 I. A Note of Sincere Thanks to the Cruising Community
I have said it before, but it's worth repeating. Cruisers are simply some of the very best people on this good earth. And now, I have had yet another shining example of this maxim.
 Sooooo many of you responded with positive thoughts, well wishes and prayers to my note in the last SSECN Alert about my first-rate, first-mate's continuing battle with "never smoker's lung cancer" that we have been simply overwhelmed (in a very good way).
To all who took the time to tell us about their own experiences, and to send so many wonderful words our way, Karen joins with me wholeheartedly in saying, "THANKS!!!"
 Our hope for the future is that one day soon, we will all live in a world without cancer! Until this disease has touched your life, you will never know just what a fervent hope that is. May that day be coming in the very near future!
Once again, in this Holiday Season, many, many thanks to all our fellow cruisers. You are really the very best!
|
 North Carolina
II. IMPORTANT - More AICW Shoaling Reported at Statute Mile 270, near New Topsail InletThis AICW shoaling, reported in the article linked below, cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariners, is occurring immediately south of Statute Mile 270, near the AICW's intersection with New Topsail Inlet.
 Would you believe this notice reports the THE AICW CHANNEL AS BEING ONLY "35 FEET" WIDE!!!!!! Yikes!!!!!
If ANYONE has traversed this stretch of the AICW within the last 30 days, PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE CRUISING COMMUNITY BY FOLLOWING THE link below, and then making use of the "Click Here to Submit Cruising News" link on the upper right of all (except Chart View) SSECN pages!!!
 WE COULD HAVE A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION DEVELOPING HERE ON THE NORTH CAROLINA PORTION OF THE AICW, that could prove to be a true pain in the posterior for the spring, 2013 transient season, not to mention for all year round Tar Heel cruisers.
PLEASE check out:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=102122
|
 Georgia
III. Possible Shortcut From St. Catherine Sound to Walburg Creek Anchorage (St. M. 619)
After following the link below, it might would be very beneficial to read the text side by side with a copy of the NOAA chart which depicts the northern entrance to the excellent Walburg Creek anchorage, from St. Catherine Sound. As you will see, there is a long shoal charted as "Middle Ground" which thrusts into the western flank of the creek's entrance.
 The classic way to avoid these shallows has been to continue cruising east, as if you were going to follow the St. Catherine Sound Inlet to the open sea, and then curl back around to the south and west from a position east of marker #7.
What Captain Long is attempting to do, in the extensive article and graphic linked below, is to find a way to short-cut the long cruise east to get past #7. Looks like he may have found a way for the moment, BUT, as he notes, depths in this region are subject to rapid and uncharted changes. Cutting the corner may be a risky proposition, and the responsibility to take such a chance rests entirely with  each individual captain!
Get the full story at:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=103710
|
 A GOOD Chuckle
IV. The Coolest Boat at the Launching Ramp
OK, no fooling, everyone HAS to see this!!!!!
Yes, the video is shaky, and it takes a bit of time to unfold, but wait until you see the final result! Wonder how much all this cost?????
Don't dare miss:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=103694
|
 Eastern Florida
VII. A Word of Caution about Conflicting Currents at AICW/St. Augustine Inlet, Statute Mile 777.3
 In the SSECN posting linked below, Capt. Burnham offers compelling words of caution which should be taken seriously during falling tides at the intersection of the Waterway and St. Augustine Inlet, at statue mile 777.3, especially at marker #60 where the channel makes a dogleg turn. And, no matter how often it happens, as any displacement hull vessel operator will relate, it is a strange sensation in the pit of your stomach when Mother Nature, in the guise of a crossing tide, unexpectedly wrests your boat from your control! While Capt. Burnham's remarks pertain to St. Augustine Inlet, such adverse crossing tides can occur at a number of inlet/Waterway intersections.  ALL AICW cruisers who anticipate operating their vessels in northeastern Florida, will want to run, not walk, to: http://cruisersnet.net/?p=103426
|
 Georgia
VIII. Things Have CHANGED On Troup Creek, Georgia (Statute Mile 670.5, just north of Brunswick, Georgia)
 Just this past week, I was reminded of one reason why, several years ago, I made the transition from authoring paper cruising guides, to publishing all the data I gather on the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net. This tale begins when I received a very polite e-mail from the owner of Hidden Harbor Marina, a very nice facility on the shores of Troup Creek, just off the AICW, a short hop north of Brunswick, Georgia.  A visiting cruiser had informed the owner that in my "Cruising Guide to Coastal South Carolina and Georgia," I had less than nice things to say about visiting this body of water. Turns out the CGSC-GA edition in question was at least six years old, and, at that time, there was a seriously scuzzy, combination bar and "marina" perched on the shores of Troup Creek. Hence my less than glowing recommendation.  Happily, those days are LONG GONE, and there is every good reason for cruisers to visit the facility which now occupies these shores, Hidden Harbor Marina. And, to bring this discussion full circle, that is one of the real problems with paper cruising guide. They often hang around far past their "sell-by" date. So, if you have old editions of my cruising guides or anyone elses, use them for a bon fire, and get the latest edition of all your guide books, or better yet, get your data on marina, anchorages and bridges right here, on the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net!  More details at: http://cruisersnet.net/?p=103419
|
 Western Florida
IX. Little Shark River Southern Fork Anchorage
In the article linked below, looks like Captains Ken and Pat are reporting on (or near) the second anchorage we recommend on Little Shark River moving upstream from the stream's mouth. In our "Western Florida Anchorage Directory" (follow link below), we suggest dropping the hook north of the "island," but, hey, Little Shark River is one of those places where you could spend a month, and never exhaust all the anchorage possibilities!
Check out this collection of fascinating anchorages at:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=103408
|
 Florida Keys
XI. GREAT Videos of Key Largo (Florida Keys) Christmas Boat Parade, 2012"
|
|
