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In This Issue
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I. VERY IMPORTANT - New Florida Keys Anchoring Regulations Approved.
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II. Marker Destroyed On Bunces Pass, Off Sunshine Skyway Channel, South of Boca Ciega Bay
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III. Successful Low-Tide Passage of Little Mud River, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 655
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IV. Captains Mark and Diana Doyle Provide Two More Excellent Articles
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V. Jupiter Seasport Marina Temporarily Closing For Renovations in Late September, 2012 (Statute Mile 1005)
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VI. Coast Guard Assists 3 from Sailboat On Pasquotanke River, South of Elizabeth City, NC
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VII. Hazard to Navigation: Shell Key Light Destroyed, Florida Keys Inside Route - Steamboat Channel (Statute Mile 1161.3)
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VIII. Caution: AICW Shoaling Reported Near Statute Mile 257.3
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IX. Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net Sponsor News
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X. Good Repair Yard Discovered in Southern Georgia
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XI. DELAYED! Safety Zone, Elizabeth River, Eastern and Southern Branches, September 5th to 9th, AICW Statute Miles Zero to 5.8
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XII. Misssing Marker in Ashepoo-Coosaw Cut-Off, AICW Statute Mile 515
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Florida Keys
I. VERY IMPORTANT - New Florida Keys Anchoring Regulations Approved  On Wednesday, September 5, 2012 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the Monroe County anchorage regulations associated with the Florida Pilot Mooring Field Program. While the final version must still be approved by the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, that final nod would seem to be a mere formality. We conclude that, after all the many public forums, voluminous comments published here on the Cruisers' Net and on other nautical forums, and a lot of GOOD work by our very special Florida Keys correspondent (and founder of BARR - Boaters' Action Rights and Responsibilities), Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd, we have a new set of Florida Keys anchorage regulations which will almost certainly be in effect by the winter 2012 - 2013 cruising season! HOWEVER, as you will see, this is not nearly as onerous as it initially  sounds!
PLEASE check out the full story at:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96458
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 Western Florida
II. Marker Destroyed On Bunces Pass, Off Sunshine Skyway Channel, South of Boca Ciega Bay
 Connecting the Sunshine Skyway Channel with the Gulf of Mexico, Bunces Pass runs east to west north of Mullet Key, which lies west of the Sunshine Skyway Bridges and causeways, over the seaward mouth of Tampa Bay. While well-marked, Bunces Pass is restricted for larger vessels due to two fixed, 16ft vertical clearance bridges. In spite of these vertical restrictions, Bunces Pass is a very popular weekend destination for Western Florida cruisers centered around Tampa Bay and Boca Ciega Bay.
 Now, in an article just cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariners, we learn that a key aid to navigation is now missing from this marked track. Learn where you need to take extra care at:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96362
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Georgia
III. Successful Low-Tide Passage of Little Mud River, AICW Problem Stretch, Statute Mile 655
 Little Mud River is almost universally acknowledged to be the worst section of the entire AICW run from Norfolk, VA to Miami, FL. This "AICW Problem Stretch" lies some 21 statute miles north of Brunswick, Georgia. Earlier depth sounding reports from fellow cruisers have confirmed our recommendation to navigate this stretch at mid to high tide ONLY.
Well, never say never. A mere 48 hours ago, we published an account by Captain Duane Ising concerning a near low water passage through these troubled waters. Wow, this article make for VERY INTERESTING reading, but all mariners please note, we still specifically do NOT recommend that  anyone try to traverse this perennial AICW Problem Stretch at anything approach low water.
Read Captain Ising's full account at:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96816
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 North Carolina and AICW
IV. Captains Mark and Diana Doyle Provide Two More Excellent Articles
Only those very new to the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net don't already know that for the last several months, our web site has partnered with Captains Mark and Diana Doyle, founders and owners of "On the Water ChartGuides." This dynamic cruising duo have been providing SSECN readers with a host of wonderful and very informative articles. Well, we have two more entries in this noteworthy list.
 Belhaven, NC Guest Dock Welcomes Boaters - Captains Mark and Diana Report (Statute Mile 135.5)
Belhaven's new city dock is located along the northern shores of Pantego Creek, just west of SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR, Belhaven Waterway Marina! Even though we have published several earlier articles concerning this fresh facility (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=77961 and http://cruisersnet.net/?p=86346), Diana and Mark really do an excellent job of providing an in-depth look at what is certainly a welcome addition to the Belhaven, NC Cruising Scene.
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96764
 Skidaway Narrows and Other Low Clearance AICW Bridges ALMOST Gone - Captains Mark and Diana Report
Captains Diana and Mark Doyle give us a penetrating insight into the topic of cruising the AICW. In this case, our dynamic cruising duo brings to light the eventual disappearance of low level AICW bridges.
While some may find the demise of these opening spans a bit of a nostalgic experience, I, for one, will be happy to see the last one fall. Over the years, I've waited far too long, and worked too hard to say off the fenders at the Wappoo Creek Bridge, south of Charleston, or pulled all my hair out at the old, now long gone, Sunset Beach  pontoon bridge. Soon, as Mark and Diana note, all of this will be but a bad memory!
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96784
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 North Carolina
VI. Coast Guard Assists 3 from Sailboat On Pasquotanke River, South of Elizabeth City, NC, Near AICW Dismal Swamp Alternate Route St. M. 59
 The calendar had hardly left the month of August behind before we began hearing reports about the partial "sinking" of a sailcraft on the Pasquotank River, near Elizabeth City, NC. The Pasquotank, of course, is part of the AICW Alternate Dismal Swamp Canal Route. An on-line story published by the USCG reported that the vessel in question had been holed by an underwater piling. We immediately began researching this incident. If there was a piling waiting just below the surface to ambush the keel of any cruising craft, we wanted to find out about it forthwith.  Well, one cool week later after an even half dozen calls to the Elizabeth City, NC USCG Small Boat Base, we were getting seriously frustrated. None of our calls were being returned, even after more than one thorough explanation that we were just attempting to provide information to the cruising community which would help to avoid a repetition of this incident. Thus it was that we turned to our friends at the Elizabeth City Convention and Visitor's Center, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR, for help. Less than 24 hours later, a promptly returned called solved  the mystery. Many, many thanks to Captain Susan for clearing up this question. Get the answers to this mini-mystery at: http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96490
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 Florida Keys
VII. Hazard to Navigation: Shell Key Light Destroyed, Florida Keys Inside Route - Steamboat Channel (Statute Mile 1161.3)
 Shell Key Light, a 16ft FG Marker #90, usually denotes the northern flank of the Florida Keys Inside Route's passage through Steam Boat Channel, which divides Shell Key Bank (near Islamorado, between Barley Basin and Lignumvitae Basin). As you will see by perusing the article linked below, this aid to navigation has been destroyed, and the remains of the piling that once supported the marker, are now a mere 2 feet below the water's surface. YIKES!!!!  ALL Florida Keys cruisers are urged to get full details at: http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96322
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 North Carolina AICW
VIII. Caution: AICW Shoaling Reported Near Statute Mile 257.3
Siggghhh, it seems every time we turn around here at the SSECN, another report comes along concerning additional shoaling along the path of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Well, we have another one, this time centered on the North Carolina portion of the AICW, south of New River Inlet.
 All snowbirds and year round North Carolina cruisers, run, don't walk to:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96505
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North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia
IX. Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net Sponsor News
 It has been said many times, but it's definitely worth repeating again. If it were not for the support of our sponsors, we could not possibly offer all the many free services of the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net to the cruising community. And so, we humbly ask once again, as you undertake your fall cruising, PLEASE patronize our sponsors whenever possible, and please tell our sponsors that you appreciate their support of the cruising community via their support for the SSECN.
And, in this same vein, I have asked our sponsors to let us know about any special deals for cruisers during this fall, 2012 cruising season. Here are some links to what we've heard so far:
 All Welcome at Harbourgate Marina, AICW Statute Mile 347
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96447
New Manager at Jekyll Harbor Marina, AICW Statute Mile 684.5
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96378
Anchorage Marina Coverting To Attractively Priced Boataminimums (Statute Mile 206, Atlantic Beach, NC)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96375
 Harborwalk Marina (Statute Mile 403, Georgetown, SC) Offering Winter Layover Dockage Special
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96369
High Praise for Sunbury Crab Company Restaurant and Marina, Medway River off AICW Statute Mile 620
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=96053
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 VA to NC
XI. DELAYED! Safety Zone, Elizabeth River, Eastern and Southern Branches, September 5th to 9th, AICW Statute Miles Zero to 5.8
 We just received word that this Safety Zone has been delayed:
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 South Carolina
XII. Misssing Marker in Ashepoo-Coosaw Cut-Off, AICW Statute Mile 515
As if depths were not problem enough in this perennial AICW Problem Stretch, where earlier reports have indicated depths of 5.8 feet at dead low tide, now we have a marker broken off near the waterline.
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