IV. Captain Charmaine Reports on Three Florida Keys Pilot Mooring Field Program Public Forums  

They do things differently in the Florida Keys, and that's often a very good thing. Thus, instead of holding one public forum to air concerns from the cruising community over any possible anchorage restrictions associated with the Monroe County version (ALL of the Florida Keys) of the Pilot Mooring Field Program, three were held - one in Key Largo, a second in Marathon and a final in Key West. Our wonderful, special Florida Keys correspondent, Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd, has reported on all three sessions, and her story has already garnered quite a bit of comment. If anchoring in the Florida Keys is any concern of yours, go to:

http://www.CruisersNet.net/pilot-program-stakeholder-workshops-held-in-the-florida-keys-summary-june-2011-2 

Also, while we are on the subject of Florida Anchoring Rights, Captain Ken DeLacy, who has been involved in the struggle for anchoring rights along the Sarasota, Florida waterfront during the past several years, has put forward an interesting proposal involving unlimited anchoring time in return for an "Anchoring Permit." We posted Ken's proposal on the Net only 24 hours ago, and already the idea has garnered quite a bit of comment, both pro and con. Read all about it at:

http://www.CruisersNet.net/great-new-idea-for-anchoring-permits-proposed-in-regards-to-the-sarasot-florida-pilot-mooring-field-project 

V. Final Regulations for Openings of Gilmerton Hwy. Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 5.8 

We have put up any number of postings concerning the "temporary" opening restrictions on the Gilmerton Highway Bridge, which crosses the AICW near its northern genesis (just south of Norfolk, VA). Well, another item from the latest "Notice to Mariners" sheds additional light on this pesky span:

http://www.CruisersNet.net/change-to-openings-for-gilmerton-hwy-bridge-aicw-statute-mile-5-8

VI. Okeechobee Waterway All But Closed Due to Low Water Levels 

VII. Miami Beach "Anchoring Incident" Get Nastier 

In our last "Alert" we reported a "bizarre" anchoring incident in Miami Beach, as reported by "Sail" magazine writer, Captain Wally Moran." Since then, we've put up a host of indigent responses from the cruising community. Now, Captain Wally has passed along copies of correspondence between himself and the Miami Beach Chief of Police. Once again, it makes for interesting reading.

The string of messages concerning this incident has grown so long, we've started a fresh series of postings, and this is where you can read the latest. Go to:

http://www.CruisersNet.net/anchoring-incident-in-miami-beach-input-received-after-61011

You can check out the original story at:

http://www.CruisersNet.net/anchoring-incident-in-miami-beach

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

Claiborne Young