Dining on the Mighty Blue Crab...

I did this video a while back while in Urbanna VA - thought I'd share it with you. If you've never had blue crab, you can't imagine what you're missing!
(note to Simon, who recently sent in a question about boat insurance - I tried to email you, but the contact email you left didn't work. Can you recontact, and thanks!)

Important New Articles, Video on Florida Anchoring

I hope this sort of post isn't becoming tedious to you folks, because I'm quite tired of sounding off about this whole issue. I'd rather be out sailing.
However, if we don't act now, it may very soon be too late. I was told, while in Toronto for the Port Credit Boat Show last weekend, that cottagers on Georgian Bay and other Canadian waters, are watching what is happening in Florida. If these restrictive laws pass there, you can expect to see them where you boat, whether that's Canada, the US east coast, or on the Great Lakes. We NEED you to weigh in on this issue, if only to protect your own boating rights from this sort of interference.
Here is an excellent article from Practical Sailor by Jim Flannery - he has nailed the situation precisely.
Here is a video I've produced regarding the Vero Beach meeting and the state of the law regarding anchoring in FL. If you agree with this, please share it.


Lastly, make your views known to the FWC and the state of Florida by emailing Major Richard Moore directly, at Moore's email.  Make sure he knows that if these sorts of restrictive anchoring laws are passed, you will choose to spend your money elsewhere than Florida.
Please copy your letters to this blog, we will reproduce all of them. You can email them to me at Mailboat. Thanks!

Rumbling with the FWC in Vero Beach...

It's been an extremely busy couple of weeks - in particular, the anchoring issue in Florida is heating up. Cruisers are not happy with the proposals being considered - NO overnight anchoring in Florida within 300 feet of a residence being the major one.
The meetings in Florida were quite well attended for what is essentially the off season for cruisers: at least 80 in Vero Beach, and 120 in Bradenton, the majority being cruisers. There were over 30 individual presentations in Vero Beach, and a number of superb points were made.
At this point, several very concerned cruisers and boaters are discussing options and how we can fight back against those who would deny us our rights in Florida. Rather than continue on here, let me direct you to my SAIL Magazine article on the Vero Beach meeting, which includes video of the meeting.
If you'd like to follow up on this, please comment here and/or on SAIL's page. If you'd like to get involved in this fight for our rights, let me know please. And please, SHARE the link below with fellow boaters, even those nowhere near Florida, because if we don't stop this here, it will become the standard for rules in other states.
Trust me on this - if we fail to act here and now, we will surely lose our rights to anchor out in Florida, perhaps before the end of this year.  That's right - BEFORE the end of 2014.
Here's the link: http://www.sailmagazine.com/cruising-news/reporting-live-anchoring-meetings-florida