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In This Issue
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I. A HUGE Vote of Thanks to the Cruising Community, and A Special Request
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II. Terrific Input Received For North Carolina 5/09/13 Wish List
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II. Shoaling on Southern Foot of Sunshine Skyway Channel, at the Mouth of Tampa Bay
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IV. Delegal Creek Marina (Statute Mile 600)
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V. Change of Opening Schedule, Addison Point/John F. Kennedy Space Center Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 885
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VI. AICW Problem Stretch Shoaling Confirmed Near McClellanville, SC, Statute Mile 434
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VII. Update on Shoaling Reported at Longboat Pass (Inlet) Channel, north of Sarasota, FL, 5/17/13
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VIII. Missing Light at Ft. Pierce Inlet/AICW Intersection, Statute Mile 966.
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IX. Shoaling in St. Lucie River, Okeechobee Waterway, Statute Mile 1, Stuart, FL
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X. Cruising on Albemarle Sound from the AICW to Columbia, NC, on the Scuppernong River
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XI. Umbrella Cut Alternate AICW Passage (Statute Miles 685.5 to 695.5)
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 I. A HUGE Vote of Thanks to the Cruising Community, and A Special Request
 The word, "Thanks" seems so inadequate at a time like this, but it's still the best way we know to express our sincere appreciation to the cruising community. Amazingly, the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net has received more than 403 responses to the three "Wish Lists" which have been dispatched to this SSECN Alert List over the past several weeks. We say "more than" because many of you were generous enough to provide answers to multiple questions within a single e-mail.
 Wow, what a WONDERFUL outpouring of high quality information. All this fresh input has now been published on the SSECN, and our visitors will discover voluminous, fresh data on marinas, anchorages, ports of call and channels between Daytona Beach, Florida, and the North Carolina - Virginia state line. We urge one and all to make use of this generosity of spirit from your fellow cruisers.
We had not made use of "Wish List" type requests for information during the last several years, prior to our dispatching of the three recent sets of questions. In light of the terrific response to this tri-inquiry, that was clearly a mistake, and we will not make that error again. Don't be surprised if an SSECN "Wish List" appears in your in-box every 90 days or so.
 We have also decided that, beginning with the next SSECN Alert, requests for information concerning ONE specific marina, and one specific anchorage will be included at the end of the newsletter. These queries will help to keep the fresh information flowing!
And, THAT LEADS US TO A VERY SPECIAL REQUEST OF THE CRUISING COMMUNITY. May we be so bold as to suggest that WHENEVER YOU SPEND TIME AT A MARINA OR ANCHORAGE, PLEASE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS WHEN NEXT YOU GET ON-LINE, TO SEND THE SSECN AN ACCOUNT OF YOUR EXPERIENCES/IMPRESSIONS OF THIS OVERNIGHT STOP. By so doing, you are sharing the benefits of your experiences with your fellow cruisers, who just can't wait to hear from you.
 You need not take the time or effort to write an essay length article when reviewing a marina or anchorage. Normally, one to several paragraphs will serve nicely. The important point here is to SHARE your experiences. By doing so, EVERYONE WINS!
It's easy to send marina and anchorage reviews to us. Simply access any SSECN page (except Chart View pages) and follow the "Click Here to Contribute Cruising News" link, found on the upper right. Of course, you can always just e-mail your data directly to CruisersNet@triad.twcbc.com.
 Yes, we know there are other nautical web sites and forums that also ask you to contribute marina and anchorage reviews. We strongly urge all cruisers to contribute to these information sources as well. Remember, when you are on the water, there has never been any such creature as having too much information.
What we especially request from members of the cruising community, is to make the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net one of the first on your list of perennial corespondents when sharing nautical information, particularly marina and anchorage reviews. We will then work hard to integrate and heavily cross reference such invaluable data with the professionally researched information we provide on marinas, anchorages,  bridges, fuel prices and navigation. This formula can only work properly with your input and cooperation.
Thanks so very much for your time and attention, as well as your consideration of our request. Now, let's see what great information has been received in response to our most recent "North Carolina Wish List."
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 North Carolina
II. Terrific Input Received For North Carolina 5/09/13 Wish List
Once again, the cruising community has responded MAGNIFICENTLY to our requests for information contained within our North Carolina Wish List of 5/09/13. And, yet again, the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net owes a HUGE debt of gratitude to the Cruising Community for their generosity and willingness to share information in such a timely fashion!
 Below, we have provided links to the "Cruising News" articles for those North Carolina Wish List queries which we think will be particularly useful to cruisers. Click on any topic to learn LOTS more!
Cooling Canal Anchorage (Statute Mile 311)
Southport Marina (Statute Mile 309)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113740
 Southport, NC Dining (Statute Mile 309) http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113738
Bald Head Island Marina
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113761
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113833
 Carolina Beach Mooring Field (just off the AICW, near Statute Mile 295)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113944
Banks Channel Anchorage (Statute Mile 280)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113709
 Mile Hammock Bay Anchorage (Statute Mile 244.5)
Morehead City Dining (Statute Mile 205 to 203)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113863
Morehead City Yacht Basin (Statute Mile 203)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113744
 Taylor Creek/Beaufort Waterfront Anchorage - Beaufort, NC (Statute Mile 201)
Oriental, NC Marinas and Dining (Statute Mile 181)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113865
River Dunes Marina (Statute Mile 173.5)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113822
 Cutting the Corner on the AICW Passage from Bay River to Neuse River at Maw Point Shoal (St. M. 172)
R. E. Mayo Seafood Docks (Statute Mile 157)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113856
 Up the Pamlico River to Washington, NC (Statute Mile 146)
Dowry Creek Marina (Statute Mile 131.5)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113874
Upper Pungo River Anchorages (Statute Mile 127.5)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113771
 Alligator River Marina (Statute Mile 84)
Broad Creek Anchorage (off North River, Statute Mile 61)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113951
Coinjock Marina (Statute Mile 50)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113712
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113002
 Elizabeth City, NC and Mariner's Wharf (City) Docks, AICW Dismal Swamp Canal Alternate Route, St. M. 50.5
Goat Island Anchorage (AICW Dismal Swamp Canal Alternate Route, St. M. 43.5)
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=113763
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 Western Florida
III. Shoaling on Southern Foot of Sunshine Skyway Channel, at the Mouth of Tampa Bay (near St. M. 98)
 Even many veteran Western Florida cruisers have never known that the "official" path of the Western Florida ICW, across the mouth of Tampa Bay, cuts east-northeast under the huge Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and then takes a LONG curl back around to the north and west before passing under the Skyway's northernmost section (known as the Misner Brige), and eventually rejoins the "official" Waterway just west of the Misner span. We don't know of any cruiser who actually follows this route consistently.
 The vast majority of captains continue north from the Waterway's buoy #1A, through what the NOAA charts call the "Sunshine Skyway Channel," rejoining the Western Florida ICW at marker #15. As alluded to above, many mariners think this is all part of the "official" Western Florida Waterway.
Not so, and that means that the Sunshine Skyway channel is not as carefully maintained as the Federally sponsored Western Florida ICW. And so, we have just published a report of shoaling problems at the southern foot of this passage.
 ALL Western Florida mariners who have any idea of passing north to south (or the other way around) across the mouth of Tampa Bay, will want to run, not walk to:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=114205
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 Georgia
IV. Delegal Creek Marina (Statute Mile 600)
 The poorly marked entrance to Delegal Creek Marina leaves the combined paths of the AICW and Vernon River, immediately north of the infamous Hell Gate section of the Waterway. In the article linked below, Captains Chuck and Claria give GOOD advice for successfully navigating this facility's tricky entrance passage.
Please check out:
http://cruisersnet.net/?p=114201
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 Eastern Florida
V. Change of Opening Schedule, Addison Point/John F. Kennedy Space Center Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 885
The Space Center Causeway Bridge crosses the AICW at Statute Mile 885, south of marker #43. The change in this span's opening schedule, detailed in the below linked article, extends the restricted opening hours by 30 minutes both AM and PM.  |
 South Carolina
VI. AICW Problem Stretch Shoaling Confirmed Near McClellanville, SC, Statute Mile 434
Due to persistent shoaling, in early 2011 we designated the Waterway south of McClellanville to Awendaw Creek, as an "AICW Problem Stretch." As before, we recommend passage at mid or high tide. In the below linked article, Capt. Schmidt confirms that shoaling still persists in this area. 
Full details at:
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 Western Florida
VII. Update on Shoaling Reported at Longboat Pass (Inlet) Channel, north of Sarasota, FL, 5/17/13
 Captain Watson's April 27th report, linked below, confirms further shoaling in the important Longboat Pass channel. Earlier, Captain Briskman's message from 12/2012 also reported shoaling in this passage, running between south Bradenton Beach and north Longbeach, and allowing access from the Gulf of Mexico to Sarasota Bay.
Get the "full skinny" at:
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 Eastern Florida
VIII. Missing Light at Ft. Pierce Inlet/AICW Intersection, Statute Mile 966
 Fort Pierce Inlet pierces the Eastern Florida coastline between Dynamite Point and Hutchinson Island with an entrance range and an inner range which intersects the Waterway at statute mile 966. The destroyed marker, described below in the below linked article, cherry picked from the latest Local Notice to Mariners, lies in the northeast corner of the intersection of the Inlet channel and the Waterway.
We suggest that ALL Eastern Florida AICW mariners, run, not walk, to:
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 IX. Shoaling in St. Lucie River, Okeechobee Waterway, Statute Mile 1, Stuart, FL
This shoaling reported in the article linked below is found along a section of the St. Lucie River known as Hell Gate just west of Sewall Point near the river's mouth and on the easternmost section of the Okeechobee Waterway. These developing shallows will be a real concern for all year-round Stuart, Florida captains, and any mariner set on a passage of the Okeechobee Waterway. 
Full details at:
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 North Carolina
X. Cruising on Albemarle Sound from the AICW to Columbia, NC, on the Scuppernong River
 We wish more cruisers would choose to depart the familiar confines of the AICW, and cruise west on Albemarle Sound to the Scuppernong River's many anchorages and ports of call. The Scuppernong River, which makes into the sounds southern banks, west of Alligator River, is one of the best destinations for Albemarle Sound cruising, and the free (for 48-hour) Columbia Town Docks are a great place to rest from your travels. Or, you could choose to pick up a wet slip at Cypress Cove Marina. Either way, it's well worth your time, IF the Albemarle does not have its dander up! 
Find out LOTS more at:
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 Georgia
XI. Umbrella Cut Alternate AICW Passage (Statute Miles 685.5 to 695.5)
 As part of our 4/22/13 NE Florida - Georgia Wish List, we posed the following question:
Statute Mile 695.5 to 685.5 - anyone cruise the alternate "Umbrella Cut" AICW passage to bypass St. Andrew Sound this spring? If so, what depths did you discover? Is this passage still a viable alternative for cruising size craft?
We received several very worthwhile responses to this query, BUT just this week, an unusually thorough, thoughtful and inciteful response to this query was received from Captain Kevin Quinn, and appended to this posting.
 We suggest ALL who have even an idea of ever traversing the Georgia portion of the AICW, take the time to read:
Believe me, your time will NOT be wasted!That's all for now. Good luck and good cruising to all! 
Claiborne S. Young Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net CruisersNet@triad.twcbc.com
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