Florida Anchoring Battle - We Need YOU to Speak Out Please

Time to fight for anchoring rights!

Fellow boaters - I promised I would keep you up to date, and aware of what you can do to fight back against the unjust and unfair attempts in Florida to restrict anchoring rights. Well, the time is now!
I've just been speaking to SSCA not five minutes ago. Scott Berg, and Phil Johnson are in Tallahassee, fighting for us on the Florida Anchoring issue. They cannot do this on their own - they need ALL of us, and they have asked me to speak to you directly.
Everyone - right now please - send a letter regarding your opposition to the Senate anchoring bill. Even if you've already sent one, send another one. Don't put it off, it's too important.
The SSCA wants a flood of letters over the next several days, as hearings start on Tuesday. Write your letter - I'll post some ideas below to help you - and share this post with EVERYONE, on EVERY group you belong to that might even have someone using the water, even if it's only a stand up paddleboard! wink emoticon
Be polite. We are the good guys in this fight, and we have to look like it. There are enough out of control landowners - with dinghies anchored out, loud blaring stereos, even paintball guns being shot at anchored boats - to make us look good. We don't have to be shrill or angry - we just need to point out that it is not us who are the problem here.
Then - if you are a Florida resident, the SSCA NEEDS you in Tallahassee on Tuesday. They NEED to show the committee that it's not just out of staters who are crying about this issue - it's taxpaying locals. They currently have four people to put in front of the committee - how about another dozen of you making the trip?
Also - if you guys think it's the way to do this - how about some offers of cash for gas for these people who go for us? Let's get this effort humming.
I can't go - I'm too recognizable in this fight, and I'm not local - I don't present the image that this committee needs to see. They need to see you, and know you were concerned enough about this issue to take the time to come to Tallahassee to speak to them. The SSCA will give you some pointers on this beforehand - don't worry, you'll be supported all the way. Contact me using the contact link on this page if you can go, or go directly to Scott Berg on the SSCA Facebook page and let him know you're in for this.

Here are the people we need to email, the committee members:

Chairman Charlie Dean: dean.charles@flsenate.gov
Vice Chairman Wilton Simpson: simpson.wilton@flsenate.gov
Senator Thad Altman: altman.thad@flsenate.gov
Senator Greg Evers: evers.greg@flsenate.gov
Senator Alan Hays: hays.alan@flsenate.gov
Senator David Simmons: simmons.david@flsenate.gov
Senator Chris Smith: smith.chris@flsenate.gov
Senator Darren Soto: soto.darren@flsenate.gov

Below are the points you should make. Try not to copy and paste, but if you have to - hell, do it. Just get the letters out there.
Thanks everyone - together, we can WIN this one. Let's make it happen. One last remark - I already am aware of how much so many of you have done in this fight - the letters, the shares, all of it - and I'm hugely proud of the effort you have put out in defence of your rights.
Just one more time now. TOGETHER, WE CAN DO THIS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Starting with the subject line -
Florida Senate Bill 1548
Opposition to Dwelling-Unit Anchoring Set-Back Provision
______________________________________________
1. As boaters and cruisers, we support the SAFETY-RELATED provisions of SB 1548 that directly relate to the stated purpose and title of the bill which is Vessel Safety such as: the provisions limiting anchoring within a safe distance from a marked mooring field, public boat ramp, marine railway, launching facility or landing facility. Similarly, public safety justifies the provisions restricting the anchoring or mooring of a vessel that is incapable of navigating under its own power, vessels that cannot dewater, vessels leaking petroleum, vessels in violation of marine sanitation laws, and vessels that are unattended or derelict. We support all of these provisions.
2. But statewide legislation should not include provisions that are founded upon interests that are not necessary for safety. We oppose provisions that are designed to establish preferential rights or control over areas of public waters of the State of Florida based upon setbacks from all “developed waterfront property” that would arbitrarily create areas of public waterways within which occupants of boats may not anchor. Such provisions are related to convenience, preference, and aesthetics, rather than safety, and would result in laws that pick between classes and groups of people based upon the nature of the structure they choose to occupy.
3. Therefore, we strongly oppose the provision banning overnight anchoring in public water anywhere within 200 feet of a dwelling unit that was built on private land. We respectfully ask that, as members of this Committee, you please remove this provision
4. We are sensitive to the concerns raised by some legislators and constituents about issues related to anchored boats. Some of these relate to disputes about between a few individual high-profile property owners and boaters. We recognize that these concerns have increased and will continue to increase as more people move to Florida and buy properties located adjacent to public land such as submerged land and the waterways above it along Florida’s coast.
5. As to disputes between individual upland property owners and boaters, we believe those are matters that are proper for handling on a case-by-case basis through enforcement of civil and penal measures, such a nuisance and harassment. Although existing laws allow for policing of such bad conduct, we would support reforms that strengthen the enforcement tools to help resolve such disputes. But we do not believe the proper approach is to pass sweeping statutory statewide bans on where members of the public can anchor on public waterways throughout the State.
6. Waterfront property owners (including many of us boaters) must be reminded that the marine coastal resources of this State are not private. They are public. The submerged lands that would be roped off by a blanket set-back would encompass land that is owned by the State and, accordingly, by ALL Floridians … including many of the boaters and cruisers who also own land in Florida and pay taxes in Florida to help support the State's ownership of this submerged land.
7. We understand the “Not-In-My-Back-Yard” or NIMBY concept. But public waters are not the "back yard" to any waterfront private property. It is public submerged land. The back yard of upland private property ends at the mean high waterline. Every waterfront property purchaser knew this when they purchased their land. As upland property owners, we should not expect the government to give us control and dominion over public waters just because we purchased private property adjacent to it.
8. Such a blanket setback covering lands owned by the public would set a dangerous precedent that could lead to proposals by people owning property adjacent to other public lands (such as condos on a beach and houses next to state parks) … asking that beachgoers stay off the beach and park visitors stay away from the boundaries of state parks.
9. Similarly, as boaters, we recognize that it would be improper for us to ask government to give us control and dominion of land that is upland of the waterline through a provision preventing landowners from locating their house or condominium within 200 feet of any shoreline. This too would be unfair. To be fair, we recognize that private upland property is not the "back yard" of boaters.
10. We've heard some people in the capitol tell stories about their experiences with boats anchored near properties they own on a lake. Remember, marine coastal waterways are very different from a private lake. First, coastal waterways are not private at all. Second, in most lakes, the depths throughout it allow anchoring just about anywhere. With marine coastal waters, however, there is a small number of areas where there is enough depth to anchor a vessel and enough depth in the areas necessary to access those anchorages ... and where there is adequate protection from the wind and weather. These anchoring spots are unique and serve as the basis for the estimated 1,000,000 boats travelling throughout Florida's waterways annually.
11. The proponents of such this anchoring ban have not performed a necessary analysis showing the consequences such as the number of anchorages that would be eliminated by a particular setback. Without that geographic and bathymetric analysis, it is very risky to adopt such a setback.
12. Remember too, that there are some stretches of the Inter Coastal Waterway where there may only be a couple small suitable anchorages within a stretch of 50 miles or so and theses spots are necessary resting grounds for boaters seeking safe, daytime travel, and safe night time rest. We would not want to take away these safe havens for the convenience or view of others who are safely ashore.
13. The proponents of the anchoring setback have not performed a necessary analysis showing the economic consequences such as the amount of lost revenue, lost taxes, and lost jobs resulting from the exclusion of so many customers supporting so many coastal small businesses from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys, Southeast FL and all the way to Jacksonville. It is not clear to us that local businesses and Chambers of Commerce have been included in this discussion ... although there are some local Chambers that are starting to take notice. Without this economic analysis and full involvement from the small business community, we believe such a provision is not ripe for consideration.
14. Access to Florida's coastal waterways is a key component of this State's rich maritime history. One recent article asked whether Florida is becoming '...The most cruiser-unfriendly state'. This is a sad trend. To many, Florida MEANS water and the salt life. This needs to be preserved, protected, and jealously guarded.

Wow! That Went Well!

Thank you everyone. The last post, on the Florida Anchoring Crisis, certainly got around. In just three days, it was seen by over 4400 of you, which is a almost a new record for LiveBloggin'. The only post to exceed that number, with 5318 hits to date, is the post I did on the Middle River anchorage in Fort Lauderdale, which you can view here. Seems you LiveBloggers are fanatics about defending our right to anchor!
The most important thing you can do now is to contact Florida legislators and let them know that you do NOT approve of these changes, and that you will not come to Florida if they go through. Even if you don't now own a boat, your dollars matter to these people as a tourist, so let them know, loudly.
You can get the names and contact information you need right here, from the SSCA trifold.
Stay tuned for more news on the Florida Anchoring fight, as it will be coming to a head very shortly. And be sure you speak up for your rights, before you lose them. Look at it this way...the sooner we win this fight, the sooner I can stop writing about it, and write about fun stuff instead...like the following.

HAVANA DREAMIN'...
In other news - I am about to complete a project I've been working on for a while now - a film to be called Havana Dreamin': A Cuban Exploration, about sailing around Cuba, discovering the country and its people. I've already been twice to Cuba, sailing the north coast, and this next trip I'll sail the south coast to complete a circumnavigation of the island at Havana. During this trip, I'll visit Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Havana and Varadero, as well as many inland destinations. Think rum, Cohibas and tropical scenery!
The end goal of all this sailing is to make this film available via public television and the internet, so that everyday Americans, and the rest of the world too, can see for themselves what the REAL Cuba is like. In other words, not the phoney, hyped up stuff that Conan just put out, or the 'beautiful people' garbage of Paris Hilton and her narcissistic online selfies. What these people are showing you is not what Cuba is really all about. I should know, I've been there, I've seen it for myself.

Revolutionary Signage is common in Cuba

To create a film like this takes money, a lot of money, particularly if you do it the Hollywood way. The problem is, do it that way and you then get a slick, mass produced type of film that feels and looks like a travelogue - and is about as dull as one.
LiveBloggers know that's not my style. My plan is to create a beautiful, simple film about Cuba that shows the true Cuba - its people, their lives, homes, work...their attractive countryside, scenic anchorages and much more. The plan is to film this quietly, without a Cuban government 'handler' attached to us, so that we can get real footage of real Cubans in real life situations. The 'real' Cuba in other words, the one you have yet to see.
To make this happen, I need to fundraise. So far, we've raised almost $4000 out of a total of $16000 needed. $3000 of that is from a Canadian sailing foundation which only came on board last week, so I'm very, very excited.
To raise the balance, I've created an Indiegogo crowdfunding program, which you can view here, at Havana Dreamin': A Cuban Exploration.

Entrance to Marina Hemingway Club Nautico

Take a look - tell me what you think of it, and if you feel inspired by this project, please donate. There are some truly wonderful awards we have for you.
At the very least, please share the link to Havana Dreamin' with your friends, it will help us out immensely.
That's it for this issue of LiveBloggin' - next edition, back to anchoring.... ok, maybe not then.

Anchoring in Florida - Crisis Situation

I spent several days reading the results of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Anchoring Survey, conducted last November/December, after it came out a few weeks ago. The survey’s intent was to gather information to assist the FWC in making recommendations regarding changes to anchoring regulations in Florida, a topic which will be addressed by the Florida State Legislature this spring.

There were two major concerns on cruisers’ minds: the enactment of local rather than state authority for rule making, and residential setoffs. Both of these were addressed in the survey, and were the topic of much concern at two public meetings held last fall (http://www.sailmagazine.com/cruising-news/reporting-live-anchoring-meetings-florida).

My concerns are twofold: the survey’s clear anti-boater ‘bias’, and the fact that nearly a quarter of respondents are “stakeholder group not identified”.

However, that survey doesn’t matter any more, as Florida Senator Dean has just recently proposed very boater unfriendly legislation.

The Good Senator, who hails from northwest Florida, that bastion of anchoring issues - (and what favours have been promised by Florida legislators in SE Florida to the Good Senator for proposing this legislation I have to ask) - has proposed legislation that, among other things, sets up a 200 foot setoff from residential property. That’s right - 200 feet, not the 150 feet proposed by the FWC whom, rumor has it, the Good Senator is displeased with.
Can’t imagine why that would be. The FWC hasn't bothered moving the clearly illegal dinghies anchored out in Sunset Lake behind Frederick Karlton's house, placed there to block any anchoring. They must be illegal, because FWC Major Daugherty told me they were, two years ago. Now they're derelict by the FWC's own definition of the term, with heavy growth on the bottoms and sides and anchor lines, non-working solar lights instead of proper anchor lights, and they are blocking navigation.
But hey! When you donate big bucks to politicians, many sins are forgiven, and you get to keep your little dinghies, even if they are illegally anchored and derelict. Ah, but excuse me, I digress here. That's just business (and politics) as usual in Florida. One law for your rich friends, another for the rest of us....

Illegally anchored dinghies in Sunset Lake
put there to block legal anchoring

Getting back to the Good Senator’s legislation, there’s just one problem with 200 foot setoffs: they will effectively eliminate anchoring in all of south Florida. 

You read that right: a 200 setoff, with a 5:1 scope in 12 feet of water and a four foot distance to the bow, plus boat length, will eliminate over 90% of the anchorages from Palm Beach south, and reduce even the largest of anchorages such as Lake Sylvia and Middle River to one or two boats at most.
Sunset Lake, one of the safest anchorages around, will be totally gone. All of the anchorages along Venetian Causeway will be...gone. Hurricane Harbor - gone. Do I need to continue?

Given that all these anchorages are staging areas for boaters heading to the Bahamas, and that the weather isn’t always what is needed for a crossing, putting this legislation under the Vessel Safety category is ludicrous. It’s possibly the most dangerous legislation we’ve ever seen, as it could force boaters to go offshore in less than optimal conditions because they can't stay where they are.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention....if you get a ticket and don’t show in court, it’s a misdemeanor conviction. Given the transient nature of our lifestyle, who will argue the situation with a marine police officer, even when they’re in the right? Easier to move on. That’s justice, Florida style, for you.

The Seven Seas Cruising Association has taken a stand against setoffs, which was announced at the Miami Boat Show, and is preparing to address this current legislation. However, this fight needs you to step in and take a stand. Even if you sail on an inland lake, you need to involve yourself here, as other jurisdictions will take note of this legislation and possibly attempt to enact it where you boat.

I will discuss the specifics in my next blog post, as well as what we, as boaters, can do to prevent this legislation from being enacted, and keep you updated with the news as I become aware of it. In the meantime, we all need to get ready for a fight, if we are to preserve our rights to anchor in Florida. Yes, it’s that serious. The sky IS falling. Stay tuned.

If this were a cruising boat anchored here,
you can bet it would be tagged as derelict.

For more discussion on this issue, see my previous Sailfeed article at http://www.sailfeed.com/2015/02/florida-anchoring-survey-the-cynical-point-of-view/

Florida Anchoring Survey - the Cynical Point of View

Dinghy anchored behind Miami Beach house to block anchoring

The FWC recently released the results of its Florida Anchoring Survey, and the results were, well - intriguing. Not so much that the results were that out of line with what might have been expected, but some recent conversations have brought out the cynic in me. After reading this post, you may well feel the same.
Some history first. Last spring, 2014, the Florida legislature attempted to enact a law which would have permitted some municipalities - read Miami, Fort Lauderdale principally - to enact local anchoring legislation. That legislation would have brought us back to, as the late Claiborne Young was wont to say, the 'wild west' for cruisers, with legislation differing from town to town. Think back to pre 2007. Think 24 hour anchoring limits in some places, perhaps 72 in others before the water cops rushed you out of town.
Cruisers rushed to the mast, headed by Boat US and the SSCA, and hauled that legislative canvas back down the mast before it filled, but that wasn't the end of it. Oh no....
The FWC - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - was tasked with conducting surveys, one of which I attended in Vero Beach and reported on in SAIL. (see FWC Meeting)
They then put out a survey on the internet, the results of which can be seen here, and the executive summary here.
At the meetings, cruisers were very explicit on two particular issues - local vs state legislative authority, and setoffs. Well, the survey seems to have come through for us on the local vs state issue - 81% of respondents agree that legislative authority should remain at the state level. We're off that hook.
However, on the issue of setoffs - that's where this survey makes me wonder just what's going on...I'll come back to this, be patient...
The question itself was set up in a way guaranteed to skew the result. That's because many cruisers, like myself, feel that there should be no setoff at all, in large part because it's not necessary. Setoffs also violate the Public Trust Doctrine, but I've covered that issue before - and no doubt will again.
The law has other ways of dealing with the issues that setoffs are supposed to solve that do not infringe on the rights of both boaters and the general public. But there was no 'Zero setoff' choice. Hold that thought for a moment...
The Florida legislature wants, desperately, to keep their wealthy constituents happy. To do that, they need to show that they are addressing this issue on their behalf. How better to do so than to accept a recommendation from the FWC, which was 'supported' by a plurality of those taking the survey, which would effectively close almost every anchorage in the south of Florida?
'Gee gosh, how can you blowboaters and cruisers complain? We TOOK a survey and the majority of you agreed to what we've just enacted as law.' Quitcherbitchin' in other words.
In other words, because 32% of respondents agreed that a 150 foot setoff from private property was acceptable, the legislature will feel the need to enact this as the standard. And yes, I'm taking bets on that.

So. 32%. I might find some solace if that number represented an identifiable group - but over HALF of that number are 'stakeholder group not determined' as you can see by the chart here.
That's right. We're going to get screwed by a group of people who are not identifiable as boaters, OR as waterfront homeowners. We have NO idea who they are, or who they might represent.
The survey indicates that 17% of all respondents are Florida waterfront homeowners. It also shows that 22% of all Florida respondents are not identifiable - 'stakeholder group not determined'.
Here's the definition, from Gary Klein of the FWC, of 'stakeholder group not determined': "that group is anyone who does not meet the other three categories listed which are:  Cruising Boater NOT a Waterfront Resident, Waterfront Resident AND a Cruising Boater or a Waterfront Resident NOT a Cruising Boater.  One example would be NOT a Waterfront Resident and NOT a Cruising Boater."
In other words, people who have no real interest in the decision and are not affected by it. So they could be guys with a 22 foot fishing boat living inland for example. Or someone without a boat living in downtown Miami.
But there's another possibility, a very ugly possibility, for this group - they could be bought and paid for respondents, people whose replies were sought by those wishing a certain outcome to this survey. In other words, waterfront homeowners who want changes to the laws that benefit them.
Am I being unreasonable? Let's look at unreasonable here. Frederick Karlton, of Sunset Lake fame, spent over $30,000 on 20+ Pico rotomolded dinghies to place behind his house to block boaters from anchoring there, as you can see in the photo here.

Dinghies behind Karlton's Sunset Lake home, Miami Beach

That is unreasonable. And, it demonstrates the lengths to which those opposing anchoring will go. It is not beyond the realm of belief that these same people - not necessarily Karlton but those of his ilk - have purchased survey respondents and skewed the survey to give them the result they want.
The great unwashed here represent about 2400 or so people. If each of them was paid $10 to fill out this survey, it wouldn't amount to what one man paid for 20-some Pico dinghies. To people with this kind of wealth, that's not an unreasonable amount of money to get the result they want.
Why would setoffs be the result these people want? Simple - a 150 foot setoff will effectively close every anchorage in south Florida. Just look at the charts done by my colleague Mike Ahart, from Waterway Guide.

The one shown here is of Middle River, Fort Lauderdale. As I write this, a friend anchored there tonight tells me there are 8 boats anchored there - which is probably 1/2 to 2/3 the number this anchorage could comfortably accommodate. With a 150 foot setoff, to which you'll add at least 100 foot of rode, PLUS your boat's length...this anchorage will hold one, perhaps two boats.
This law would effectively eliminate all but three or four boats from Lake Sylvia as well, and there would be no place to anchor from there to Miami. In Miami, it would eliminate anchoring along the Venetian Causeway, and....gee, Sunset Lake. Who'd a thunk it?

Why do I believe that 150 foot setoffs are in our future? First of all, for those of us who have been watching, it's been coming for a while now. The pilot program didn't make the homeowners happy.
There is incredible pressure from certain municipalities - Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Stuart and Martin County, probably others - to permit local rule making.

No choice for Zero setoff...

We were promised back when the Pilot Program was brought in that local rulemaking would not happen. But 'something has to be done' - that's the message state legislators have been getting. The FWC was tasked to research the issue, and they have done so, using a survey so skewed that the one result cruisers would want was not even on it, as you can see here.
And it just happens to be the one result that gives unhappy homeowners what THEY want - the removal of anchored boats from their view.
So yes, I'm cynical. I strongly suggest that the results of this survey should only be used with the total removal of this 'unidentified stakeholder' cohort. Otherwise, they are, in my opinion, total garbage.
I also state here - and I'm going to get some people at these organizations upset with this comment - that those negotiating on our behalf, the Seven Seas Cruising Association, Boat US and the NMMA - state clearly that the only acceptable result is NO setoffs, which is in line with the Public Trust Doctrine. It's also in line with what their members have clearly stated is what THEY want.
I say this because, as one government official said to me, 'the tough part is getting the laws changed. Once changed, they are easy to amend'.
In other words, let's say we settle for a 50 foot setoff. The precedent has been set, and it's no problem for the rules to be rewritten to 100, to 150 feet at some later date.
Local building codes mandate setoffs between houses that are far, far less than 150 feet. Every house on the water is closer to its neighbour than I can possibly get with my boat to the house. Why should we be discriminated against?
No, this survey stinks, and we need to tell Florida, yet again - obey your laws and leave us alone. We aren't the problem.

Cuba - What's Really Changed?

The net is just buzzing with talk about Cuba since the release yesterday (Jan 16, 2015) of the new US regulations regarding the embargo. Everyone wants to go to Cuba - nothing new there - but just what do the new regulations actually say? That's the real question, and it's not being properly answered by most of the people discussing it.
For those of a legal bent, I'm going to include links to the new regs at the end of this article, so you can nitpick to your heart's content. For the rest of us, it'll be a bit more ad hoc.
First of all, what has actually changed in regards to taking a boat to Cuba?
The short answer? Everything...and nothing. Recreational boating to Cuba has not been approved. In fact, 'recreational' tourism outside of the person to person tours has not been approved. You still cannot legally go to Cuba and swill mojitos on the beach.
Here's what senior administration officials have said: [the new regulations] "...are not meant to facilitate tourist travel to Cuba, as tourist travel remains prohibited by statute."
Well, isn't that a bummer? But remember, I said "legally". We'll come back to that comment.
The big change and the one that's going to bring more Americans to Cuba are the changes in the 'general license' structure.
Prior to yesterday, certain individuals were permitted to go to Cuba if they fit certain criteria placing them in either a 'general' or 'specific' license category. Those groups included Cuban Americans with family in Cuba, those on official U.S. government business, including some intergovernmental organizations; journalists; professional research; educational and religious activities; cultural including public performances, athletic and other competitions.
The specific license category required that you file an application with the Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC); the general license category was by declaration, subject to proof of qualification if demanded.
Here's how it works: an American journalist can legally go to Cuba for work purposes under a general license. That hasn't changed.
So there you are with your sailing blog. That's journalism, isn't it? Well, yes, but not in this case.
Unless you have a significant and verifiable presence as a journalist, which includes getting paid for your work, you don't qualify. The devil truly is in the details, and there are lots of them.
But let's say that you really are a journalist - and you want to sail to Cuba (are you listening Peter S?) or otherwise qualify legally...can you now sail there?

That's not clear. You couldn't do so previously, and there appears to be nothing in the new regs changing that. The answer to that one will have to wait until someone asks the question, but given that travel by boat is largely seen as recreational, I don't see it changing in the immediate future.
Now, I did say 'legally'...here's what I think is going to happen.

A lot of Americans are going to find some way to travel to Cuba by 'fitting' themselves into the legal categories. That wouldn't be particularly hard to do as a quick read of the new regulations will show you.
It won't be a good fit and in many if not most cases, it won't be legal. But if the US government doesn't care, and doesn't bother with verifying those individuals - accepting in good faith people's declarations that they are a bona fide writer for the Podunk Daily Chronicler, or the Grand Supremo Guru of the Church of the Book of Jib - then it's going to happen.

That means that some people are going to choose to travel to Cuba by boat. I don't doubt that a half dozen set off today from Key West actually.
The real test will be in the reaction of the government to those doing this. I suspect there will be no reaction, that the government has no intention of prosecuting anyone for traveling to Cuba, no matter how they get there, or why. In that way, they can create pressure to totally lift the embargo, which is this administration's apparent goal.

Time will tell. My next blog, I'll discuss what it's like to actually travel in Cuba by boat....in the meantime, for your viewing pleasure, and because I'm such a tease...here's a video about a Saturday night in Cuba - enjoy, and stay tuned, there's more to come!

Oh yes, I did promise some links for the nitpickers and the legally savvy amongst us, if that's not being redundant... - http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Pages/cuba.aspx and also http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_faqs_new.pdf

Back to 'Real' Cruising...

Eleuthera - the next destination...

 The Rally is over. That's right, the SAIL Magazine ICW Snowbird Rally, which I had the honour of leading, is now over, a piece of history, a fait accompli. It was a wonderful trip, and I have many new and great friends as a result of it, people with whom I had the pleasure of sharing something magical and long awaited in their lives.
Now it's back to the everyday life of cruising....and I can honestly say that as much as I enjoyed the Rally, I'm equally glad to be done with its responsibilities. Now all I have to worry about is hauling the boat for a new bottom job, some fibreglass work, install a new furler, and...well, those are at the top of the list. If you own a boat, you know what I'm saying. The list never ends. And for those wanting more detail on the ICW Snowbird Rally, you can read my blog posts there at Snowbird Rally.
Talking about lists, I hope that Santa filled your stockings with every little thing your heart desired, and that you spent your Christmas with family and loved ones. In my case, Christmas was a potluck with Rally friends on their boat in Coconut Grove along with several others. It was a great time and a great way to spend Christmas.
This next week will be spent wrapping up the Rally - writing the story of the event for SAIL readers, doing a writeup for the brass with recommendations for next year, and planning for my next adventure.
That will be my long awaited exploration of Governor's Harbour, in Eleuthera, in the Bahamas. I stopped there but didn't go ashore some years ago during a delivery, and promised myself a return visit. That is now on the radar.

Cuba's south coast...

Following that, I'll be heading on to the Exumas, and then...on to explore the south coast of Cuba. The south coast, so I am told, is far more attractive and interesting than the north coast. The harbourmaster in Hemingway assured me that lobster walk on the bottom by the hundreds in the La Jardine de la Reina, just waiting to become your dinner....mmmmm. Then there's the fascinating cities of Cienfuegos, and Santiago de Cuba, Trinidad and Guantanamo, which I'll pass by...
This visit will be especially interesting due to the recent announcement by President Obama that the US will seek to normalize relations with Cuba. That doesn't mean that American cruisers will be able to sail to Cuba anytime soon, but it's one big step closer to that time.
What I'm really interested in hearing is the opinions of Cubans - if they've even been informed of these changes by their government in fact, since the press is very tightly controlled in Cuba. The only people who regularly get outside news - news not controlled by Cuban censors - are those working in tourist facilities where outside TV channels are broadcast. These same channels cannot be had by the ordinary Cuban, and only recently has the Cuban government made internet even remotely accessible to Cubans. Many sites are blocked, if they're even viewable, given the very slow speeds that Cuban internet operates at.
It promises to be a very interesting journey, and I look forward to sharing it with you here....in the meantime, here's to a happy, and healthy, New Years.

p.s. if you simply cannot get enough of sailing oriented reading, try my Facebook group, Sailing and Cruising. It's a closed group, with zero tolerance for trolls, spammers and the usual nastiness of so many Facebook groups. Group members are especially happy to help newbies with their questions, and no question is too trivial. Just remember,  since it's a closed group you have to request membership - the special knock at the door is rat a tat tat tat, and the secret password is 'green pickles'. See you there.

Florida - earlier than ever!

One thing about this SAIL Magazine ICW Snowbird Rally, it's keeping me moving. I typically hang out more than I have been while travelling south, and usually am not far beyond the Florida border by New Year's Eve. But at this moment, I am on schedule to reach Miami by this Friday, December 19.
That, for me, is amazing progress.
It's also been nice, as this fall has been a cold one. We've had some really chilly days - but today at Peck Lake, just past the St. Lucie inlet, we anchored up and went to the Atlantic shore, which was perhaps 100 yards away over the dunes - and in shorts no less!
Aduana got to chase shorebirds, roll in the sand, dig her way halfway to China, and generally stretch her legs after so much time on the boat. I sat and sipped a beer while looking at the waves roll in, and laughed at Aduana. She's now conked out beside me, one tired little pup!
Now that we're past Stuart, we're starting to see the stereotypical Florida powerboater - we were waked seriously twice today, and it will only get worse as we get south, and powerboater IQs diminish accordingly.
However, there IS sometimes justice. Earlier this week, a boat called Stardust was running the ICW, waking everyone very heavily, including our boat. Worse, according to the women, the guy running the boat was grossly overweight and naked - well, naked except for a captain's cap. Fortunately, I missed seeing that as I was below, cursing the idiot while hanging on as he went by.
So he gets to New Smyrna Beach just after high tide, and gets pulled over by the Coast Guard for excessive speed in a no wake zone. He gets a ticket, and along with it, since the Coast Guard likes to discourage these twits, a very close inspection of safety gear, etc., along with the appropriate comments about how many complaints the guy's boating caused.
Here's where it gets good: after the Coast Guard is done with him, the guy drifts onto a shoal, and the Coast Guard wouldn't tow him off. He had to call for towing, and since the tide was going out (3.5 feet!), he was stuck there for at least 12 hours. Karma does bite, doesn't it?
Now, here's where it gets magical - the following day, Stardust passes all the same boats he passed the day previously, but this time very politely, at slow speed, no wake, and, with a shirt and pants on - oh yes, the Captain's cap also.
Sometimes, you just have to smile!

Anchoring at Titusville...

Time Flies!

Hello LiveBloggers - I hadn't realized just how busy I've been until I looked and saw the date of my last post. That's simply awful, and I apologize to all of you who have been following this blog regularly and faithfully.
As you all know, I'm leading a group of new ICW cruisers south this fall. We left Hampton on November 1, and are now in Beaufort SC, destination Miami, on December 19. If you'd like to catch up on our adventures, you can check the blogging I've done on this event at SAIL Magazine's ICW Snowbird Rally page. Don't forget also that you can follow this trip on the Delorme Inreach unit I'm carrying, at Where's Wally?
Tonight, we had the most marvellous turkey dinner here at Ladies' Island Marina with a group of fellow cruisers, one from as far away as Ireland, on an aluminum sailboat named Selkie. Tomorrow, the group is off to Thunderbolt, some to explore Savannah, while others in our group are going to run offshore to Fernandina Beach - there's a huge weather window just begging to be exploited.
I've been doing some work on Gypsy Wind while we've been underway. I know have a proper binnacle guard - so nice to have a proper mount for the Garmin GPS and the VHF right at the helm. My friend Gord, who is accompanying me, has also fixed the companionway stairs, the guides had started to give out. Those two small jobs just make the boat feel so much better.
That being said, there's still lots of stuff to do on the 'list'. I'm sure we all have a list, right? Hopefully, yours doesn't grow longer, as mine does.
By the way, although we've had a couple of cold days, it isn't as cold as the photo suggests - I'm just trying to make all my northern friends feel better about the fact I'm once again heading south to the sun!
An early morning to make the bridge tomorrow before the 7 am restriction, so that's it for now. Hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving, with family and friends.

Heading Down the Bay, Part III, Reedville to Hampton

Daren, my friend and crew for this trip, is having fun with hats....I think I brewed this morning's coffee a bit too strong.
Yesterday's Reedville vs Deltaville decision was made for us by the weather. As we found ourselves nearing Reedville, the winds moved into the south, and the waves built a bit, just enough to slow our progress to the point where a daylight arrival wasn't going to happen if we continued to D'ville.
So Reedville it was, which meant a bowl of the best crab bisque on the Chesapeake Bay in this little dockside restaurant beside Jennings Boatyard.
Now this isn't a tourist place, it's a local pub and that's obvious when you walk in. In Annapolis, for close to $10, you get a watery bowl of soup that a blue crab might have looked at. Maybe. If you're lucky.
Here, for $7, you get at least three times the usual amount of crab in a bowl - the owner told me the how she made it several years ago, I don't recall the exact amount...but every spoonful of bisque is full of meat. Lots of meat.
To give you an idea, if you walk out back of the place, they have close to a dozen water trays where they keep crabs, in season, for peelers and for making fresh soup. Let's face it, short of the crab jumping into the bowl while you watch, it don't get fresher!  I had to stop myself from licking the bowl.

Here's this morning's view in the anchorage. Couldn't ask for better. Out on the bay though, it's a bit lumpier and we're moving along at 5-6 knots. Winds are W 15, and we have some current with us now. I expect we'll arrive in Hampton around 5:30, just in time for happy hour.
The winds are expected to back to NW later in the day, which will make for an even better sail, since it will also put the waves behind us. Right now, we've got 1 -2 feet on the beam, making it bouncy. Not bad, just not as good as it could be.
I shouldn't be complaining, should I? Too many of you reading this are sitting at home, rather than sailing, or putting your boats away for the season. A shame you aren't out here with us, heading south. Hurry up and join us!
Talking about heading south, here's some of the Canadian Navy at about 7 am this morning.... anchored off the town of Reedville.
Once in Hampton, I'll be getting ready for the SAIL ICW Snowbird Rally, 19 boats leaving on November 1, destination Miami around December 15 - 20. This will be a fabulous and fun trip south, with lots of cool events planned.
You can follow our progress, and even see where I am right now, at WheresWally.
One last view of Reedville, and the most important member of the crew: Aduana, the WonderPuppy...see you in Hampton!

Heading Down the Bay, Part II

The Canadian Navy behind us this morning -
a dozen boats, most from the Great White North

Solomons Island, Chesapeake Bay. It's a lovely spot to stop over on your way south to the ICW. Large, protected anchorage, excellent marinas, and some good restaurants. There's also two chandleries, so if you need parts or gear, it's not a bad place to be.
Unfortunately, no one carries in stock the replacement gaskets and rubbers for the Whale Gusher Galley MkIII water pump....and how in blazes did they ever come up with a name like that for a foot pump?

Beautiful Sunsets to accompany the wine

So last evening during a gorgeous sunset, Philips screwdriver in one hand and glass of wine in the other,
I disassembled the thing, pulled out the offending rubber and gooped it up with silicone, in the hopes I could restore water to the galley sink, without two thirds of it coming out onto the floor instead of in the sink.

Mr. Fixit at work...

After letting it cure overnight, I reinstalled it, and wallah!, it worked perfectly. Now I have time to source a new gasket and do this all over again in a week's time - although I admit, I'm tempted to see just how long this repair lasts.
This is a normal cruising day...there's generally always something that needs fixing, or maintaining. I also tightened up the fan belt this morning, and adjusted the engine idle screw. It's this daily maintenance that keeps you moving, that and just paying attention to your boat to see what's going on so you can keep on top of it. Boats can be sneaky about these things, as you likely know!

Today's destination is Reedville, VA, or if we do really well, Deltaville. I'd love to make Deltaville and shorten tomorrow's run to Hampton by fifteen miles, but with fall's short days, it's unlikely - although I've entered Deltaville in the dark many times before, it's always been to tie up, not to anchor out, and the anchorage in D'ville is very small.
Today's conditions are pretty benign - sunny, a high in the 60s, light winds WSW at about 5 - 10 knots, light chop. We've got the main up, and are running about 5 knots, with the tide against us - it turned at 8 am, so short of getting up really early, we were out of luck there.
To give you an idea of the difference the tide can make, even in Chesapeake Bay, yesterday we were running about 4.9 - until we got the tide behind us, then we were looking at 5.5 - 5.7. That's a significant push.
Tomorrow's weather is looking a bit dicey - we may have to hole up wherever we end up. However, since no two forecasts have been the same for the past week, we'll just have to wait until tomorrow morning and see what we get.
In the meantime, for those still unsure about boat maintenance, I include the following flowchart - use it in good health!

Photos courtesy of good friend and sailing partner Daren Magness....

Heading Down The Bay

The Annapolis Boat Show is over and it's time to head for Hampton and the ICW. I'm on the Chesapeake right now in fact, with my good friend Darren, who is helping me to get the boat to Hampton. And this is being posted to you courtesy of his mifi - how cool is that? I have to admit, I'm feeling rather pampered - someone else running the boat while I surf the net. Now if only the winds would shift to the west so we could sail!
Here's the plan....this weekend, the Hampton Snowbird Rendezvous is going on. This will be a great event, with some excellent speakers, and I'll be sitting in on a round table discussion on Florida Anchoring on Sunday morning. You can find details at Hampton Snowbird Rendezvous.
On November 1, the SAIL Magazine ICW Snowbird Rally begins, with 19 new cruisers heading south to Miami. You can see details of our trip at Itinerary, and follow the blog at Rally Blog Page
It's going to be a very exciting trip, and I will be blogging/facebooking and putting up video and photos of the trip as we move south - so you can follow right along - even email or text with questions if you wish.
Currently, there are close to a dozen boats moving south with us, in SSE winds of about five knots and a north setting current of .4 knots. Gypsy Wind is making about 4.5 knots, which is good in these conditions.
We have the main up, and it's helping, and I'm holding closer to the west shore so that as the wind backs to the west later in the day, we can take advantage of it. You can see our position by checking the Delorme Tracker we have onboard. As if a red boat with a Canadian flag and Cuban puppy isn't unique enough!
That's it for now - time for me to go up and take my shift.

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

Fighting the Florida Anchoring Fight...

Today's post is going to be short and sweet, but no less important because of that.
News of the impending stupidity in Florida is racing through the cruising community and boaters everywhere are, I'm glad to say, rallying to the fight.
Two organizations are in the forefront of this battle and we need to support them: Seven Seas Cruising Association, and Boat US. I'd like to promote the SSCA at this point in time.
SSCA (http://ssca.org) represents cruisers worldwide and has been fighting on your behalf for years. Membership is $55, and they offer you a considerable variety of services, including mail drops and local harbour hosts. If you're cruising now, or planning on it, join up. I did, and we all know how cheap I am. You can also follow the SSCA on Facebook, and join in discussions.
Right now, in particular, the SSCA wants your opinion on the Florida anchoring issues - here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLA-ANCHOR
Please go the link and provide your opinion. If you are currently a SSCA member, go to the SSCA site online and fill out the survey from there. It's important, so please - do it now.
I will now be speaking at the Vero Beach FWC meeting on September 3, and will report back here to you on it. Thank you to all who donated funds to make this possible, especially for your confidence in me. It means a lot!
Please share to other boaters, we need everyone we can get in this fight.
More later. Fair winds to all.

Other posts of interest: http://bloggingtheicw.blogspot.com/2014/08/florida-attempting-to-eliminate.html
http://bloggingtheicw.blogspot.com/2014/05/another-florida-anchoring-fight.html

Florida attempting to ELIMINATE anchoring in the state

This is a call to arms to ALL boaters. Florida is about to attempt to totally eliminate anchoring in the state. That is not a joke. According to Mike Ahart, of Waterway Guide:
"this effort was spearheaded by municipalities responding to their waterfront homeowners who want laws to prevent any boaters from anchoring for even one night on state navigable waters adjacent to their properties. These are not the rare cases where the homeowners own the rights to the bottomland – these are navigable waters that belong to all the people of Florida." Click here for the entire article

'So what' you say? You don't live or boat in Florida? These restrictions, if passed, will be viewed by other states as a means to regulate anchoring there. This DOES affect you. And even if it doesn't, I and your fellow boaters are asking for your help in turning this foul tide.

What can you do? First of all - join Seven Seas Cruising Association who are representing cruising boaters at this meeting. You can also join their Facebook page and show your support there, although to be frank, the organization can use your $52 annual dues to fight this effort. Just give up one cup of coffee daily for the next two months and you've paid for your part in this fight.
The FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) has indicated that it is NOT taking written submissions for this meeting. Of course they aren't, they'd be deluged with responses from angry boaters. You can email Captain Tom Shipp of the FWC on this issue directly, at thomas.shipp@myfwc.com

Finally - I'm planning on attending this meeting and speaking out for all cruisers. However, that is an expensive undertaking, involving an overnight stay in Vero Beach, transportation to and from Vero Beach, meals and a car rental. It's not an expense I can afford to take on for myself. I'm going to need the help of my fellow cruisers for this one.
Here are the costs:

Flight - $300
Hotel - $125
Car rental - $75
Meals - $75
Incidentals - $150 (shuttle to/from airport, etc.)
TOTAL - $700

I will be making arrangements with a fellow cruiser who is also a lawyer for these funds to be received in trust for ONLY the purpose of getting me to this meeting to speak. I will post another blog shortly, plus update this one, with details of how to send money. Or, if you are comfortable with doing so, you can Paypal funds to me - contact me using this email address and I'll give you the Paypal information.
Here are the points that I will be making at this meeting, in brief:

1) No standoffs of any sort - the FWC is seeking a 300 foot standoff from private residences - this would eliminate ANY anchoring in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
2) Continuation of the Pilot Program with no municipality being permitted to create anchoring legislation.
3) Enforcement of laws ALREADY ON THE BOOKS to deal with issues of derelict boaters, pumping waste overboard and other identified issues.

I ask you now for your support and I promise (God help me, I sound like a politician here!) to represent all cruisers on these issues.
I would be happy if 35 people each gave $20, or 70 gave $10, or 7000 of you each gave $1 and I could claim to represent that many people directly, but quite frankly, this issue is too important for me to be picky - I'll accept whatever you feel able to give to protect your rights in this issue.
Thank you for any help or assistance you can provide. Also, please be sure to share this blog with everyone you can. If we don't act now, it WILL be too late.

Sincerely,

Wally Moran

North by northeast - NOT!

USCG, guns at hand, while sub
passes by see video below for closeups

The plan...obviously this post is going to be a comedy since there's no such thing as a plan when it comes to sailing...was to sail north offshore in the lovely southerly breezes that are the norm this time of year on the east coast. Really experience this sailing thing for a change, you know what I mean! No motoring...
So - leaving Melbourne, there's Arthur - not going outside till that bad boy is out of town (over a quarter million without power in Nova Scotia/New Brunswick provinces). Then, no winds at all, might as well make use of favourable tide on the ICW and make time. Except that the favourable tides are about 8 hours out of synch....so it's struggle against the tides from St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach, where I plan to jump offshore in those lovely southerly breezes...
Except - you knew this was coming, didn't you - the breezes shift to NE the day after I arrive in Fernandina....and guess what direction I needed to head in? Yep, NE.
So, back onto the ICW....I leave Fernandina Beach, heading up towards Kings Bay - good tide, nicely timed, making great speed - and the USCG boat comes over to me....seems there's a submarine heading out, I'm being ordered to anchor....by a guy with a 50 cal machine gun on the bow. That gets MY attention...
Of course, by the time the sub is past my position, the tide has reversed - the sub leaves Kings Bay at high slack tide of course...so I spend the next few hours plugging into the current at 3.7 knots, my early departure plans a shambles.
And so it's gone....I finally get to Isle of Hope, where the winds shift back to the south, but since my destination is Beaufort SC, there's no point in heading outside, the mileage would actually be greater. Turns out that was a good decision - the southerly winds never did materialize.
Oh, and did I mention the horrendous thunderstorms and rain I experienced? Well, let me tell you...
If this sounds like I'm complaining....I am...but it's still fun, just not the kind of fun I was anticipating, i.e. a nice sailing romp up the east coast to South Carolina.
For those planning on doing the ICW, I can tell you that Jekyll Creek is passable at low tide with five feet of draft...but God help any barnacles on the bottom of your keel, they're going to have it rough! I got through at a lower than normal tide, about -.7 - but only after grounding several times, backing off and then moving ten or fifteen feet to deeper water....and of course my trusty depthsounder was not doing its job because the bottom was so soft. Nothing like three dashes instead of 5.1 (I draw 5) to ramp up the pucker factor in shallow water.
Oh, and Little Mud River - it's good to about 6 feet...that one I got through with no problems. Also, the shallow section to the north of Fernandina Beach without markers - if you stay to the east side of the wide section, you'll see no less than 11 feet.
Hell's Gate looks like it's shoaled to about 6 feet at low tide - I went through at just after high tide, so I wasn't watching as closely as I might normally have done. From there, I finally got some wind behind me and sailed, beating up the one river against the current for several miles. Sure, it took lots longer than straight motoring, but it was fun, and I had lots of time to get to Isle of Hope.
From Isle of Hope to Skull Creek, at Hilton Head, one of my favourite anchorages - and also one of John Teach's, otherwise known as Blackbeard. The plan was to sail off with the ebb tide to the turn at Port Royal and ride the tide, wind and all, into Beaufort. Winds were predicted to be 10 - 15....someone misplaced the decimal point, that was 1.0 - 1.5.
Stopped to repack the stuffing box at Ladies Island Marina in Beaufort SC, and visit with some friends while here, as well as check out Waterfest, a big festival held on the waterfront.
Tomorrow, it's off to Charleston, SC.
In the meantime, enjoy this video showing a sub passing down from King's Bay to the ocean. This is raw video, there was no time to edit. Amazing machines...

Homeward bound on the ICW

Shrimpers in Fernandina Beach

I'm not out of Florida yet, but I can see Georgia from here in Fernandina Beach, so we're making progress! Besides, it's a sailboat, so slow is good!

Ran into some LiveBloggers here - Tammy and Bruce Swart, Charlie Freeman, John from Renaissance, a Westsail 32, Wolfgang, and Gary and his wife from Country Dancer, whom I last saw in the Middle River....busy spot.

Naturally, the weather has decided to go offside on me. No late afternoon storms for the past week, but they started today, now that I'm ready to run offshore. Go figure. 

I may start in the early mornings and do short hops up the coast - Fernandina Beach to St. Simons, St. Simons to St. Catherines, then Tybee Roads into Hilton Head, Hilton Head to Charleston, to Winyah Bay, then Little River Inlet, Southport, then back on to the ICW, getting in early and avoiding the fun offshore when the winds and waves kick up. Along with the miles saved by this route, I avoid the twists and turns of the GA and SC ICW, the more notorious shallow areas, and I get to anchor out every night, which Aduana will appreciate. It's actually a good route for a singlehander to make good time up the coast without exhausting him/herself. Mileages are manageable, yet you avoid the long days that the ICW entails.

The ICW Rally continues to grow, it's actually quite exciting, and the itinerary is getting more and more exciting. If you've been considering joining in, I suggest you do so soon, before enrolment is closed off. You can get details at the Facebook page.

I received a couple of interesting questions recently on the ICW - here's one, from Ruth, about dealing with your mast on the route south from the Great Lakes:

Is there a good company to step your mast along the way to do that who will also store the lumber?

Thanks again,

Ruth 

Hi Ruth - wonderful question - if you choose to step your mast yourselves at Castleton Boat Club, you can store your lumber there, and then pick it up again on your way north. Just mark it with your name and anticipated return date....you'll see that when you arrive there. I discuss this in a small way on my video about traveling the ICW, btw.

And another question, this one about coming south from New York - 

Hi Wally,

Do you have anything written down, or a chart marked, to indicate the route from New York Harbor to Norfolk?  I've purchased all of the charts, books, and videos I can lay my hands on about Norfolk to Miami, as well as the route from the Erie Canal to the New York Harbor, but haven't found anything that takes me from New York to Norfolk.  Even your Snowbirds Rally starts in Norfolk.  As first timers, we're unsure of where to even find this information.  You're it!  :-)

Is it an off shore passage around New Jersey?  Or, is there a route to get to the Delaware River from New York? And how long to get from Toronto to Norfolk?

I really appreciate your help.

Hi Ruth - the route south from New York is offshore, as the Jersey ICW is too shallow for cruising boats and has low bridges. Depending on your mast height (55') you can go through Cape May - over that height, you'll go round Cape May. From there, it's up the Delaware River to the C&D Canal, then into the Chesapeake. 

You can do the Jersey coast in four short hops - Manasquan, Barnegat, Atlantic City and then Cape May, or overnight it in one jump to Cape May. Leaving Cape May, leave about a half hour to an hour behind the low tide on the Delaware Bay side of Cape May and ride the tide up to the C&D - otherwise, it's a long SLOW slog up the river. If you get it right, you'll get a free ride all the way to Chesapeake City, where there are FREE docks!

It's shorter of course to run straight south to Norfolk, but that means missing the Chesapeake, Annapolis and the other neat places. There's really no place to put in on the Delmarva coast for a sailboat, so it's a straight run with no breaks. Some do it, most opt for the ease of the longer route.

Hope that helps..

Toronto to Norfolk - depends on how much of a rush you are in. Figure two days for mast up/down.  A day to get to Oswego, another five or six to Albany, three to NYC, three to Cape May, two more to Annapolis, and three more to Norfolk. That's anchoring out every night btw. So, three weeks. A delivery captain would do this in about a week, running 24 hours a day.

Wally