. Our posting about this public forum has been updated at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/important-first-florida-pilot-mooring-field-public-forum-announced
And, also announced since our message of yesterday, the time and venue for the second of the Pilot Program public forums has been set, these for Monroe County, which, if you don't already know, encompasses all of the Florida Keys.
June 7, 6-8pm, at the Murray E. Nelson Center in the upper Keys
June 8, 6-8pm, at the Marathon Government Center in the middle Keys
June 9, 6-8pm, at the Harvey Government Center in the lower Keys
We have reproduced the full press release from Monroe County concerning these  meetings at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/monroe-county-florida-keys-accounces-second-round-of-florida-pilot-mooring-field-program-public-forums
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VI. Depth Report on AICW/Ashepoo - Coosaw Cutoff (near Statute Mile 515)
North of Beaufort, SC the AICW eventually follows wide Coosaw River east for a spell, and then leaves this impressive body of water by way of the southwestern branch of a man-made canal known as the Ashepoo - Coosaw Cutoff. This canal leads, in turn, to Rock Creek.
The entrance from Coosaw River into the Cutoff is arguably the worst stretch of the AICW in South Carolina, though those who have had trouble on southern Fields Cut (just north of Savannah River) may disagree.
 Anyway, we have just posted a late breaking report concerning depths on the Ashepoo - Coosaw Cutoff that will be of interest both to Waterway cruisers still south of this intersection, and year round South Carolina navigators. Check it out at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/report-on-depths-in-ashepoo-coosaw-cutoff-aicw-statute-mile-515
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VII. Grounding at AICW/Mantanzas Inlet Intersection (Statute Mile 793)
We long ago tagged the waters south of St. Augustine, Florida, where the Waterway channel meets up with Mantanzas Inlet, as one of our "AICW Problem Stretches." Now, we have a breaking report of a grounding at this sad intersection: http://www.CruisersNet.net/grounding-in-mantanzaz-inlet-near-aicw-statute-mile-793  And, an even more recent report of how to best use the various aids to navigation along this stretch to keep to the good water:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/markers-at-aicwmantanzas-inlet-intersection-aicw-statute-mile-793 |
VIII. Shoal Encountered at Entrance to Umbrella Creek From Jekyll Sound
South of Jekyll Island, Georgia, the primary branch of the AICW runs south through St. Andrew Sound, and almost passes out in the briny blue in the process. Recognizing the potentially rough water along this stretch, the Army Corps of Engineers set up an alernate AICW route back in the 1930's when the Waterway first opened, known as Umbrella Cut. While this alternate passage does bypass St. Andrews Sound, it's none too deep itself in places.
A portion of the Umbrella route follows, what else, Umbrella Creek, and we list several anchorages along this stream in the SSECN Georgia Anchorage Directory.  Recently, fellow cruiser Captain Manfred attempted to access these overnight havens by cruising into Umbrella Creek directly from Jekyll Sound, NOT from the Umbrella Cut Alternate Route. Things didn't go too well.
Check out Captain Manfred's experience at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/entrance-to-umbrella-creek-shoaling-off-the-aicw-at-statute-mile-687
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IX. Superb Navigational Advice for AICW/Northern Alligator River Problem Stretch (North Carolina AICW, near Statute Mile 81)
Many of you may recognize the names of Captain Chuck Baier and Captain Susan Baier. Until recently, this dynamic duo were respectively the General Manager and Editor of Waterway Guide. They are now cruising south on the AICW aboard their trawler, "Beach House" making their way to a new homeplace in Fort Myers, Florida. Along the way, these two new friends are being kind enough to share their experiences here on the Cruisers' Net.
 And, their first article is a REAL WINNER. I had asked Susan and Chuck to take a careful look at the AICW Problem Stretch encountered at the intersection of northern Alligator River and the AICW. Well, they not only took a good lock, but they have provided everyone with superb advice as to how these troubled waters can be best navigated.
Still, not enough for you. Well then, the same posting linked below contains a second note from a fellow cruiser describing how one recently destroyed aid to navigation along this stretch has been replaced.
Check it all out at:
http://www.CruisersNet.net/marker-dislodged-at-n-alligator-river-entrance-aicw-statute-mile-80
Another report from Chuck and Susan tells how one the best AICW anchorages  between the Neuse River, and Beaufort, NC is now pretty much off limits to pleasure craft. Siggghhhhh! Take a look at:
http://www.CrusiersNet.net/fish-traps-and-crab-pots-obscure-cedar-creek-anchorage-statute-mile-188
 That's all for now. Good luck and good cruising to all!
Claiborne Young
Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net
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