In This Issue
I. Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net Announces Spring, 2013 Marina/Anchorage Review Contest
II. SSECN Discovers the Real Story Concerning the Wright River/Northern Fields Cut AICW Problem Stretch
III. Spring, 2013 Waters of Particular Concern
IV. The Most Important SSECN Improvement You'll Probably Never Notice
V. Good Stretch To Sight Eagles on South Carolina AICW, St. M. 416 to 410
VI. U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C. Announces $585,000 For Dredging of Carolina Beach Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway
VII. Good Words for Hidden Harbor Yacht Club (Statute Mile 670.5)
VIII. VIII. Key Largo Humphrey Bogart Film Festival, May 2-5, 2013
IX. Punta Gorda Will Host Annual Dragon Boat Racing Event, 4/13/13
X. Annual Soft Shell Crab Festival on April 20th, Port Royal, SC, AICW Statute Mile 540
XI. Spring Fling at Bucksport Marina, April 5-7, AICW Statute Mile 377
XII. Shoaling in Salt Ponds Entrance Channel, Lower Chesapeake Bay
XIII. Strong Tidal Currents on AICW/Elliott Cut/Wappoo Creek Lead To A Change in Plans
XIV. Harbourgate Marina (St. M. 347) Will Host "Little River Sports and Outdoor Living Show, 4/13/14 to 4/14/13
Inn at Tabbs Creek 
Inn at Tabbs Creek 


New Contest

North Palm Beach Marina I. Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net Announces Spring, 2013 Marina/Anchorage Review Contest
 
We receive many reviews/comments about marinas and anchorages here at the SSECN, but sometimes everyone needs a bit of encouragement. And, since we really VALUE input from the cruising community when it comes to marinas and anchorages, here's a little extra incentive to break out the old laptop, and send off a few words of wisdom.

New Smyrna Beach Marina Effective today, 4/12/13, and stretching until 5/31/13, the cruiser who submits the most reviews of marinas AND/OR anchorages in our site's geographic coverage area, from southern Virginia, to the Florida - Alabama border, will be happily presented with a complimentary weekend for two at the Inn at Tabbs Creek (804-725-5136, http://www.innattabbscreek.com/), located on Chesapeake Bay's beautiful East River. Just take a gander at the photo above, AND visit the inn's web site to see what a REALLY SUPERB contest prize we've got for you.

Cammachee Cove Marina OK, a "review" need not be a page long document detailing everything there is to know about an anchorage or marina. Anything from one to several paragraphs relaying your impressions, observations and/or experiences, is more than sufficient.

We do reserve the sole right to judge what entries are worthy of publication, and only those reviews actually published will be counted in regards to the contest results.

Please feel free and encouraged to include photos with your submissions. Visual images are certainly not required, but they would be a nice touch indeed!

Amelia Island Yacht Basin 2 And, as you cruise along this spring, PLEASE REMEMBER TO LET US KNOW WHEN YOU FIND ANYTHING NEW, DIFFERENT OR JUST PLAIN INTERESTING. Have you spotted a missing navigational aid? We need to hear about it. Find a good/bad restaurant, or a shoreside attraction that should not be missed? Send us that info so we can pass it along to the rest of the cruising community. In short, we simply can't hear from you too often.

Palm Cove Marina You can always send reviews and other input directly to us at CruisersNet@triad.twcbc.com, or make use of the "Click Here to Contribute Cruising News" link found on the upper, right of all (except Chart View) SSECN pages.

OK, ready, set, go - let the flood of e-mails begin!!!! 
   
Vero Beach Municipal Marina South Carolina

II. SSECN Discovers the Real Story Concerning the Wright River/Northern Fields Cut AICW Problem Stretch

Here is some good information, as well as an example of how the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net works at its best!

Marineland Marina Last Sunday (4/7/13), we received a contribution from Captain Patrece Colburn about navigating the "AICW Problem Stretch" at the intersection of Wright River and northern Fields Cut, in extreme southern South Carolina (just north of the Savannah River). In this message, Captain Colburn suggested favoring the "red" side of the channel when cruising northbound from the northern mouth of Fields Cut into the Wright River. This advice would mean favoring the northwestern side of the passage along this stretch.

We were immediately concerned, as all of the cruising veterans here at the SSECN knew that classically shoaling encroaches on the AICW between northern Fields cut and marker #48, FROM THE NORTHWEST. Thus, it seemed as if this advice would steer cruising craft directly into danger.

We first tried to contact Captain Colburn for clarification, but were unable to reach her. So, rather than just publish this account, we prefaced it with explicit introductory remarks informing one and all that this advice flew in the face of our combined experience.

Within a hour of publication, we also dispatched a "Special Alert" to everyone on this list, and asked for input from those who had cruised this portion of the Waterway in 2013. Within less than an hour we had confirmation that cruisers should, in fact, FAVOR THE SOUTHEASTERN SIDE OF THE CHANNEL BETWEEN NORTHERN FIELDS CUT AND MARKER #48, just as we thought.

Coconut Club Yacht Club Shortly thereafter, Captain Colburn chimed in, and apologized for mixing up her directions and marker colors, and confirming that captains should indeed favor the "green" (southeastern) side of the AICW along this stretch. So, mystery solved in very short order.

Now, notice how this series of events took place because the SSECN is a PROFESSIONALLY MODERATED web site. Because every posting passes under the eyes of yours truly and/or our Senior Editor, Captain Larry Dorminy, BEFORE it is published, we were able to pick up on a possible problem with this posting immediately, and steps were quickly taken to answer the questions it raised.

Hammock Beach Resort & Marina Of course, WE CANNOT AND DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF EVERY POSTING IN OUR CRUISING NEWS SECTIONS, but we do promise that all will come under professional scrutiny before publication!

Contrast this happy set of procedures with a pure "crowd sourced" unmoderated site, where the original posting would have appeared in its unvarnished, incorrect form, and soon thereafter, vessels would undoubtedly have been finding the bottom.
Inlet Marina - St. Augustine
Just a quick lesson in how the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net works. And, notice, it only works with YOUR input, combined with our editing experience. It's a happy combination, but for it to work, we need your continued contributions.

So, now that you know the "back story," learn the latest about the northern Fields Cut into Wright River situation at:


http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111439
Harbortown Marina - Merrit Island, FL Florida - North Carolina

 

III. Spring, 2013 Waters of Particular Concern

 

With the warming weather over the past week here in North Carolina, I deeply suspect the spring, 2013 transient season is about to shift into high gear. With that in mind, we thought it might be very helpful to the cruising community to summarize the waters of particular concern for this season, which have already been reported upon by fellow cruisers.

Westland Marina Of course, as all but the newest SSECN users know, there are at least 17 perennial "AICW Problem Stretches," (Georgia's Little Mud River and Jekyll Creek spring immediately to mind) all of which are detailed in on the SSECN at:

http://cruisersnet.net/category/all-other-news/icw-problem-areas/

However, in addition to these seemingly never ending concerns, consider these immediate problem areas, all of which have been mentioned previously on the SSECN. The list below is arranged in a north to south geographic format:

Staniel Cay Club 1. Intersection of AICW and Southern Ponce Inlet Channel (Statute Mile 843) - This AICW shoaling is taking place hard by marker #18 at the southern intersection of the Ponce de Leon Inlet channel and the Waterway. These shallows are not related to earlier Alerts of shoaling in the Inlet itself.
Several years ago, there was major shoaling at this intersection, but dredging relieved the problem. Now, it looks as if these shallows are developing again. ALL AICW cruisers need to be on maximum alert when navigating these waters!!!
This shoally section of the Eastern Florida AICW is shaping up as one of the #1 trouble spots for the spring, 2013 transient season in the Sunshine State.
Full details at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=106920

Twin Dolphin Marina 2. AICW Groundings on Sawpit Creek (Statute Mile 731) - South of Fernandina Beach and Nassau Sound, cruising craft have been finding the bottom on the Sawpit Creek portion of the Waterway, near markers #49 and #50. Dredging is slated to take place here this month (April, 2013), but, in the meantime, please follow this link to learn what you need to know to avoid that sad sound of keel meeting mud and sand:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=110774

Gulf Harbour Marina 3. AICW/Shallotte Inlet Intersection (Statute Mile 330) - OK, this is one of those perennial AICW Problem Stretches mentioned above, but, this year, it appears to be particularly bad. Check out:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=103433

and

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=107519
Southwest Florida Yachts
4. AICW/Lockwoods Folly Inlet Intersection - ditto for this being an AICW Problem Stretch that seems particularly worrisome this spring. Get the full story at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111339
Fort Myers Municipal Marina SSECN Web Site     

IV. The Most Important SSECN Improvement You'll Probably Never Notice

The Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net is very proud to announce a major upgrade in our system's handling of postings which are designated with the important "Navigation Alert" status. Heretofore, because we wanted to present this important information to our users on several different parts of our site, both sorted geographically and chronologically, behind the scenes we had to maintain multiple versions of a single Nav. Alert posting. This was a real burden, and sometimes it could be a long and involved process to update an Alert.

St. Petersburg Municipal Marina All that is now, thankfully, in the past. A major upgrade to our system allows us to publish a single version of all Nav. Alert postings, with a simple specification determining whether a particular list of these Alerts is sorted on a geographic or chronological basis.

You will probably not notice any sort of difference as you make use of the SSECN web site, but, trust us, we can now handle all Navigation Alerts far more accurately, and with far greater ease.

Legacy Harbour Marina Check out these important postings at:

All Navigation Alerts:
http://cruisersnet.net/alert-region/010-all-nav-alerts/?sort=date

North Carolina Navigation Alerts:
http://cruisersnet.net/alert-region/020-nc-nav-alerts/?sort=geo

Rivera Dunes Marina South Carolina Navigation Alerts:
http://cruisersnet.net/alert-region/025-sc-nav-alerts/?sort=geo

Georgia Navigation Alerts:
http://cruisersnet.net/alert-region/030-ga-nav-alerts/?sort=geo

Eastern Florida Navigation Alerts:
http://cruisersnet.net/alert-region/035-ef-nav-alerts/?sort=geo

Port St. Joe Marina Florida Keys Navigation Alerts:
http://cruisersnet.net/alert-region/040-flk-nav-alerts/?sort=geo

Western Florida Navigation Alerts:
http://cruisersnet.net/alert-region/045-wf-nav-alerts/?sort=geo

Okeechobee Waterway Navigation Alerts:
http://cruisersnet.net/alert-region/050-okeechobee-waterway-nav-alerts/?sort=geo
Fort Myers Beach Anchorage South Carolina    
 
V. Good Stretch To Sight Eagles on South Carolina AICW, St. M. 416 to 410

Having cruised through the waters referred to in the article linked below, between the AICW's southerly exit from Winyah Bay, and the crossing at North Santee River, for well over thirty years now, I can wholeheartedly second Captain Hartsell's recommendation. This portion of the Waterway is bounded by vast grass marshes which stretch back to higher, well wooded banks. You can see all sorts of bird life along this stretch, in addition to the "eagles"
Regatta Pointe Marina
Get out your binoculars and get the full story at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111808
Froli Sleep System North Carolina
 
VI. U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C. Announces $585,000 For Dredging of Carolina Beach Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway

Kadey Krogen Yachts Here' some really GOOD news. Congressman Mike McIntyre, the US House of Representatives member from the Wilmington, NC region, has been a LONG-TIME supporter of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As you will see by following the link below to an article which recently appeared in PortCityDaily.com, Congressman McIntyre has secured a good chunk of change for inlet and AICW dredging.

Let's just hope that BOTH the AICW/Lockwoods Folly and AICW/Shallotte Inlet intersections are part of this dredging work! These two closely spaced "Problem Stretches" are currently the two worst spots on the Key Lime Sailing Club North Carolina portion of the Waterway!

Please visit:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111804
International Marine Service
Georgia  Western Florida 
 
VII. Good Words for Hidden Harbor Yacht Club (Statute Mile 670.5)

 Just this week, we published not one, but two laudatory reviews of Hidden Harbor Yacht Club. This facility gladly accepts transients, and is located on Troup Creek. This body of water intersects the AICW, immediately north of St. Simons Sound, near markers #237 and #238.
Intracoastal Yacht Sales
Take a look-see at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111505
Pilot House Marina Florida Keys           

VIII. Key Largo Humphrey Bogart Film Festival, May 2-5, 2013

  

What a GREAT idea. If you are cruising around Key Largo during the first part of May, 2013, consider giving this festival your attention. If you are a "Bogie" fan, and who isn't, sounds like a very fine way to spend a weekend in the Florida Keys!

Georgetown, SC   

Full details at:

 

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=110069

Punta Gorda, Florida Western Florida

IX. Punta Gorda Will Host Annual Dragon Boat Racing Event, 4/13/13

Well, this event takes place TOMORROW, but at least if you are cruising in or around Charlotte Harbor, now you know.
Port City Marina
Get full details on this absolutely fascinating race at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111399
Elizabeth City, NC
South Carolina

X. Annual Soft Shell Crab Festival on April 20th, Port Royal, SC, AICW Statute Mile 540

Speaking of really great spring time festivals, easily accessible by cruisers, let's also make note of Port Royal, South Carolina's annual Soft Shell Crab Festival, held on Paris Avenue which parallels Battery Creek. There is an anchorage in Battery Creek and the nearest marina is Port Royal Landing Marina -A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR! - on the north side of the highrise bridge at Statute Mile 539.
Deep Point Marina
Come one, come all:

Learn more at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111384
Washington NC Georgia  

XI. Excellent Report from Darien, GA, Darien River, departing the AICW at Statute Mile 653

Darien River departs the AICW north of Brunswick, GA, and winds upstream through an easily followed channel to the charming village of the same name. Long overlooked by cruisers, this community now features a free city dock, and plentiful, EXCELLENT shoreside dining within easy walking distance.

Bald Head Island Marina We have just published a full, in-depth account of a visit to Darien by Captains Wayne and Rhonda McManus. They have thoughtfully included a full description of the town docks, and many of the dining and shopping attractions available a few steps away.

Read on, and learn why you might well want to take a quick deviation from the Waterway during your northward migration, to give Darien a good look.
Bennett Brothers
Check out:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111355
St. Johns Yacht Harbor Southern Virginia

XII. Shoaling in Salt Ponds Entrance Channel, Lower Chesapeake Bay

Even at its intended depths, this narrow inlet can be daunting, especially in rough weather when the perpendicular-to-the-shore channel can look like surf. Once inside it is very pleasant and protected, but do take your fellow cruiser's advice and call Salt Ponds Marina before attempting an entrance. Salt Ponds is on the western shore of the lower Chesapeake, 4 nautical miles north of Old Point Comfort.
Mile Marker 0 Marine Supplies
Hear the full story at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111776
Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center South Carolina

XIII. Strong Tidal Currents on AICW/Elliott Cut/Wappoo Creek Lead To A Change in Plans

The appealing account linked below is excerpted from our good friend, Captain Wally Moran's site, "LiveBloggin' the ICW (http://bloggingtheicw.blogspot.com). We will be hearing a LOT more from Captain Wally as he follows the AICW during the next several weeks/months. Give his blog a look-see. It is well worth the time of any true cruiser!

And, don't miss his accounts of the STRONG tidal currents on Wappoo Creek/Elliott Cut at:

http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111481
Dolphin Cove Marina South Carolina

XIV. Harbourgate Marina (St. M. 347) Will Host "Little River Sports and Outdoor Living Show, 4/13/14 to 4/14/13     

Edenton North Carolina City Docks Here's another "this weekend" event which will be of interest to cruisers plying the South Carolina portion of the AICW.
      
We are very pleased to help promote what sounds like a really FUN event, hosted by SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR, Harbourgate Marina. This fine and friendly facility guards the charted square cove abutting the AICW's southern banks between the two (charted) Nixon Crossroads bridges.

Full details at:

 http://cruisersnet.net/?p=111330
McCotters Marina

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

 

Claiborne S. Young 
Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net 
          
 
River Dunes Marina  Shores at Spooners Creek R. E. Mayo Seafood Docks  Anchorage Marina       
  
Southport Marina  Toucan Grill Coinjock Marina  Albemarle Plantation Marina