One of North Carolina's most popular ports of call, particularly during the summer months, is the old seaside/soundside village of Ocracoke, perched on the southeastern shores of Pamlico Sound and astride a like named inlet. Even in these days of "modern progress," there are still some Ocracoke streets that consist of sandy lanes. In short, this is a thoroughly delightful cruising destination, albeit one well off the familiar confines of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Well, visits to Ocracoke are now going to be a bit more difficult for those of us who come calling on our cruising craft. We have just posted a notice that reports severe shoaling on a portion of this port's primary entrance passage from Pamlico Sound, Big Foot Slough Channel. We have also establshed an "SSECN Navigational Alert" for these waters. 

Hopefully, sometime within the next year, dredging will erase this problem, BUT if you plan on visiting Ocracoke anytime this year, run, don't walk to:

http://www.CruisersNet.net/severe-shoaling-reported-in-big-foot-slough-channel-pamlico-sound-nc 

The Cruisers' Net has recently been contacted by Captain David Kurdley (http://www.oldmillcove.com) about a potentially dangerous situation which might arise for captains and vessels cruising downstream (east) on the St. Johns River between Jacksonville and the AICW/Mayport.  

Captain David informed us that some downstream bound captains, either by mistake or by way of trying to take a shortcut, are leaving the main St. Johns channel hard by charted Reddie Point, and  INEVITABLY RUN AGROUND ON WATERS WHERE THE LOCAL TOW BOAT SERVICES ARE UNDERSTANDABLY VERY RELUCTANT TO GO!

If the delightful St. Johns River is part of your cruising itinerary, check this "Navigational Alert" posting out without delay!!!

Go to:

In my earlier editorial, "Whence Come The Anchorage Regulations," one possible reason I cited for these prohibitions is:

"There are a group of very wealthy Floridians, who, by virtue of their finances, have more than their fair share of political influence. And, they simply do not want to walk out in their backyards, and see anchored boats on the water."

Think that might be a fanciful notion? Well, think again!

I urge one and all to follow the link below to an article submitted to us by "Sail" magazine reporter, Captain Wally Moran. EVERYONE who ever plans on dropping a hook in Floridian waters will want to read this story:

Sanitary Fish Market (Restaurant) has been a fixture on Morehead City, NC's waterfront since I was a boy in the 1950's. In fact, I have some vivid memories one fine July day of catching a bucket full of small perch while fishing from Sanitary's dock.

So, when a message appeared on the MTOA List-serve to the effect that the dock here had been removed, I (briefly) mourned the passing of an era.

HOWEVER, there is GOOD news on this front. Check it out at:

http://www.CruisersNet.net/dockage-will-soon-return-to-sanitary-fish-market-morehead-city-nc-near-statute-mile-205

South of Charleston, the South Carolina portion of the AICW leaves the North Edisto River and enters the Dawho River near Statute Mile 497. The intersection of these two rivers, and the easternmost section of the Dawho are real trouble spots for AICW cruisers. We've had two Navigational Alerts established on these waters for some time, and have flirted on more than one occasion with the idea of designating this section a perennial "AICW Problem Stretch."

Well, we have some possible good news for these waters, courtesy of fellow cruiser, Captain Larry Shick. If this stretch of the AICW is in your future, check out:

http://www.CruisersNet.net/update-on-n-edistodawhoaicw-intersection-statute-mile-497

We have received several questions recently about why the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net highly encourages reviews/articles/perspectives concerning marinas and anchorages, but, unlike some other nautical web sites, we never ask our readers to rate these facilities/anchorages. Well, I'm prepared to briefly answer that question.

First, let me make it crystal clear that we consider input from the cruising community, good, bad or indifferent, about marinas and anchorages, to be some of the most important information we receive here at the Cruisers' Net. In fact, we consider this data so significant, we publish it as BOTH news articles and as "Comments" on the marina or anchorage in question.

So, given all that, why don't we ask the cruising community to rate these places. Really simple, and our approach can be summed up with the old saw, "one cruiser's passion is another's poison."

I think all of us know fellow cruisers who just love tying their lines to a really backwater facility like Kilkenny Marina in Georgia, while others just do not consider the evening well spent unless they step onto the docks of a full service marina like Palm Cove in Jacksonville Beach.

Similarly, there are cruisers, like myself, who are happiest to drop the hook without the most remote vestige of civilization in sight. On the other hand, in St. Augustine I recently spoke with a cruising couple who only like to anchor or pick up a mooring when they are in the company of other vessels.

To each their own, we say, and more power to you! And, that is why we want as much input as possible from you, our readers concerning marinas and anchorages, but let's let our fellow cruisers read your descriptions and decide for themselves whether the reported place is their cup of tea.

That's all for now. Good luck and good cruising to all!