Marinalife Fall 2023

Luxury Reimagined

Walking a beach where the only footprints in the sand, are your own. Enjoying a refreshing drink from an island bar only accessible by boat. Waking up each morning with the flexibility to sail anywhere you wish. These experiences redefine luxury -- and are the hallmark of any yacht charter vacation.

This year, we invite you to discover unbridled freedom and authentic travel experiences with The Moorings. Unforgettable moments await.

Dear Fellow Boaters:

With the carefree days of summer behind us, we turn our attention to an autumn boating agenda. Some of us will shrink wrap or store our boat at a nearby marina, others pull on sweaters for cool cruises amid colorful foliage, and plenty of us chart a route for southern destinations.

With the holidays on the horizon, Marinalife also embraces the spirit of giving that elevates the season. When the news broke about the devastating wildfires in Maui, Marinalife was so crestfallen over the destruction of homes, businesses, marinas and charter boat companies, that we offered support and are also encouraging the maritime community to join us in aiding the island’s recovery efforts. (See p. 11)

Closer to home, when we learned about families who had suffered a personal loss and became advocates of boating safety issues, we endorsed their organizations in an article, “Turning Tragedy into Triumph.” And in “Rebuilt & Ready for Business,” we hope to spread the word about marinas that were

dealt a heavy blow by hurricanes or other natural disasters, but restored their properties and are inviting boaters to come visit.

This fall issue promises a little something for everyone. If your boat is tucked away in storage, an article about security systems for boats should give you peace of mind. If migrating from north to south is your plan, several stories offer fun activities along the way, such as birdwatching, seashell collecting, gazing at the stars for celestial navigation and exploring quaint Southern destinations.

Finally, we’d like to congratulate and celebrate the winners of the 2023 Marinalife Photo Contest. We hope you enjoy the photographs that depict the love of life on the water and the back stories that make these images even more remarkable.

We wish you safe travels and happy boating,

Susan Elnicki Wade, Editor-in-Chief

Marinalife magazine, published four times a year, is focused on the cruising lifestyle. The magazine includes articles on where to cruise, new marina destinations, upcoming events, boating stories and news from the maritime industry.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Susan Elnicki Wade swade@marinalife.com

FOUNDER & PUBLISHER EMERITUS

Joy McPeters

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Alexa Zizzi

CONTRIBUTORS

Micah Angel

Bob Arrington

Carol Bareuther

James R. Barnett

Heather Burke

Lisa Carruthers

Ellen Honey

Richard Kern

Scott Miller

Teri Miller

Avi Rubin

Claire Ruppert

April Winship

MAGAZINE PRODUCTION Mid-Atlantic Custom Media jmann@midatlanticmedia.com

Ebony Brown, Art Director

Carl Weigel, Graphic Designer

MARINALIFE SALES sales@marinalife.com

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS info@marinalife.com

MARINALIFE, LLC 921 E. Fort Avenue, Suite 225 Baltimore, MD 21230

410-752-0505

Industry Updates

Suntex Lands New Marinas

Premier marina owner and operator, Suntex Marinas, expanded in the midand southwest by scoring two expansive properties. Reserve your spot at the 258-slip Roosevelt Lake Marina in Roosevelt, AZ, or Port of Kimberling Marina in Kimberling City, MO, boasting 1,000 wet slips and 400 dry slips. Guests can enjoy upscale amenities, boat rentals, lodging accommodations and stunning lakeside views at both locations. Go to suntex.com

Bahamas Hosts World-Class Wahoo Tournaments

Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina in the Bahamas is known for amazing attractions, watersport excursions, top-notch fishing, delicious seafood and tons of events. This fall, the marina hosts two world-class fishing tournaments attracting anglers and visitors from around the world. Be sure to catch the new Viking Yacht Owners Wahoo Weekend Tournament

November 9 – 12 and The Slicker Wahoo Tournament on December 9. Visit biggameclubbimini.com/biminifishing-tournaments

WHAT’S NEW WITH

FALL 2023

BY ALEXA ZIZZI

Live the High Life while Saving a Dime

Cruising News

Visit Hampton for Scenic Autumn Cruising

Climb aboard the newly renovated Hampton Queen and cruise past buildings that date back centuries. Enjoy all-new sunset tours and sightseeing excursions traveling from downtown Hampton to the destroyers, subs and aircraft carriers stationed at Norfolk Naval Base. Sit back and relax in climate-controlled comfort or step out on the deck for a front row view of Hampton’s highlights including Virginia Air & Space Science Center, Hampton University, The VA Medical Center, Fort Monroe, Fort Wool and Old Point Comfort Lighthouse. Learn more at visithampton.com

Upcoming Boat Shows

United States Powerboat Show Annapolis, MD

October 5-8

United States Sailboat Show Annapolis, MD

October 12-15

If you sail south this season, cruise to Key West and dock at Conch Harbor Marina to enjoy onsite amenities including a large pool, fuel dock, restaurants, a West Marine, plus a convenient walk to Key West’s top attractions. Book your stay around fall events such as the Key West Fantasy Fest extravaganza

October 20 – 29, Offshore World Championship speedboat race

November 5 – 12 and Key West Film Festival November 15 – 19. Mention Marinalife for 10 cents off per gallon of fuel! To book, visit conchharbormarina.com

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

Fort Lauderdale, FL

October 25-29

St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show

St. Petersburg, FL

January 18-21

Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina

Hampton Queen

Conch Harbor Marina

Courtesy of Stephen Kappeler

Courtesy of Visit Hampton

MAUI WILDFIRE DISASTER RELIEF

AT MARINALIFE , our hearts go out to the people of Maui in the wake of the wildfire disaster. The loss of more than 3,000 acres of land and 2,200 structures includes homes, medical facilities, businesses, marinas and charter boat companies. As Marinalife offers emergency relief and recovery funds to the island, we also encourage our readers, marinas and the boating community to lend a hand. Pleases join our efforts by supporting some of the following organizations that address essential life issues to help Maui residents on their road to recovery:

American Red Cross of Hawaii redcross.org/local/hawaii.html

Provides wildfire victims with a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support

Greater Good Charities greatergood.org

Partnering with Southwest Airlines and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue to airlift supplies to the island and transfer pets to shelters in the Pacific Northwest

Hawaii Community Fund, Maui Nui Strong mauinuistrong.info/support

Offers information, resources and support to Maui people impacted by the wildfires

Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, Business Relief Fund gofundme.com/f/hawaii-chamberfoundation-business-relief-fund

A GoFundMe fundraiser to assist

companies and employees affected by the fires

Hawaii Food Bank, Maui Relief Efforts

hawaiifoodbank.org/Maui-Relief

Gives food assistance and other support to help Maui families get back on their feet

Hawaii Restaurant Association, Kōkua for Maui hawaiirestaurant.org

Offering urgent relief for Maui, such as food, clean water, medical supplies and shelter for those affected by the wildfire disaster

Hawaiian Airlines

hawaiianairlines.com

Donate Hawaiian Airline miles to charities providing disaster relief and help transport food, medical supplies and communications equipment to Maui

Lāhui Foundation, Lāhainā Maui Fire Recovery Efforts lahuifoundation.org

Collects monetary donations toward fire recover efforts for the residents of Maui

Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) meoinc.org

MEO started the MEO-Maui Fires Fund to help place those who lost their homes in Maui fires into safe and secure housing

United Way, Maui Fire Disaster Relief Fund mauiunitedway.org/disasterrelief

Responding to immediate needs via daily grant approvals to Maui grassroots organizations that are local and focused on basic needs

World Central Kitchen wck.org

Cooking and providing fresh meals to communities in Hawaii

2023 PHOTO CONTEST

BY SUSAN ELNICKI WADE

Marinalife is pleased to announce the winners of our 2023 Photo Contest. This year’s three finalists and five runners-up come from a pool of 265 extraordinary photographs from around the globe. Most images are in color; some opted for black and white. All of them reflect a love of life on the water. They share common themes that celebrate the joy of family time together, unique land and sea creatures, adventurous journeys, beloved boats, the power of water, and nature’s unpredictable beauty. We extend our appreciation to all the participants who sent shots about their experiences beyond the shoreline, and we offer our congratulations to the talented photographers who placed in the winner and runner-up categories. Hats off to you all!

WINNERS

▲ A rare glimpse of the Salon people of Myanmar. Also known as Sea Gypsies or Men of the Sea, this indigenous group in the Myeik Islands does not live in a specific place. Instead, their nomadic culture fosters a hunter-gather lifestyle of roaming the water for food in traditional wooden boats called kabangs near islands in Kawthaung, Myanmar.

—Photo by Naing Tun Win

When her husband lost his job during COVID, Michelle Fountaine packed up her family and set sail on their boat, Lemonade (named after the saying, “When life gives you lemons…”). They dropped anchor in the marina at Patmos Dodecanese, Greece, where a shepherd named Benatos herded his goats every day, to the delight of her young daughter and son. They soon discovered that Greek life is about slowing down, watching the goats go by and listening to the sound of their bells echo across the gentle slapping of the water against your hull. Turning lemons into lemonade taught them that life on the ocean is complete and a pure beauty that’s achievable by taking risks and making leaps of faith.

⊳ The smile says it all. On an extremely hot day, Parker Denton and his friends were at Islamorada in the Florida Keys fishing for bonefish. The water was clear and calm, which made the fish spooky and a challenge to catch, even using fly rods with flies resembling small shrimp. Once known for growing to an impressive weight, a large bonefish is now rare, so any size of this species is exciting. They are called the “grey ghost of the flats,” because it’s difficult to see them in shallow water. Bonefish are also ranked among the top 10 fastest saltwater fish, so when you land one — big or small — there are smiles all around.

—Photo by Parker Denton

—Photo by Michelle Fountaine

⊳

PHOTO CONTEST RUNNERS-UP

The waters were rough the day that Blue Water Maui Boat Tours took Deborah Gibson and friends on a whale-watching excursion near Maui, Hawaii. The captain’s patience paid off when he finally found a group of male humpback whales competing for a female. Within a few feet of the boat, the amorous males put on a spectacular display, jumping out of the water and waving fins at the astonished charter boat passengers. Despite the rocky seas, Gibson managed to snap a few shots of an unforgettable aquatic courtship.

▲ The locals at Rudder Cut Cay in the Bahamas recommend that low tide is the best time to visit The Musician, a full-scale underwater sculpture of a mermaid and baby grand piano. Unfortunately Skip Miyamoto and his family arrived late in the day on their catamaran, Scooby. His daughter Finley loves mermaids and wanted a close view to verify if the mermaid was real or not, but the distance at high tide presented a challenge for a young swimmer. So, this dutiful dad strapped on his flippers and snorkel gear and became Finley’s underwater scooter that would safely escort her to the magical exhibit below. Ah, the things we do for love. —Photo by Skip Miyamoto

—Photo by Deborah Gibson

of the fishermen gives new meaning to the words tender mercy.

⊳ Captain Ryan Carson allowed photographer John Fallon to join his crew and shoot the action on Kara C when they headed 30 miles out of the Shark River Inlet off the coast of New Jersey to fish for tuna. For a while, John had been thinking about a tricky shot, and the captain agreed to let him give it a try. They attached the camera to a pole, hid down behind the transom, pushed the camera out above the water at just the right angle and started shooting. When the photo was downloaded, the result was a success. Lesson learned: Think outside the box and don’t be afraid to push the limits for a great photo.

▲ This stunning shot shows the FV Cascade Mariner, a 108-foot tender operating for Silver Bay Seafoods during this year’s salmon season in Bristol Bay, Alaska.. A tender supports the fishermen, in this case gill netters, by taking fish from each boat and transporting the catch to a processing plant. It also supplies fuel, fresh water, refrigerated seawater and groceries while at sea. The season can last from 30 to 60 days, and fishermen are often at sea the entire time in all weather conditions without coming ashore. This dedication to the well-being

Photo by Patrick Stewart, an engineer who works for United States Seafoods aboard the tender FV Alaska Endeavor

—Photo by John Fallon

PHOTO CONTEST RUNNERS-UP

When a dolphin or other aquatic creature comes near his dinghy, Kirby becomes the happiest, most excited wheaten terrier in the world. But Debbie Daigle managed to capture a rare moment of a calm water, dog and husband John while standing on her 1976 Hatteras LRC, named AfterMath. The three have lived aboard the boat at Brunswick Landing Marina for the past four years, enjoying the busy social life and activities. Her photo was inspired by the superb, smooth water that day, and it acts a reminder to see the peace and beauty of the water, while taking time to appreciate the small things in life, like a simple reflection of loved ones.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGE MYSTERY UNVEILED

By Susan Elnicki Wade

In the Summer 2023 issue of Marinalife, we presented a scavenger hunt to find seven landmarks in the Washington, DC, metro area that honor U.S. presidents, as well as a bonus location named after a famous First Lady. All these memorials can be seen from your boat while cruising along the Potomac River and Washington Channel.

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the hunt and hope you enjoyed the exciting new attractions along DC’s waterfront. For those of you who couldn’t join the fun or got stumped trying to find the memorials, here are the answers.

Moving from south to north up the Potomac:

—Photo by Debbie Daigle

1. Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge

2. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

3. Thomas Jefferson Memorial

4. Washington Monument

5. Lincoln Memorial

6. Theodore Roosevelt Bridge (or Island)

7. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Bonus: Lady Bird Johnson Park & Statue

Flickr

Washington Nationals Presidential Mascots

Holiday Gift Guide

Shop the best outdoor items for friends, family & pets!

FOR FUN IN THE SUN

1601AMP AMPHIBIOUS RC CAR

Ruko

Kids will have a blast steering this waterproof radiocontrolled car through any elements, whether it’s mud, sand or water, as it features all-terrain and 4x4 off-road-wheel drive. The monster-truck style design is offered in blue, pink or green, and the set comes with two rechargeable batteries for 50 minutes of playtime. ($118.30) ruko.net/products/ruko-1601amp-amphibious-rc-truck

HYDROFOILER SL3

Manta

This revolutionary aquatic e-bike is one of the latest watersport products to hit the market. Powered by a waterproof battery and human peddling, this lightweight water bike allows riders to glide above the sea’s surface. Easy to operate and dismantle for storage, the Hydrofoiler is a unique gift for adrenaline-junkies. (Prices vary) manta5.com

BARBIE™ POOL FLOATS

Funboy

You may have noticed that pink is everywhere now that Barbie made a comeback with her recent blockbuster. Funboy is known to produce unique float designs, and its new Barbie collection does not disappoint. Barbie favorite floats include the inflatable speedboat, surfboard, golf cart, bubblegum tube and the iconic B — all pink of course! ($14 - $169) funboy.com/collections/barbie-pool-floats

FOR THE CANINE CREW

INFLATABLE PUP PLANKS

Solstice Watersports

This inflatable ramp is a great present for pet owners who love to take furry friends cruising. The mesh plank is compact and easily attaches to boats, docks, pools and more to help animals in and out of the water safely. It’s perfect for all dogs — especially if they have little legs! (Mini: $179, Sport XL: $269) solsticewatersports.com/products/ inflatable-pup-plank-xl

Courtesy of Solstice Watersports

NAUTI SHOPPER > BY ALEXA ZIZZI

Daria Yakovleva/pixabay

Pup Plank

DOG CORE COOLING VEST

Kurgo

Whether you love to take your four-legged friend for a mountain hike or bring them along on hot day of cruising, this vest is the perfect item to keep handy. Simply wet it with cool water, wring it out and strap it on your pup for a comfy cooldown to their fur coat. The lightweight polyester and air mesh gives a cozy feel, and the vest is machine washable. ($58.95) kurgo.com/dog-coats/dog-core-cooling-vest

SPRING FLOAT PADDLE PAWS DOG POOL FLOAT SwimWays

This pawprint fabric doggie float will make any water-loving pet wag its tail with joy. The material is “paw-and-claw-friendly,” durable and safe while stepping in and out and floating around at the pool. Available in two sizes: large for big breeds and small supporting up to 65 lbs. (Prices vary) swimways.com

PRACTICAL PRESENTS

CUSTOM TIDE CLOCK

Tidepieces

Doubling as aesthetically pleasing décor and an essential item for boaters, this tide clock is an ideal personalized gift. A mechanically animated design displays precise geographic tide movement while actual tides on the clock move up and down. Customize with favorite nautical themes from lighthouses and beaches to marine animals and boats. The company offers customized designs per state. ($150+) tidepieces.com

NAUTICAL CHART ATTIRE

Top Deck Gear

These nautical chart shirts are a perfect fit for boaters who want to flaunt their favorite body of water. They can showcase their map routes in a stylish design suitable for any occasion. Choose from the Cape Hatteras, Marathon Navigator, Savannah Mariner or Penobscot Bay Coconut Button Camp Shirts. ($55-$88) topdeckgear.com

MARINE HOSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Hose Hut

Though it’s not the most glamourous gift, boat owners can appreciate a handy hose set on deck. Hose Hut’s durable, UV-resistant, space-saving design helps to declutter the dock thanks to its compact storage case. The top-of-the-line, marine-grade product protects against weather damage and wear and tear. ($295) hosehut.com/marine

Hose Hut

Top Deck Gear

Kodiak Alaska long sleeve shirt

Manta Hydrofoiler

Cruising from Jupiter, FL, to The Bahamas

Pack your passport and a sense of adventure to do a little island hopping along this easy itinerary

BY RICHARD KERN

The Bahamas is comprised of more than 3,000 islands, cays and islets spread out across nearly 500 miles in the Atlantic Ocean. Surprisingly, from ports like Jupiter and the Palm Beaches on Florida's east coast, it's only around 60 NM to the nearest point in the Bahamas — actually closer than cruising down to Miami. Which begs the question: Why go south when you can go east instead and check out these idyllic islands?

If you're a fishing aficionado, you probably know that the Bahamas is a prime destination for anglers of all stripes. Inshore fishermen can snag yellowtail, kingfish, redfish, snapper and grouper. Offshore fishermen are typically after the abundance of amberjack, mako, blackfin, yellowfin, wahoo, marlin, cobia, dorado and king mackerel.

Maybe your wish list involves nothing more than the Four S's: sun, sand, surf and seafood. If so, The Bahamas has you covered. With more than 2,000 breath-taking beaches, snorkelers crave “the clear, warm waters, exotic fish and clusters of coral in these parts. Think Paradise Cove, Rose Island Reef or Angelfish Blue Hole.

At the end of the day, don't forget to replenish. The food here is fresh, flavorful and fantastic — ceviche, conch fritters, smudder fish, spiny lobster, Bahamian fish stew — unique, adventuresome cuisine that'll make your tastebuds dance for joy.

Starting Point: Jupiter, FL

Prior to departing Jupiter, check out the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum.

Maintained by the Loxahatchee River

Historical Society, the museum's exhibits trace over 5,000 years of regional history, from the local Seminole tribespeople to Spanish explorers in the 16th century to the Lighthouse's construction in 1860 and its continuous operation since.

Fortify yourself with a sumptuous dinner the night before at 1000 NORTH on the Loxahatchee River, where you can dine on delicacies like hamachi tiradito, crab spaghetti alla chitarra, wagyu filet mignon or one of the sensational seafood towers.

Tip: Although Jupiter is only 55 NM from West End on Grand Bahama Island, getting there requires crossing the Gulf Stream, which can be tricky for boaters unfamiliar with its peculiarities. The

Nassau, Bahamas

northward flow of the Gulf Stream typically averages between 2 and 2.5 knots, so if you're leaving Florida and heading due east, that means every hour you travel will put you eastward at whatever speed you're traveling, plus 2 to 2.5 miles north. Be sure to allow for this in your calculations.

Stop 1: Freeport, Grand Bahama

Estimated Mileage: 81 NM

Old Bahama Bay Resort & Yacht Harbour or Blue Marlin Cove Resort & Marina in West End on Grand Bahama Island are the closest stops once you reach the Bahamas, only 55 NM. You can put in here if you need to top off your fuel before making the 26 NM run down the coast to Freeport.

Clearing customs can be accomplished in West End, too. The Customs & Immigration office at Old Bahama Bay is open from 9:00-5:00 daily. Bahamas Customs requires your vessel's registration, as well as a completed Maritime Declaration Form and Inward Report Form. Bahamas Immigration requires the Inward Passenger & Crew Manifest form and an Immigration Card for each person arriving on the vessel. Permits and fees are $150 per vessel for 30 feet and under; $300 per vessel 31 feet and above. This includes clearance, cruising permit and fishing fee for up to three people, and Customs accepts cash only.

Freeport is a free trade zone on Grand Bahama Island that was established in 1955 to attract business to the islands.

Tax-free shopping is one of the main attractions here, which is why the Port Lucaya Marketplace is worth a stop. For dinner, check out The Stoned Crab, Flying Fish GastroBar or Daddy Brown's Conch Stand (bare bones, limited menu), all highly rated and just steps from The Pointe Marina.

Stop 2: Marsh Harbour, Abacos

Estimated Mileage: 85-150 NM

Even though it's less than 90 NM from Freeport to Abaco heading from the south coast of Grand Bahama, you may want to consider taking the Grand Lucayan Waterway (GLW), which cuts through the middle of Grand Bahama, and opt for the northern route. It'll add a few

Pixabay

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse on the Loxahatchee River

Didier Moïse on Wikimedia Commons

Taino Beach, Grand Bahama Island

miles to your itinerary, but it's a much smoother ride.

A couple of things to keep in mind if you take the GLW: First, the Casuarina Bridge has a 27-foot fixed vertical clearance, limiting passage mainly to power vessels. Second, although the

waterway itself has depths of 8-10 feet, the channel at the northern end in Dover Sound only has 4-foot depths, limiting the passage to shoal-draft vessels.

Marsh Harbour, on the east side of Abaco, is the main port and commercial center on the island, offering visitors

several shops, cafés, hotels, resorts, restaurants and other amenities. Hungry? Consider Snappas, Wally's Fine Dining or the Jib Room. While you’re in Marsh Harbour, be sure to check out the newly renovated Conch Inn & Marina. It’s got all the amenities that boaters want including fuel, water, electricity, 24-hour security and a seaside restaurant serving fresh local catch.

Stop 3: Nassau, New Providence

Estimated Mileage: 104 NM

Given Nassau's 100-year history as a tourist destination and its position as the capital of the Bahamas, it's no wonder that New Providence Island and nearby Paradise Island (home of the massive Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas Resort) together attract more than 7 million visitors a year.

Nassau has a rich history spanning more than 300 years. Historic landmarks include Christ Church Cathedral, Parliament Square, the Queen's Staircase, Vendue House and historic Forts Charlotte, Fincastle and Montagu. Underwater sports enthusiasts enjoy the area's many shipwrecks, blue holes and swim-through caves, and serious divers can tackle the 6,000foot-deep Tongue of the Ocean that separates New Providence and Andros Islands.

For nature lovers, The Retreat Garden boasts one of the largest private collections of rare and exotic palms in the

Frederico Almeida / Getty Images

Maria

Atlantis Paradise Island Resort

Sean Doran/Getty Images

Abacos

world (about 170 types spread across its 11 acres), and bird watchers flock to New Providence to see dozens of rare species. Visit the numerous markets and shops in Nassau for everything from local crafts and foodstuffs to duty-free items such as jewelry and watches.

Stop 4: George Town, Exumas

Estimated Mileage: 129 NM

After the bustle of Nassau, the tranquil beaches of Exuma provide the perfect counterpoint. Coco Plum, Tropic of Cancer, Forbes Hill, Hoopers Bay, Jolly Hall ... you really can't go wrong no matter which one you choose. Check out

nearby Stocking Island for more gorgeous sand and scenery. The restaurant scene in George Town is equally low key and laid back. Try Shirley's Seafood, Sam's on the Bay, or Driftwood Cafe & Bistro for some of the freshest seafood on the planet.

For something a bit more energetic, the Exumas hosts two major yachting events each year: the National Family Island Regatta (April) and the George Town Sailing Regatta (March). You'll also find one of nicest golf courses in the Caribbean here: the Greg Norman-designed Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course features six signature holes hugging the coastline of a scenic peninsula, with trade winds adding to the challenge.

The Marina at Emerald Bay is a great place to refuel and refit before heading on to your next destination. And downtown George Town boasts shops, markets, historic churches, schools, a police station and a hospital, if you need to resupply. ml

Port Lucaya in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island

Banana boat ride on a Freeport beach, Grand Bahama Island

Exumas, Bahamas

EXPLORE

ORCAS ISLAND

The Gem of the San Juans

BY CLAIRE RUPPERT

Between the Rosario Strait (along mainland Washington State) and Haro Strait (bordering Vancouver Island) is an archipelago called the San Juan Islands. These islands are a hot spot destination for delicious food, rugged coastlines and beautiful water. The largest island, Orcas, is the ultimate outdoors getaway to experience the pristine natural landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.

The main town on the island, Eastsound, has everything you need, from a supermarket to watersports and bike rentals and waterfront views from the heart of downtown. Arguably the most popular destination on the island is Moran State Park, which aside from the 30+ miles of hiking trails and multiple freshwater lakes, also encompasses Mount Constitution, the highest point on the island. At 2,409 feet, Mount Constitution also has an observation tower at the summit built more than 100 years ago.

From the tower, hikers can feast their eyes on stunning water vistas, the rest of the San Juan Islands and even a few cities in Canada.

Yet another state park on the island, Obstruction Pass State Park is one of the few places on the island with an accessible public beach, located a half-mile from the trail head. Make a point to explore off island in the surrounding waters. The islands are a stunning natural habitat. Fishing and wildlife tours, including whale watches where you’re likely to see orcas, bring visitors closer to the endemic aquatic life.

The island has a strong community culture, accessible through the farmers’ market at the Eastsound Village Green, art galleries and studios speckling the island, and the Orcas Island Historical Museum. The historical society relocated six original homestead cabins to the new location in Eastsound, which also holds more

than 6,000 artifacts, documents and photos.

The arts scene is encapsulated in two centers for the arts on the island. Orcas Island Artworks in Olga is a co-op of 45 island-based crafts people. Orcas Center is the performing arts venue that produces more than 40 shows a year. ml

WHERE TO DOCK

Deer Harbor Marina

360-376-3037

Located on the southwest side of Orcas Island, this full-service marina is an ideal stop for transients as it provides moorings, amenities, a fuel dock and The Barge Gift Shop. The marina is close to attractions, hotels and dining options.

West Sound Marina

360-376-2314

A family-owned full-service marina complete with dry storage and a repair crane. Close to the Turtleback Mountain Preserve, it’s the largest marina on the island and open year-round with six transient spaces.

Brandt’s Landing Marina

360-376-4477

One of the few marinas located on the north side of the island, Brandt’s offers family-run services. A canal was excavated to form this marina, which is a good location to explore the northern San Juan Islands and Canadian Gulf Islands.

WHERE TO DINE

Matia

360-375-4350

Matia is one of Washington’s most critically acclaimed restaurants. With seasonal farm-to-table fare highlighting the region, its tasting menu changes daily to ensure a unique dining experience.

Rosario Resort & Spa

360-376-2222

The Mansion Restaurant at Rosario Resort & Spa is tucked away on a woodland peninsula. Enjoy the menu of local seafood and produce in a dining room overlooking Cascade Bay. Check out the Moran Lounge in the mansion’s original living room and Cascade Bay Grill & Store overlooking the marina.

Brown Bear Baking

360-855-7456

Traditional French techniques and dishes are married with local ingredients at the cozy cafe in Eastsound. The two partner bakers are graduates of the San Francisco Baking Institute and churn out small batches all day to ensure freshness.

Dana Halfery Turtleback Mountain

Carina Skrobecki Swain Rosario Resort & Spa

Dana Halfery Darvill’s Bookstore

The adventure of a lifetime

America’s Great Loop

100+ Locks • 5,250+ Miles... ... all aboard your own boat!

Ready to start your own adventure?

Join our group of likeminded boaters exploring the 6,000mile waterway known as the Great Loop. There is no more unique way to explore the U.S. and Canada than from the water! Whether you’re brand new to the idea of the Great Loop, actively planning your trip, or ready to drop the dock lines and head out, we offer something for you!

Visit us at www.greatloop.org or call 877-GR8-LOOP

Membership in America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association includes:

• Access to hundreds of harbor hosts to assist you with local knowledge around the route

• Participation in our discussion forum that offers a deep-dive into Great Loop-related questions and topics

• Webinars exclusively for members

• Discounts on dockage, fuel, equipment....

• Monthly digital magazines and newsletters

• Access to our distinctive AGLCA burgee

• Members-only events

• And so much more!

Behun Marine Management

REBUILT & READY

Walking into a scene of chaos — sunken piers, demolished structures under mountains of debris and millions of dollars in damage — is the ultimate nightmare every marina owner fears. Businesses do their best to prepare for natural disasters, but even with the highest quality materials, no dock is indestructible.

In September 2022, Category 5 Hurricane Ian swept across the Atlantic, devastating regions from the Bahamas to the Carolinas. With nearly 148 fatalities and miles of damage, Florida’s southwest coast endured the most loss, especially the Fort Myers Beach, Pine, Sanibel and Captiva Island regions.

While Florida regions have made excellent progress in the aftermath of Ian, many island towns farther south have taken years to fully rebuild from past hurricanes. The following marinas celebrate triumphant stories of resurrection and the journey to welcome back boaters.

Courtesy of Bitter End Yacht Club

FOR BOATERS

Marinas hit by hurricanes share stories of the road to recovery

BY ALEXA ZIZZI

Fort Myers marinas prevail in record time

When Hurricane Ian swept through Estero Island in Fort Myers Beach, FL, Dave O’Connor, dockmaster at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina, felt helpless as he watched live updates of docks disappearing underwater sent by employees who stayed onsite through the storm. O’Connor has worked at Pink Shell since 2012 and says he never anticipated experiencing something of this caliber.

“From the pictures I could see maybe two-to-three feet of the pilings were left, and I knew what I was going to see when we came back to the property,” says O’Connor. “The hardest part was walking around to assess, and all I thought was, how are we ever going to clean up all this stuff? It was so overwhelming.”

O’Connor returned to three feet of water in his office and a heartbreaking scene at the marina. Despite obliteration to the docks, the buildings remained unharmed thanks to breakaway walls and top-notch construction in the early 2000s.

Pink Shell expedited a speedy recovery over the past year with plans to fully reopen the marina this fall with new docks from Golden Marine Systems, a Fort Myers company. O’Connor credits the marina’s longtime relationships with electrical and plumbing companies and industry partners he’s worked with for more than 20 years. He says just a few weeks after the

With support from guests and the community, Pink Shell remains optimistic about moving forward

Rick Fesenmyer

Ian aftermath in Fort Myers

Pink Shell Marina during Hurricane Ian

Photos courtesy of Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina

Pink Shell dock install

Pink Shell rebuilt

storm, Pink Shell was the first marina on the manufacturer’s production queue.

Amenities such as the Octopool, fitness center, breakfast at Jack’s and the Bar & Grill at Pool Deck are now available for guests. The recreation areas, Aquagene Spa, Bongos Bar & Grill and Rae’s Real Italian are still under renovation with plans to reopen this season.

“They’ve dredged the entry channel into Fort Myers Beach and cleaned the debris so boaters shouldn’t have any worry about navigational depth or obstructions,” says O’Connor. With support from guests and the community, he remains optimistic about moving forward.

Just a mile down the road, familyowned Moss Marina is another property with a speedy recovery story even more miraculous than Pink Shell’s. Despite

significant dock damage and disheveled debris, the marina’s core elements sustained minimal damage from Hurricane Ian. The property was left with

detached structures and demolished utilities, but the team rebuilt the floating docks to their original layout and reopened in an astonishing two months.

Pink Shell rebuilt

Pink Shell Octopool

Communities unite to rebuild the Bahamas

In 2019, Category 5 Hurricane Dorian demolished the gorgeous Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina at Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas. When the marina began rebuilding, COVID hit, forcing another shutdown in 2020. After prevailing through supply shortages, sick staff and no electricity, the marina finally reopened thanks to help from the United States, local communities, volunteers and organizations such as the Green Turtle Cay Foundation that rebuilt the destroyed hurricane shelter.

“Winds were clocked at 225 mph, so homes on this island were flattened and gone,” says Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina general manager Molly McIntosh. “We were prepared — we don’t take hurricanes lightly as we’ve had some strong ones. But I don’t think there’s been anything like Dorian since maybe the 1930s.”

The island suffered food and water shortages, and no docks were left to bring in food. From September 2019 to the end of December, Green Turtle Cay had no power and ran solely on generators. Chef José Andrés from World Central Kitchen visited the island to supply food via helicopter during the recovery stages.

Though the 40-slip marina is fully rebuilt and open for business with 12,000 square feet of Ipe docks (a Brazilian teak), they’re still working on getting back their fuel dock. Guests can

stay at the charming villas and enjoy the marina’s newly renovated private showers and upscale amenities including a freshwater swimming pool, drinks at the Tranquil Turtle Beach Bar and gorgeous secluded beaches and surrounding cays. Play volleyball on the private white-sand beach, kayak, paddleboard or relax in hammocks under palm trees. Don’t miss the annual Cheeseburger in Paradise community fundraiser event held in the summer.

Turning a new chapter post-hurricane

In 2017, Category 5 Hurricane Irma swept through the British Virgin Islands (BVI), taking down 100 buildings in just two hours. Family-owned Bitter End Yacht Club (BEYC) resort marina, located on the island of Virgin Gorda, feels like a little nautical village, so when the storm decimated the destination, it felt like an entire community was lost.

After four years of rebuilding and pushing through COVID and supply chain shortages, BEYC finally reopened in December 2021. The first two years were

Bitter End Yacht Club windsurfing

Courtesy of Bitter End Yacht Club

Courtesy of Bluff Haouse Beach Resort & Marina

Bluff House Beach Resort & Marina dock, May 2020

spent cleaning and remediating the property. The team remained environmentally conscious in the recovery by burning, upcycling or recycling every piece of rubble onsite.

“The property has evolved into maintaining a sense of history and legacy,” says BEYC President Kerri Jaffe. “The place feels like it’s been there for a really long time, because we used materials that have been at Bitter End for over 50 years, and we were really lucky to salvage interesting artifacts that somehow survived the storm,” says Jaffe. “Whether it be signage from old cottages or a piece of maritime history, we created art galleries throughout our space to showcase what we were able to save.”

The staff refers to the new chapter of BEYC as Bitter End 2.0 as they currently thrive with new amenities, restaurants, attractions and top-notch services. Watersports are the heart and soul of the marina, and they offer everything from sailing and windsurfing to winging, and even provide lessons.

Reeftique, the onsite retail hub and boutique, curates fashion and jewelry from around the world and has become a premier BVI destination. In tandem with Reeftique and the community, the marina launched Bitter End Foundation after the hurricane, hosting fundraisers, events, auctions and environmental initiatives. With each BEYC retail product purchase, a dollar is donated to the foundation. ml

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/RebuiltAndReady

Bitter End Yacht Club

Photos courtesy of Bitter End Yacht Club

Bitter End Yacht Club hurricane relief

Security Systems for Boats

Keeping you and your vessel out of

BY SCOTT MILLER

The boating lifestyle gives boat owners the joy of the open water and the freedom to explore to their heart’s content. But boating also comes with a big responsibility for the vessel and the lives aboard, and boat security plays a major part in keeping you safe.

I recently received a call from a friend who told me about his stop overnight on the Savannah River at the free docks. He and his wife went to bed and when they awoke the next morning, his engine room door inside the boat was open, a stranger’s hat was in his salon and a pair of shoes were left behind in the cockpit. Nothing else seemed to be disturbed or missing, but someone definitely came aboard while they were sleeping and walked within 10 feet of their stateroom.

While my friend is sure he locked the salon doors, he wasn’t certain that other entrances were locked. He had also forgotten to turn on his cameras. This created a very scary moment and a few days of wondering what if. Thankfully, they both were safe, and nothing was missing. However, my friends are now thinking about being more intentional about their safety and the security of their boat.

Boats are valuable assets and represent a considerable financial expense. Due to the overall value of the boat and the items inside, your boat is also an attractive target for theft. Whether you own a weekend cruiser or a liveaboard yacht, providing a safe and secure vessel gives you peace of mind and personal safety.

Today’s boat security systems have many advanced features and are easily integrated with the boat’s current

systems and aesthetics, so they don’t distract. These systems offer video, motion detection, local and remote alerts, and audible alarms.

With all technologies, you can look for the best of each system from multiple manufacturers or get everything you need from one source. My recommendation is to work with one manufacturer for ease of support and integration. While this is preferred, many boaters already may have parts of the system and want to add more features. Since integration is one of the key aspects of a good system, you can add components and integrate them.

Regardless of the quality and cost, any security system that is too complex or too sensitive and gives false alarms will be ignored or turned off and therefore does not provide the protection you seek.

harm’s way

Monitoring systems at the boats helm

Common features in today’s security systems include:

• Local alarms: This system is designed to alert owners onboard or others nearby of disturbances to your boat. Opening a door, window or hatch sets off the alarm.

• Remote alarms: This will alert the owner to suspicious activities, smoke or fire alerts, or other happenings on your boat even if you’re far away. Notification is done either via text, email or SMS through a dedicated cellular device or the boat’s local Wi-Fi, cellular or satellite connection.

• Interactive: The owner can interact with the boat remotely and control various functions such as lights, locks and cameras.

• Surveillance cameras: These allow the owner to monitor activity on board and around the boat, and with internet connection, supply continuous monitoring, whether local or remote.

• Motion sensors: These sensors can detect movement on your boat and trigger an alarm.

• GPS tracking: This feature allows you to track the location of your boat in real time.

Smart boaters want to protect their boats and ensure all the occupants onboard are safe and secure. The peace of mind and potential insurance discount from installing a security system make this small investment a practical item for your next boat project. Don’t wait for an incident like my friends to get serious about your boat’s security. Also, once you have a security system, don’t forget to turn it on and keep it operating well, so it provides protection for your boating pleasure. ml

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/BoatSecuritySystems

Do you have boating-related questions or problems? Send them to our editor at swade@marinalife.com, and we’ll see if Marinalife’s maritime experts can help.

Which System Fits your Lifestyle?

Many options on the market today will fit your functional needs and budgets. Some of these systems also have a subscription model as well as an upfront equipment cost, so make sure you look at the total costs before making a decision.

Full Security Systems

GOST Marine Security Package (GOST GNT-Evolution IDP):

This package includes a range of sensors such as door contacts, motion detectors, high water alarms and infrared beam sensors that can be customized to meet your needs.

Siren 3 Boat Monitoring System: This system offers cellular-based intrusion boat alarm and monitoring systems that allow remote monitoring via a companion smartphone app. Siren has multiple sensors for safety of the boat (GPS, engine room temp, bilge high water, tank levels, battery) and personal protection (motion and entry), all with wireless sensors.

Component Systems

Spot Trace Alert Tracking System: This system uses satellite technology to track your boat’s location and movement.

Garmin GC 100 Wireless Boat Security Camera: This is designed specifically for marine use and can be used for both live streaming and recording.

Nest Smoke Detectors and Cameras: Google Nest provides a single app to monitor smoke/carbon monoxide and manage cameras, motion and video/audio remotely.

Siren Marine MTC Sensor Phone

GOST Apparition system

CREAM PIE VS. KEY LIME PIE

THE CLASSICS YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW

BY CLAIRE RUPPERT

Created in the late 19th century in port cities, the evolution of both Boston Cream and Key Lime Pies were greatly influenced by the exchange of people, ideas, and goods. The initial version of these desserts are a far cry from the sweet treats that we enjoy today, but centuries of adapting and honing the baking of these delights are what make them so irresistibly delicious.

THE BAKER’S BACK STORY

The first Boston Cream Pie was served at the 1856 opening of the Parker House Hotel in downtown Boston. The hotel chef at the time, M. Sanizan, is responsible for the creation of this now famous dessert.

Local lore asserts that Key Lime Pie came from the kitchen of William Curry in the 1890’s at the hands of a Key West cook named Aunt Sally. In 2006 Key Lime Pie became the official state pie of Florida.

Many know the donut version of Boston Cream Pie, which from Dunkin is as close as some can get to a Boston experience. However the true Boston Cream Pie is a cake with a name of mysterious origins. A vanilla sponge and vanilla cream cake with a chocolate glaze, the Parker House still serves it with a decorative spiderweb design on top and a crust of crushed almonds. At the time of its debut, the chocolate glaze was a particularly inventive use for chocolate which was generally served in pudding or beverage form. As for the name, some may attribute it to the crust-like appearance of the almond coating, however, the name “pie” most likely comes from the early 19th century when cakes and pies were baked in the same tins.

UNIQUE BITES OF PIE TASTY CHANGES

The Boston Cream Pie is now, after the advent of refrigeration, classically served cold to ensure the integrity of the cream. Since its inception, the pastry cream filling has become more commonly replaced with a vanilla custard. The cake layers have also evolved from a more dense pound cake-like consistency to a lighter sponge, but the rum brushing remains the same.

Despite the common belief that Key Lime Pie comes from the Florida Keys, it has recently come to light that the earliest recorded version of the recipe comes from the test kitchen of Borden Condensed Milk in New York City as a way to market their milk. The recipe was not the one we know today but called a Lemon Cream Pie. Therefore it can be argued that Key Lime Pie did not reach its true form until it was brought to Florida. Whatever your position on this hot button issue, I hope we can all agree on a good graham cracker crust.

The original recipe was a lemon cream pie, but the beloved Florida version used the citrus native to the region, giving the dessert that unmistakable tart-sweet Key lime flavor. These days, Key limes in Florida are scarce. Most of the staple citrus is grown privately due to aggressive hurricanes and a vegetal disease called citrus canker.

CRYSTAL RIVER IS A CLEAR BOATER’S CHOICE

ARTICLE BY HEATHER BURKE, PHOTOS BY GREG BURKE

CRYSTAL RIVER IS A COOL FLORIDA DESTINATION

to explore. With nicknames like “Water Lovers’ Paradise” and “Home of the Manatee,” we might also add “Boaters’ Dream.” This is Old Florida, with southern hospitality, deep history, fun watersports, classic seafood shacks — not just broad sandy beaches, though they have those, too. Crystal River is teeming with wildlife, parks and preserves, and a myriad of interconnected waterways stretching seven miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

Most Great Loopers and pleasure boaters cut the corner and skip this special section of Florida’s Gulf Coast due to its challenging shallow navigation. But intrepid captains willing to venture up the Crystal River are in for a real treat. These waterways are U.S. Coast Guard marked for navigation and a sanctuary in winter for over 1,000 manatees munching on the abundance of healthy seagrass.

A convenient way to boat the inlets of beautiful Citrus County is to trailer your own boat or rent one to explore Crystal River, Ozello Keys and Homosassa just south. We enjoyed 72 hours in Crystal River, exploring the waterways, meeting manatees, touring lush parks and nature preserves, and feasting on delish local fish, crab and scallops. Folks in this part of Florida are genuine, friendly and proud of their seaside scene.

Starting the journey in Old Florida style

Arriving in Crystal River, we checked in to the Plantation, a grand old hotel and resort on the waterfront where our room overlooked the lawn and inlet leading to the river. The Plantation has its own marina where you can dock, launch or rent a boat, kayak or paddleboard, or hop on a scenic tour from manatee encounters to sunset cruises.

We chose to stretch our legs by biking 1.8 miles to the historic

downtown of Crystal River, riding the scenic designated Three Sisters Springs Crosstown Trail and passing the Mermaid House. We poked around unique boutiques on Citrus Avenue, such as Amy’s on the Avenue, Salty Girls Beach Shop and Fishhook Outfitters. Hand-painted murals throughout the colorful village add to its vibrance, along with manatee sculptures, Crystal River’s mascot. From the town center, Crystal River Preserve State Park is just 4 miles north and west to a peaceful waterfront setting with dramatic ancient burial mounds dating back to 2,000 A.D.

Back at the Plantation, we refreshed with a swim in the resort’s expansive riverfront pool and drinks from the Tiki Bar. Dinner that evening was extraordinary at Vintage on 5th in town. Sitting on the veranda of this 1940s churchturned-gourmet bistro was sublime, so was the She Crab soup and fried green tomatoes smothered in goat cheese and bacon. Live music from next door Norton’s Riverside Sports Bar & Grill was our entertainment.

Get Up and Go Kayaking was our calling next morning, just south in Homosassa. Following our guide, we paddled up the “Chaz” in clear bottom kayaks through a maze of mossy oak-shaded canals. The Chassahowitzka River (aka the Chaz), is teeming with waterbirds and marine life. Schools of fish swam under our clear kayaks, massive manatees floated lazily by, and turtles sunned on rocks. Passing one alligator, I paddled a little faster.

Soon we reached the glittering deep-water pools of Seven Sisters Springs and then the dramatic “Crack” where

The Plantation Resort at Crystal River’s grand entry and manatee fountain

The author enjoys a glass-bottom kayak tour with Get Up & Go Kayaking on the Chaz River (officially the Chassahowitzka)

Crystal River’s water tower proudly displays “Home of the Manatee”

we swam in an iridescent fissure in the rock bottom where millions of gallons of freshwater pump into the river every minute. Magical.

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park was our next stop. Boarding a boat at Pepper Creek, our park guide plied the peaceful waters into the park grounds where we discovered an extensive wildlife park devoted to rehabilitating Florida animals and mammals with various injuries in this protected preserve. From the huge old hippo named Lu to a panther, bear, deer, fox, owl, otter and manatee, this rescue center is the kindest example of a zoo we’d ever witnessed.

That evening, our activity-fueled appetites were perfectly satiated at Wallace’s at the Greenhouse in Homosassa. From the chef’s scratch kitchen, we ordered the best smoky fish dip with homemade chips, followed by the freshest fish du jour with delicious sides. In this cheerful greenhouse eatery, the locally sourced menu changes daily.

Swimming with gentle giants

Next morning, we boarded our much-anticipated swim with the manatees encounter from the Plantation Resort’s

own Adventure Center. Our captain and guide told us all about the wildlife-rich Crystal River on our boat ride into the bay. We learned about manatees and soon were floating right next to these most gentle of marine giants.

We had been coached on mimicking the manatees’ behavior in our black wet suits, so they’d approach us, and it worked! We were eye to eye, whisker to snorkel, with these docile but huge sea cows. Amazing! Along our tour, we also stopped to swim in percolating crystal-clear freshwater springs (hence the river’s name, which hosts over 70 springs in its 600-acre bay).

A beautiful swerving seaside drive out Ozello Keys brought us to a fun old fish shack for lunch, Peck’s Old Port Cove. We devoured sweet salty crab, blackened shrimp and the most outrageously tasty thin-sliced onion rings, made fresh daily and complemented by the turquoise water view.

After eating so much delish fish, we wanted to go fishing in this water lover’s paradise! That afternoon Captain Gary Bartell took us on a charter from his family-owned Ozello Keys Marina. He expertly sped us across calm bays to his spot and hooked us up for success, literally.

After a bit of bait, wait and chat about

Greg swims amid manatee on Plantation Adventure Center Manatee Encounter Snorkel Tour

Manatee art and sculpture in the historic district of Crystal River village

Cook your catch at Seafood Seller & Cafe, including our redfish

his show Fish Talk Live, we were reeling in redfish, including Greg’s 32-inch trophy fish that was too big to keep. So, we only “caught” the photo before releasing it, proof it wasn’t just a fish tale. Captain Gary cleaned and fileted our keeper fish back at the dock, and sent us to Seafood Seller, where they’d cook our catch.

We found Seafood Seller & Café in a humble strip mall. Locals were lined up at this mom-and-pop affordable seafood joint. Folks were feasting on piles of shrimp, crawfish and oysters. But we brought our own fish, and the chef prepared our redfish perfectly — blackened and served with tasty homemade sides.

On our reluctant departure from a fun-filled Crystal River visit, we passed through Inverness, another idyllic little town and boaters’ heaven. Boaters can launch here into the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes to explore a 23-mile-long freshwater haven. Since we had bikes, we rode part of the Withlacoochee State Trail, a 46-mile paved designated pedestrian and bike path that stretches the entire East Citrus County of Florida along old train tracks, beautiful farms and lakeshores.

We vowed to return to the abundant water world of Crystal River and BYOB (bring your own boat) next time.

Crystal River Preserve State Park

Vintage on 5th in Crystal River serves wine and dinner cuisine

Kings Bay on Crystal River at Pete’s Pier Marina

Greg’s keeper, a redfish caught aboard Captain Gary Bartell’s fishing charter from Ozello Keys Marina

Crystal River Cruising Tips

WHERE TO STAY

Plantation Resort on Crystal River

This 196-room full-service hotel has a marina, boat tours, launch, dock slips, pool and tiki bar. Bring your own boat or rent from their fleet. Boater, family and pet friendly. plantationoncrystalriver.com

Crystal Blue Lagoon B&B

The waterfront mermaid-inspired house is a rental with a riverfront lawn, firepit and complimentary clear kayaks and bikes for guests. Walking distance to downtown Crystal River, also on the Crosstown bike path. crystalbluelagoonbb.com

WHERE TO DOCK

Crystal River is busiest in scallop season, July to mid-September, when docks slips are challenging to find, so book well in advance.

Pete’s Pier Marina

The marina offers a few transient boat slips at King’s Bay Marina on Crystal River, with new docks built in 2023. Great location near town. petespier.com

Twin Rivers Marina

As the largest marina on Crystal River, it offers easy access to the Gulf and Kings Bay, but it is 6 miles to downtown Crystal River. Boat rentals are available, limited transient dock slips, better availability in winter months. twinriversmarina.com

Plantation Adventure Center

Find boat rentals, launch and transient dock slips, kayaks and SUPs for rent, and daily boat excursions. plantationoncrystalriver.com

WHERE TO DINE

The Crab Plant

At the head of Kings Bay is a former crab processing plant and super casual eatery that serves big portions of local fish, shrimp and crabs. Cash only. crabplant.com

Peck’s Old Port Cove

This classic Old-Florida seafood shack for lunch or dinner is reached by a scenic swerving drive out to this dramatic land on Ozello Keys. pecksoldportcove.com

Wallace’s at the Greenhouse in Homosassa

Visit a fabulous scratch kitchen for lunch or dinner with a very talented chef. wallacesgreenhouse.com

Vintage on 5th

Enjoy a gourmet wine and delicious dinner experience in a 1940s church in town. vintageon5th.com

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/CrystalRiver

The author strolls along Fort Island Gulf Beach Fishing Pier, also known as Roger Batchelor Pier

Launching glass bottom kayaks for a paddle expedition up the Chaz River in Homosassa

Navigating with the Stars

BY MICAH ANGEL

While it’s profound to observe a star-spangled sky offshore mirrored by glass-still water, most boaters out in the deep don’t rely on the heavens to get back home. Nearly all captains today utilize onboard navigation technology to maintain their course.

Before the advent of GPS, radar and chart plotters, seafarers of old used the skies for guidance — what’s known as celestial navigation. Amid a sea of darkness, stars have served as bespeckled beacons to generations of wanderers.

Long before the luxury of modern navigation, ancient helmsmen looked to the heavens

Pioneers of Polynesia

Roughly 4,000 years ago, ancestors of today’s Polynesians began arguably one of the greatest migrations in human history. From present-day Taiwan, early voyagers spread eastward across the Pacific for millennia to settle the 800,000-square-mile Polynesian Triangle that connects Hawaii, New Zealand and Easter Island. Pacific Islanders conquered the planet’s largest ocean with no instruments whatsoever by developing a highly evolved navigational system known as “wayfinding” that interpreted their entire environment, including the sun, moon and stars.

On dark, clear nights, constellations like Nao Kao, or “The Darts” (Orion’s Belt), provided lane markers to monitor changes in latitude. Committing these star paths to memory was critical for return trips. Voyages could last four weeks or longer, during which wayfinders would only sleep two or three hours per day. Memorizing the risings and settings of over 150 stars served as the navigator’s internal “star compass.”

Polynesian adventurers pushed toward an uncertain horizon. Celestial navigation was still in use when Europeans discovered Polynesia in the 17th century. On his 1774-1775 trip to Tahiti, Spanish Captain José de Andía y Varela was astonished to see sailing masters there traveling the 120-150 miles to neighboring Raiatea without a mariner’s compass. He noted in his journal, “When the night is a clear one, they steer by the stars.”

Drakkar/Pixabay

Tahiti

Painting of Viking ship

Viking Voyagers

A few hundred years after the Polynesians, waves of seafaring Scandinavian warriors sailed westward between 800 and 1100 A.D., settling Britain, Iceland, Greenland and even parts of North America. Otherwise known as Vikings or Norsemen, these skilled mariners also used their knowledge of the skies to aid their conquest.

Referencing the sun by day, specially trained Viking navigators applied instruments such as the pelorus, sun shadow board, bearing dial and sun compass to determine latitude and direction. Used like a magnetic compass, these devices would help Norse sailors find geographic north based on the position of the sun’s shadow.

When skies were obscured by clouds or fog, Vikings may have pulled out a light-fracturing crystal called a sunstone to filter sunlight and track the sun’s position in the sky. Theories suggest that sunstones enabled Norsemen to navigate overcast days and even assisted transatlantic crossings to North America.

Known today as Iceland spar or optical calcite, this intriguing crystal is mentioned in Viking lore. One 13th century saga featured a man named Sigurd who correctly estimated the position of “the invisible sun” using a sunstone. History buffs beware: Archaeologists have yet to find a sunstone among Viking shipwrecks or settlement sites.

By night, Norse navigators used Polaris (the North Star) extensively as a navigational guide. Steering westward across the North Atlantic in summer, they measured the distance between Polaris and the horizon to determine latitude.

Colonial Captains

Navigators of early modern Europe also employed celestial navigation, starting when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama set sail to find passage to India in 1497. After rounding the African continent from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, da Gama picked up a skilled navigator who used a celestial device called a kamal. Essentially just a piece of wood connected to string with strategically placed knots along it, the kamal was first invented by 6th century Arabian sailors and measured stellar elevations to determine latitude, primarily Polaris.

Returning with his newfound instrument, da Gama introduced celestial navigation to Europe, and those navigators later evolved the kamal into easier-to-use versions called the cross-staff and backstaff. The mariner’s astrolabe was also introduced around this time, used to track heavenly bodies for navigation. Coincidentally, the oldest known astrolabe was recently recovered from the wreck of the Esmeralda, one of da Gama’s ships downed in a 1503 storm.

What followed in the 16th through 18th centuries was a revolution in navigational education in the name of trade and colonization. Although highly lucrative, a career in conquering and profiteering was extremely risky. To train conquistadors and pirates, navigational schools popped up all over Europe.

The curricula of these navigational institutes combined celestial navigation techniques with cutting-edge mathematics of the day, resulting in equal parts cosmography and trigonometry. Far from drunken sailors, master navigators were skilled mathematicians who earned triple what any able seaman made.

The celestial and mathematical ultimately culminated in the 18th century, when a British scientist and captain collaborated on a device that could be easily used on a moving ship whether in windy or otherwise bad conditions. Called a sextant, this useful instrument required little more than a steady hand and a good eye to determine latitude and longitude, changing the celestial navigation game forever.

Celestial Navigation in the Modern Era

The practice of steering by the stars still lives on today. NASA applies the principles of celestial navigation during its space missions, and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, teaches celestial navigation techniques to midshipmen.

In 1973, renewed interest in ancient wayfinding techniques led the Polynesian Voyaging Society to build a replica of a traditional double-hulled canoe

Julius Silver/Pexels

Iceland spar that was allegedly used as a sunstone by the Vikings Arni EinCC BY-SA

3.0-Wikimedia Commons

A Navy quartermaster takes a sun sighting from the USS Alaska in 1945

U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive

called Hōkūle’a. Using only traditional, non-instrument methods aboard, a crew of 15 men successfully sailed Hōkūle’a from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976 in 30 days. More recently in April 2022, Lehua Kamalu made history as the first woman to navigate the 2,400-mile journey from Hawaii to Tahiti using wayfinding methods. She completed the trip in a mere 17 days.

In another instance, 73-year-old French sailor Jean-Luc Van Den Heede circumnavigated the globe to win the Golden Globe Race in 2018. Completely alone and using just a sextant, chronometer and paper charts aboard his 36-foot boat, he circled the planet in 212 days.

What can we learn from the courageous spirit of early navigators and those still practicing celestial navigation today? Facing unimaginable odds and unpredictable seas, a common thread among these legendary mariners is their distinct character — as anthropologist Sir Arthur Grimble put it, “The instinct of men to keep windward, to go uphill first, to oppose for the sake of opposing.”

The next time you look up at a starlit sky, remember our seafaring ancestors: hardy, self-reliant and perfectly attuned to the clockwork of the universe. The stars beckon us to heed the call. Get out on the water and juice this fall boating season for all it’s worth. ml

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/NavigatingWithTheStars

Gaze at these Celestial Events this Fall

As nights get longer this autumn, look for these dazzling attractions in your night sky. Hint: For help finding some of these events in your location, try using a stargazing app on your smartphone or tablet. My personal favorite is Night Sky.

October 8-9: Draconids Meteor Shower

Producing about 10 shooting stars per hour, the Draconids is best viewed just after nightfall. Viewed best from the Northern Hemisphere, it can be seen near the stars Eltanin and Rastaban at the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon.

October 14: Annual Solar Eclipse

The moon will pass directly between the earth and sun near its farthest point from earth, allowing for the outline of the Sun to still be seen. Annual solar eclipses are also known as “ring of fire” eclipses.

October 20-21:

Orionids Meteor Shower

Orionids meteors are made up of dust grains left behind by Halley’s Comet, which has been observed since ancient times. Watch for up to 20 meteors per hour near the upraised club of Orion the Hunter.

November 4-5:

Taurids Meteor Shower

Perfect for viewing from a boat offshore, Taurids meteors are best seen far from city lights near the Pleiades, above the constellation Taurus.

November 17-18:

Leonids Meteor Shower

Enjoyed best just before dawn, this show can be seen near the constellation Leo.

December 13-14:

Geminids Meteor Shower

If there’s one meteor shower to catch this autumn, it’s the Geminids. Considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, watch up to 120 colorful meteors per hour radiating from near the star Castor in the constellation Gemini. A nearly new moon should make this a particularly wonderful show.

Ensign Philip Middleton uses a sextant aboard the USS Shiloh

U.S. Navy

From Tragedy to Triumph

Small groups tackle big boating issues

BY CAROL BAREUTHER

For the estimated 100 million boaters in America, the sight of water — be it the ocean, a river or lake — makes us want to jump in and enjoy. Unfortunately, water activities can go from happiness to heartbreak in a split second. Last year, more than 4,000 boating-related accidents and 636 deaths occurred in the United States, according to the 2022 Recreational Boating Statistics, published annually by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Behind those grim statistics are the bereaved families and friends who saw a boating safety need and have turned their personal tragedy into triumph by starting grassroots efforts to address big maritime problems. Behind the fundraising, hands-on education and advocating for changes in legislation, these groups collectively want to bolster public awareness to prevent future incidents and fatalities.

Better Bay Alliance

Education Saves Lives

Monica Burguera Foundation (MBF)

Twenty-year-old Monica Burguera and five friends from Florida International University rented a boat for the Columbus Day Regatta festivities in Biscayne Bay in October 2006. They started heading back to the marina after sunset when the rental broke down and left them drifting and in the path of danger. Minutes later, a 35-foot powerboat T-boned the students’ boat, with Burguera killed in the collision.

In the wake of the fatal accident, Burguera’s family and friends created the Monica Burguera Foundation and partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to offer free monthly boating safety classes.

“MBF believes that boating safety education can prevent accidents and deaths,” says Mabel Rodriguez, the foundation’s administrator. Classes that teach boater education, navigation rules, anchoring, navigation aids and situational awareness are offered online in English and Spanish via MBF’s website.

Since 2008, the MBF’s efforts have resulted in more than 10,000 students earning a USCG Auxiliary Certificate of Accomplishment via its About Boating Safety Courses. Many insurance companies offer 10% to 15% discounts for boaters with a USCG certificate. monicaburguerafoundation.org

“Where instruction was known, 74% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction. Only 14% percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received a nationally approved boating safety education certificate.”

— 2022 Recreational Boating Statistics, U.S. Coast Guard

Tide Guides & Much More Inspired by Hannah

She got her boater’s license at age 14, piloted the family’s 21-foot Bayliner on the St. Lawrence River and bought a 17-foot Sea Ray Bowrider when she relocated to the Chesapeake Bay area for a new job. Twenty-three-year-old Hannah Ash was indeed an experienced boater.

In September 2020, when Ash and her friends were returning from a day trip on the Corsica River to Conquest Beach, calm waters belied a disaster-in-waiting ahead: extreme tidal shifts caused by the previous night’s full moon. Ash stood inside the open glass windshield as the boat unexpectedly hit a sandbar. She was thrown overboard and perished.

In this catastrophic wake, Hannah’s parents founded Inspired by Hannah. One of the nonprofit’s notable works is boat safety packets with a pre-departure checklist and the Coast Guard’s mandatory equipment list for boats 26-feet or smaller. Also in the packet are tide guide signs placed at boat launches in Queen Anne’s County, MD, with QR codes that take boaters directly to real-time tidal information.

“In the first year, there have been 900+ scans of these signs,” says David Ash, Hannah’s father. “Our goal is to expand this initiative to reach more families and boaters.” In July, Inspired by Hannah introduced its newest boating safety piece, a two-page brochure aimed at keeping children safe on the water. inspiredbyhannah.org

“Collisions (with vessels, objects, groundings) were the most frequent first event in accidents, attributing to 55% of accidents, 21% of deaths, and 53% of injuries.”

— 2022 Recreational Boating Statistics, U.S. Coast Guard

Inspired by Hannah Tide Guide Sign

Traffic Alerts on the Water Better Bay Alliance

Narragansett Bay, a nearly 150-squaremile stretch north of Rhode Island Sound, is a hub of boating and water sports. Many, from the America’s Cup to small club races, paddleboard events and distance swims, take place in Newport.

In August 2019, while racing on an 18’ two-man catamaran in the New England Regatta 100 just off Newport, Sandra Tartaglino was struck and killed by a larger powerboat with an inattentive operator.

Months later, friends founded the Better Bay Alliance. “The U.S. Coast Guard’s weekly notice to mariners for Rhode Island covers a large area of the East Coast from Maine to New Jersey, and the focus is on major hazards to navigation. We stepped in to fill the breach by creating a live chart on the website that alerts boaters along the state’s coastline to smaller events where there is likely to be high boating traffic,” says Steve Prime, the nonprofit’s president.

Users can dial in the Live Chart features to date, time of day and check for sail, power, kayak/SUP, social, and other marine events, and adjust their voyage accordingly or be extra-alert to fellow mariners. A recent success was the re-direction of a large cargo ship out of

the path of over 100 eight-foot optimist dinghy sailors competing in a regatta that day. betterbayalliance.org/bba-news/ live-chart-is-here

“Operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed, and machinery failure ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.”

—2022 Recreational Boating Statistics, U.S. Coast Guard

Preventing DUIs on the Water

The Y-noT Project

Tony Borcia was having the time of his life tubing with his family on the Chain

O’ Lakes, in northern Illinois in July 2012. The fun stopped abruptly when he fell off the tube and was struck and killed by the operator of a 26-foot powerboat with alcohol and cocaine in his system. Petite Lake, one of the smaller of the 10 Chain O’ Lakes, seemed idyllic for a day on the water. However, the family learned that the peace here shattered regularly on weekends when boaters used the lake as a high-speed cut-through to the bigger lakes.

Courtesy of Y-noT

Courtesy of Better Bay Alliance

Y-noT Project

“Boating is one of the last places it’s still socially acceptable to drink and drive. We started the Y-noT Project to change this culture, makes our lakes and rivers safe again, and do this by ending drunk driving boating accidents,” says Margaret Borcia, Tony’s mother and nonprofit president.

Through donations, sponsorships and proceeds of an annual wiffle ball tournament, Y-noT has raised over $250,000. A new patrol boat for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR), state-of-the-art breathalyzers and a 56-hour U.S. Coast Guard training course for DNR and Lake County Sheriff patrol officers are a few resources funded.

The Y-noT Project’s advocacy also led to Tony’s Law in 2014, requiring boaters to fly orange flags to warn other vessels

they are towing tubers or skiers. “We’ve had calls from southern Illinois and other states about how they can incorporate the orange flags in their areas,” says Borcia. ynotproject.org

“Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; where the primary cause was known, it was listed as the leading factor in 16% of deaths.”

— 2022 Recreational Boating Statistics, U.S. Coast Guard

Put a Lifesaver Ring on It Float It Forward

Lake Norman, located 40 miles north of Charlotte, NC, is the largest man-made body of fresh water in the state. It has 520 miles of shoreline, much of it dotted by

residential homes with docks. Last October, 13-year-old Cade Redmond watched as emergency responders searched for the helper working on the house next door after he went for a lunch break swim, returned within 10 feet of the dock, and disappeared under the water.

“I walked down and heard the contractor say, ‘If I had something to throw to him, I think I could have saved him!’ That’s when I got the idea that every dock should have a lifesaver ring. You see them at pools, but not often on docks,” says Redmond. Since then, Redmond’s Float it Forward awareness campaign has sold over 300 lifesaver rings, devices West Marine provided at a wholesale price.

The Lake Norman Marine Commission, Cornelius Police Department’s Lake Division, Cornelius Mayor Woody Washam Jr, and the million-plus-follower Instagram personality, The Qualified Captain, aka Aaron Stasiak, have all helped Redmond spread the Float it Forward message.

“It doesn’t matter where someone gets their lifesaver ring, from us or somewhere else, it’s all about them getting one and installing it on their dock,” says Redmond, who hopes the reach of his campaign will grow beyond North Carolina. In January, he’ll man a booth at the Discover Boating Nashville Boat Show where he plans to encourage dock builders to finish the job with the gift of a lifesaver ring for their customers. floatitforward.com

Nearly 80% of people who die from drowning are male, with factors contributing such as increased exposure to water and risk-taking behaviors.

— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control ml

Cade Redmond

Courtesy of Cade Redmond founder of Float It Forward

BALD HEAD ISLAND & SOUTHPORT

A dynamic duo of natural & man-made beauty

BY RICHARD KERN

Lush” is a word more often used to describe the tropics than U.S. destinations. But lush is precisely what Bald Head Island (BHI) is — a six-square-mile patch of jungle-like paradise off the North Carolina coast where development hasn’t been allowed to destroy the wild, verdant landscape.

Home to about 250 permanent residents and 1,100 dwellings tucked into Lowcountry landscape, BHI is a barrier island two miles offshore from the popular coastal town of Southport. This sandy slice of Shangri-La is only accessible by ferry or private vessel. Cars aren’t allowed on the island; golf carts and bicycles are the sole means of transportation.

Bald Head Island Conservancy (bhic.org) is the driving force behind keeping the island in tune with nature, sponsoring scientific research, outreach programs and a

sea turtle protection project.

Visitors find two inns on BHI —Marsh Harbour Inn and The Inn at Bald Head Island — and seasonal properties for rent. The island’s 14 miles of pristine beaches and acres of marshes are the main attraction, particularly East Beach. A handful of eateries are near the BHI Marina and in the center of the island, as well as a grocery store and shops.

For a less remote excursion, try Southport on the mainland, with its quaint main street lined with restaurants, antique shops and outfitter outlets. The town’s 300-year history is dotted with Spanish explorers, English settlers, pirates, privateers, Victorian-era seaside revelers, destructive hurricanes and other colorful and harrowing invaders.

Speaking of invaders, Southport’s annual 4th of July Festival attracts 40,000 and 50,000 people each year, and weekend

Southport

Bald Head Island

crowds swell the town’s population dramatically. Fortunately, Southport’s residents, retailers and restauranteurs are well prepared for the onslaught, and there’s plenty of beach culture and cuisine to go around.

For a night or two on land, consider La Polena, an upscale B&B run by a gourmet chef, or the River Hotel of Southport, down the road from Deep Point Marina and the BHI ferry terminal. ml

WHERE TO DOCK

Bald Head Island Marina

910-457-7380

The marina’s protected, 10-acre harbor offers a full complement of amenities: slips from 30 to 94 feet with 8-foot draft at MLW, a new bathhouse, lighted entrance channel, 30/50/100-amp electric hookups, fuel, cable TV access, convenience store, gift shops, restaurants and inns.

Deep Point Marina

910-269-2380

Located along the Cape Fear River in Southport, this 82-slip marina provides comfortable dockage for large and small vessels, along with easy ocean, ICW and river access.

Morningstar Marinas Southport

910-807-8372

Ideally situated on the ICW at the Cape Fear River, you find dockage for vessels up to 130 feet, a 330-foot fuel dock, pump out, ship store, Wi-Fi, a full-service mechanic on site.

Safe Harbor South Harbour Village

910-454-7486

Located on the ICW midway between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, the marina offers a spacious fuel/transient dock with 12+ feet of water depth to accommodate vessels up to 200 feet.

St. James Marina

910-253-0463

Just five miles from the ocean on the ICW, SJM is a convenient, secure harbor for cruisers and an excellent homeport for residents, with 155 wet slips and dry stack storage for 320 boats.

WHERE TO DINE

Blue Cow Grille

910-363-4402

If you’re craving burgers and tacos, this is where you want to be. The menu also boasts a generous offering of salads, sandwiches, sides and mouthwatering appetizers.

Edgewater 122

910-477-6130

This new face on the Southport restaurant scene presents a menu featuring unique dishes such as blue crab arancini, maple mustard chicken and blackened cauliflower steak, plus traditional surf and turf options.

Jailhouse Provisions

910-477-9368

On Bald Head Island, Jailhouse Provisions serves bountiful beach cuisine like lobster roll, shrimp, flounder, oysters and crab cakes, along with a raft of sides and salads.

Southport waterfront

Southport main street

Bald Head Island Church

Bald Head Island Lighthouse

The Navigation App the Internet is Buzzing About!

Enhance Boater Experience

Convenient online scheduling from a smart phone, tablet, or browser

Order fuel, ice, and services in-app at any time

Dry Stack Marina Launch Scheduling System

launch and retrieval status

Streamline Launch Operations

Reduce phone calls, voicemails, texts, and

Eliminate missed requests, radio noise, and clipboards from launch operations

Prevent overbooking and stay on schedule

Lake Travis Discover a boating wonderland in the Lone Star State

BY ELLEN HONEY

JUST OUTSIDE AUSTIN, the distinctive blue-green waters of Lake Travis flow in serpentine loops and bends through small communities, rolling hills and towering limestone cliffs. At 10 knots, it’s less than four hours from Mansfield Dam at MM1 to Turkey Bend, MM45. To truly appreciate this lake created by the damming of the Colorado River, take time to explore the unique characteristics of each area.

When full, lake depths range to 19 feet, but current low water levels from the ongoing Texas drought make depths deceptive. “Pay attention, navigate cliffside or follow the mile marker buoys, and use radar to pick up shoaling not yet appearing on charts,” cautions Capt. John Males of Fathom Yacht Charters.

Day 1: Lower Lake Travis

Mansfield Dam to Point Venture — 4 NM

A short jaunt from the shoreline, The Oasis on Lake Travis is an iconic dining and dancing venue (with its own Wikipedia page) and a multi-deck complex on a 450-foot bluff northeast of Mansfield Dam, perfect for watching a blazing sun submerge into the lake.

Just six miles upstream on the busiest section of the lake, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures takes you from water level to sky level and back down 2,800 feet at speeds up to 65 mph! Then test your agility over an adrenaline-pumping water obstacle course at nearby Waterloo Adventures. Recover on the shoreline with beach games, food, drinks and more!

Just a mile farther at the entrance to Sandy Creek is Starnes Island, a popular raft-up spot for the young party crowd. The fun continues at nearby Beachside Billy’s at Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark, MM6. The building dates back to the 1950s when it was a hangout for builders of Mansfield Dam and reputedly a hideout where Lyndon B. Johnson could avoid a Texas Senate vote.

Heading north into Sandy Creek, Shack 512 is to the starboard. Catch mellow breezes on the huge deck while dining on elevated pub grub finished with tableside s’mores for sharing.

Award-winning Northshore Marina at MM9 is a deep-water floating marina with depths to 15 feet, making it fully accessible during drastic water level changes. They have slips to 80 feet, a fuel dock with pump-out and a well-stocked ships store.

Just past the marina is Devil’s Cove, another infamous weekend party spot. When entering, veer left to Little Devil’s Hollow, a calmer arm of the cove tucked away from the crowds. Cruising southwest brings you to Lakeway, a vibrant waterside community. Locals gather at Sundancer Grill on Hurst Creek for a generous happy hour and casual good food. For more upscale dining, dock at Lakeway Marina home of Lakeway Resort and Spa for a range of family amenities including an inviting pool area. Its signature eatery, TR Restaurant & Lounge, serves seasonal southern food in a rustic atmosphere.

Colorado River near Austin, TX

dszc / Getty Images Signature

Golden-cheeked warbler

SteveMaslowski,U.S.FishandWildlifeService

Roschetzky / iStock / Getty Images

Across the lake at MM18 is Captain Pete’s Boathouse, a floating facility with a fuel dock and restaurant known for its neighborly atmosphere. Less than a mile upstream, it’s easy to anchor close in and swim to a remarkably long sandy beach (a result of the drought) at Point Venture’s public park. This is a perfect place to stay overnight.

Where to Dock: Northshore Marina (north) or Lakeway Marina (south)

Day 2: Middle Lake Travis

Point Venture to Travis Oaks — 6 NM

Winding past Point Venture, the lake becomes more secluded with increasingly dramatic views. The village of Briarcliff has

a generous sprinkling of nature trails and parks, and Willie Nelson’s nine-hole golf course. Grab ice and snacks while refueling at Briarcliff Marina, MM26. Above the marina awaits The Lighthouse Restaurant & Lounge, the last westbound eatery serving three meals daily with regular live music in a stunning location with trees growing through the deck.

When the towering cliffs of Pace Bend Park come into view, it feels like you’ve entered a wild, uncivilized dimension. It was once a popular spot for cliff-diving, but with current water levels, the drop to the water is a hazardous 80 feet, twice the norm.

Cow Creek Cove at MM32 is a secluded, curving anchorage with glass-

flat water that’s perfect for an overnight. Here the lake’s green-blue span is hemmed in by the jagged limestone bluffs carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. The cove backs up to the Balcones Canyonlands

National Wildlife Refuge guaranteeing a wildlife sighting or at least a grazing cow or strutting turkey, and hopefully, catching the song of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler.

Where to Dock: Briarcliff Marina

Day 3: Upper Lake Travis

Travis Oaks to Muleshoe Bend

Recreation Area — 5 NM

Heading west, the scenery evolves

Lake Travis

Bluebonnet field in Muleshoe bend

to gentle hills and pastoral farmland. Your last fuel stop is at Resort Ranch Marina, MM37, sited at the confluence of the Pedernales and Colorado Rivers. The ships store stocks marine essentials, ice, snacks and spirits. It’s worthwhile to explore a few miles upriver on the Pedernales.

Cruise 10 more miles of bends through rolling hills covered with wildflowers and grasslands dotted with cattle to lake-side Gloster, Muleshoe and Turkey Bend Recreation Areas. In spring, iconic Texas bluebonnets blanket the fields with their singular joyful blue color. Gloster Bend has a mile of alluring shoreline, two secluded coves and several good spots to drop a fishing line and catch a largemouth bass. Muleshoe Bend’s 10 miles of multi-use trails curve through the Hill Country’s sloping green grass. Turkey Bend is populated with diverse wildlife — deer, armadillos and geckos — that call this park home.

With clear blue water gently lapping the shore, it’s easy to find a secluded cove to burnish your tan or catch a quick snooze while floating on a lily pad. Then, refreshed and reset, meander back eastward around the bends and stop at some of the places you passed along the way.

Where to Dock: Resort Ranch Marina ml

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/LakeTravis

Relaxing on Lake Travis

The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle

BY JAMES R. BARNETT

The first time I entered the Bermuda Triangle was on a trip with my family from Miami to St. Croix. It was 1971, and I was not yet a teenager. I was, however, a voracious reader obsessed with stories of ancient extraterrestrials, Big Foot and the Bermuda Triangle, a 500,000 square mile triangular section of the western Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda, Miami and Puerto Rico where ships and aircraft seemingly vanish without a trace.

We flew through the Bermuda Triangle on a small private plane, and my father, who knew little about aviation, was seated in the cockpit with his friend the pilot. Every now and then one of them would yell back at my brother and me with a dire warning about airplane dials going haywire or that we were somehow off course and lost.

After a couple of these shout outs, we realized they were teasing us. Joking aside, I was secretly hoping we might vanish into an alternate universe. And though I’ve traveled through the Bermuda Triangle multiple times since, my interest in the mystery has remained.

to the New World in 1492. He wrote in his log diaries about erratic compass readings, strange lights in the distance, patches of white water and even a large ball of fire crashing into the sea.

Columbus and his ships also encountered floating sargassum, the carpet of seaweed, fucus and tropical berries that grow in the Atlantic where four different currents interact to create an area of unusually calm water and a lack of wind that we know today as the Sargasso Sea. The seaweed was so thick in places that Columbus’s vessels had difficulty sailing through it, so much so his crew feared they would be dragged down to the ocean floor and drowned.

Spanish sailors exploring and settling the Americas spread these fears and stoked them with

Bermuda. As sea traffic increased so too did legends of the Sargasso Sea, including

Lt. Comdr. Horace Bristol, U.S. Navy photo on Wikimedia Commons

Flight 19

long cargo ship, and six Navy airplanes in 1945 helped bring the yet unnamed area

Brazil for Baltimore, MD, carrying more

picked up by any ships.

An extensive search found neither wreckage nor evidence of German submarines. The Navy called it one its most baffling mysteries, and it remains the single largest non-combat loss in U.S. Naval history. In 1941, two of the Cyclops’s original sister ships vanished without a

ideal flying weather. About an hour into the mission, the radioman at the air station tower began to receive messages from the captain about compasses going crazy, low fuel, white haze and 75-mph winds. The radioman could hear the conversations between pilots about being lost but couldn’t communicate with them.

Naval History & Heritage Command/Wikimedia Commons

18 Coast Guard vessels, several submarines, and hundreds of private planes, yachts, and boats. The search of 380,000 square miles of land and sea found nothing. Researchers have been trying to figure out the mystery ever since.

Fanning the Flames

The 1950s and ‘60s were decades ripe for science fiction. The post-WWII years plus the Korean War, Cold War and then the space race created fertile ground for writers and filmmakers to spin tales about atomic energy, space travel, the supernatural, aliens and UFOs. Boats and planes disappearing made for good fodder.

The Miami Herald ran a piece in September 1950 about unusual plane and boat disappearances off the coast of Florida and the Bahamas. Two years later, Fate Magazine published a longer story about this and was the first to define the area where it happened and suggest the supernatural might be to blame.

The Bermuda Triangle got its official name in February 1964 when sci-fi writer Vincent Gaddis’s article entitled “The Deadly Bermuda Triangle” appeared in the popular pulp magazine Argosy. Other writers followed suit, and Bermuda

Triangle obsession hit its peak in the early 1970s with the publication of several books, including the bestseller by Charles Berlitz, The Bermuda Triangle, which sold 20 million copies in 30 languages.

Hollywood and TV picked up on the Triangle zeitgeist with several films and made-for-TV movies, the campiest and most popular being Airport 77 about a private 747 carrying rich passengers and priceless art that veers off course in the Bermuda Triangle and crashes into the sea.

Milton Bradley put out a board game challenging players to take your fleet of ships across the lime-green waters of the Bermuda Triangle and brave the sinister mystery cloud that swallows ships and planes. Fleetwood Mac and Barry Manilow even put out songs titled “Bermuda Triangle.” I will say Manilow’s version sounds vaguely familiar to his hit

“Copacabana.” Bermuda Triangle, don’t you go near. Bermuda Triangle, you’ll disappear.

Solving the Mystery

Since Berlitz, scores of paranormal writers have suggested aliens, time warps and reverse gravity fields to explain the Bermuda Triangle. My favorite explanation blames crystal energy technology developed on the mythical city of Atlantis before it sank. Supposedly, these crystals are still active on the

Needpix.com

The Bermuda Triangle rainbow lights

The author with his personal copy of The Bermuda Triangle

seafloor, beaming up and causing mechanical malfunctions on boats and planes above.

Others place the blame on waterspouts, rogue waves, microburst cloud bombs, the Gulf Stream and undersea waterfalls,

Scoresofparanormalwriters

havesuggestedaliens,timewarps andreversegravityfieldstoexplain

theBermudaTriangle

Scientifically minded theorists have pointed out that the Bermuda Triangle is one of two places on Earth where a compass will point to true north instead of magnetic north and can throw off navigation if not properly accounted for.

treacherous reefs, or giant bubbles from methane gas eruptions from the ocean floor that rise and cause craters and sink ships. But that doesn’t explain Flight 19, does it?

More likely theories involve sudden

storms, pilot errors, damaged planes and ships, or running out of fuel. According to the Coast Guard, nothing has ever been discovered to indicate any aircraft or vehicle losses in the area over the years were the result of anything other than physical causes. In other words, nothing extraordinary.

Fact or fiction, the Bermuda Triangle continues to mystify. And despite the best efforts of scientists to debunk the myth, people continue to cling to conspiracy theories. I get it. The thought of alien abduction or ocean flatulence is much more exciting than bad weather. ml To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/BermudaTriangle

SAVANNAH Experience southern charm along the water

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY ALEXA ZIZZI

Live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, Gothic Revival architecture and cobblestone streets are just a few charming elements that define historic Savannah.

General James Oglethorpe landed along the Savannah River in 1733 and coined Georgia the 13th colony, establishing Savannah as its first city. Envisioning shaded public places intertwined through open streets, Oglethorpe originally laid out a plan for community squares to serve as business centers and town meeting places. Today, 22 squares flush with greenery, monuments and public parks line a grid of beautiful landscapes throughout the Historic District.

Take an Old Town Trolley Tour or walk around town through the grassy squares as you browse streets packed with museums, retail, gift stores and cute coffee shops. A few notable stops include Madison Square, Forsyth Park and Chippewa Square, where the iconic Forrest Gump park scene was filmed. Fun fact: the bench where Forrest sits and recites the famous line, “Life is like a box of chocolates…” was actually a movie prop placed in Chippewa Square. Tourists still love to take photos in the park, and the bench resides in the nearby Savannah History Museum.

The Savannah River flows alongside the North Historic District where River Street’s cobblestone-lined waterfront boasts a lively nightlife. From

Savannah River

balconies and rooftop bars and restaurants, enjoy southern cuisine while watching giant ships cruise down the river. Check out everything from crab shacks and food markets to hotels and souvenir shops. Get your sugar fix at River Street Sweets, feast on local seafood at Fiddlers’ Crab House & Oyster Bar or sip on liquor-infused frozen drinks and dance all night at Wet Willie’s. You can even take your drinks to-go and walk around town with a cocktail in hand.

Book with Savannah Riverboat Cruises for the ultimate sightseeing tour aboard the grand Georgia Queen. Boaters enjoy visiting the city’s neighboring islands to explore the local rivers and tie up. Less than 20 miles from downtown, Tybee Island is a lovely place for cruising, fishing and swimming. Cruise the calm waters of Bull River to enjoy scenic marshlands and spot a dolphin or two. ml

WHERE TO DOCK

Rousakis Riverfront Plaza

912-651-3634

This public recreational dock is on the Savannah River in the heart of downtown. Slips are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The East and West River Street facilities accept vessels up to 250 feet, and Abercorn Ramp welcomes boats up to 100 feet.

Bull River Marina

912-897-7300

This deepwater marina is just outside of Savannah’s Historic District on the eastern side of Wilmington Island. The facility offers shortand long-term dockage, amenities, a ship store, boat rentals, tours and private charters.

TPG Isle of Hope Marina

912-354-8187

Adjacent to the Wormsloe Historic Site and surrounded by scenic golf courses and ancient ruins, this full-service marina boasts 4,000 feet of floating docks accommodating vessels up to 200 feet. You also find 60 dry storage spaces for small, trailered boats.

WHERE TO DINE

The Olde Pink House

912-232-4286

Built in 1771, this gorgeous pink home is one of the oldest (and allegedly most haunted) buildings in Savannah. Dine in one of the regal rooms and visit the spooky basement tavern where ghost activity is frequent according to the staff. The restaurant even boasts a house singer who goes table-totable gracing your dinner with song snippets.

The Grove

912-777-7597

This swanky rooftop bar and restaurant is in the heart of Savannah’s City Market. Feast on a southern-inspired menu with fun housemade cocktails such as Champagne Pop (Brut served with a juicy popsicle) and Cruel Summer Capri (inspired by the classic Capri Sun drink) made of grapefruit vodka, fresh fruit and mixers served in a plastic pouch.

Vic’s on the River

912-721-1000

Located between City Hall and the Old Cotton Exchange building, this eatery offers a lovely dining experience with fresh seafood, a stellar wine selection, and a coffee bar. Feast on everything from crawfish beignets to grilled octopus and oysters Rockefeller.

Savannah Cotton Exchange

Madison Square

Forsyth Park

Olde Pink House

A CUBAN

Unlocking the Forbidden Island

BY APRIL WINSHIP

Cuba beckons, and this small island nation is now reopened to Americans seeking a one-of-a-kind travel experience. Making the voyage on our trawler Rogue One wasn’t an option, because private American flagged vessels cannot legally enter Cuba, which is only accessible to Americans by way of commercial airlines. But that didn’t dampen our desire to explore this intriguing country.

Located just 90 miles from the southern tip of Florida, the island nation of Cuba has been largely off-limits to American tourists since 1959 due to the U.S. Trade Embargo. Although the embargo is still in place, we found with a little planning, we easily navigated the newly expanded legal requirements for American travelers.

It didn’t take long to be swept up in Cuba’s magical blend of Spanish, African and Caribbean traditions woven into the fabric of everyday life, but the warmth and hospitality of the people left us feeling that Cuba is indeed a special place.

ADVENTURE

The author standing next to her dream driving machine

One of Cuba’s most iconic features is the abundance of vintage American cars from the 1950s. As an American classic car enthusiast, my birthday wish was to tour the town in one of these lovingly maintained beauties. Looking over the dozens of classic cars lining the town square, all sporting audacious fins, over-the-top hood ornaments and flashy paint jobs, I made my selection. I called “shotgun” in a bright red 1957 Bel Air convertible and soon we were speeding down the streets of Havana with my hair flying and a smile plastered on my face.

But the Cubans, affinity for the past can be traced back farther than vintage American automobiles. Traversing the city, I felt like a time traveler. Reaching back to 1585 the Spanish fortress of Morro Castle began as a promontory mounted with a single cannon and evolved into a commanding six-level fortress still standing guard over Havana Bay.

Located in the heart of Havana, the National Capitol Building is the city’s most ambitious and grandiose

monument, constructed after the post-WWI boom. Its dome, reminiscent of our own capital, is crafted from white limestone and modeled after the Pantheon in Paris. Winding our way along tree-lined avenues, the neighborhoods of Havana boast an eclectic range of architectural styles. Moorish, Baroque, Neoclassical and Spanish Colonial remain prominent and the vibrant colors adorning them harken back to a bygone era.

It’s this unique fusion of vintage cars and stunning architecture that distinguishes Cuba from other Caribbean islands.

For a more intimate portrait of Havana, we booked a walking tour of the old city. The tour was an informative introduction to the evolution of Cuba. Meandering from one plaza to the next, our guide showcased Old Havana’s historic gems, sharing stories of the patriots, poets, protesters and revolutionaries who forged the destiny of the Cuban people, breathing life into the distinctive Cuban narrative.

Greatly enhancing our Cuban experience were our

The stone fort Castillo del Morro guards the entrance to Havana Bay

Classic cars on display in Havana’s main square downtown

Ropa Vieja, a popular Cuba dish

Airbnb stays. It was another way to meet and interact with the locals, all the while supporting a family-run business. Many offered breakfast, and the opportunity to converse around the kitchen table with our hosts, added another layer of information about Cubans day-to-day life. Our hosts also coordinated logistics such as airport or in-country transportation, money exchange and securing tours.

So much of the joy of travel is indulging in the local cuisine, and Cuba is no exception. Dining at family-run restaurants called “paladares,” we savored authentic Cuban food with flavors reflecting its diverse cultural roots. The infusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean spices married perfectly, and replaced the typical fiery burn we have come to associate with the dishes of other Spanishspeaking countries.

A popular dish, “ropa vieja,” is a savory shredded beef stew simmered with tomatoes and onions. This full flavored entré is often served with “moros y cristianos,” a mouthwatering combination of black beans and rice. These cornerstones of Cuban cuisine became a fast favorite. Of course, a visit to Cuba must include indulging in an authentic “Cuban sandwich.” A generous medley of roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and mustard are pressed panini style between crispy fresh bread. I was in hog heaven!

When evening fell, finding the perfect balcony from which to soak up the live salsa

Traversing the city, I felt like a time traveler

Mosaic-tiled buildings in the Fusterlandia neighborhood, named for the artist José Fuster

drying in Old Havana, the town’s historical center

music while sipping a glass of Cuba’s finest rum was always just around the next corner. I couldn’t help but swing my hips to the sensuous beat that poured out of wooden doorways and drifted up the cobblestone streets. With so much to discover here, dare to hitch up your adventurous spirit and satisfy your curiosity with a trip to this mysterious island nation so close to home.

Travel tips for Americans

It’s important to note that there are additional requirements and restrictions for Americans traveling to Cuba. The U.S. State Department website (cfr.org/us-state-department) stipulates the travel requirements with the most up-todate info. Online videos from recent visitors covering various aspects of Cuba proved an indispensable tool when planning and preparing our visit.

Here are the unique requirements for Americans traveling to Cuba:

• Americans may visit by commercial airline only. Private American flagged vessels cannot legally enter Cuba.

• Obtain a Cuba Tourist Card by purchasing one online or at the airport.

• You must choose one of 12 categories of travel (such as Family Visits, Journalistic Activities, Humanitarian Projects, etc.) We chose Support for the Cuban People.

• Bring cash only. American debit or credit cards are not accepted within the Cuban banking system.

• Americans can only stay in private rooms and apartments easily found on Airbnb Americans are not permitted to stay in government-run hotels.

• Travelers are prohibited from returning to the United States with Cuban alcohol and tobacco products.

The intent behind these restrictions is to support the Cuban people without promoting the current Cuban government. ml

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/CubanAdventure

Holy Smokes! Tracking the Elusive Cuban Habanos

I could never pass myself off as a cigar aficionado. But even I knew that Cuban cigars (called “Habanos” in Cuba) are recognized worldwide as the benchmark of excellence. Much like fine wine is to Napa Valley or lobster is to Maine, I was compelled to learn why Cuban cigars are shrouded with a certain mystique and near frenzied allure within the United States.

To get my answers, we hopped into a somewhat restored ‘55 Chevy for the three-hour ride from Havana in search of the premium tobacco-growing region of Pinar del Río. Once there, I relayed to our host family that I was interested in learning all about Cuban cigars, and the next morning we were saddled up on horseback and heading into the mountains to visit a few tobacco farms. Many of these farms are inaccessible by car, which became evident as we wound our way up dirt trails passing the occasional ox pulled cart.

After an hour in the saddle, we arrived at our first farm and were warmly greeted with a freshly ground cup of Cuban coffee as introductions were made. I was eager to see the entire process from planting to hand-rolling the final product and tried to soak it all in during our tour of the five-acre tobacco plantation.

The history of Cuban cigars goes back much farther than I’d originally thought. When Christopher Columbus arrived on the island of Cuba in 1492, he discovered that the inhabitants of the island enjoyed puffing on a dried leaf tightly rolled into a tube. Befriending the local “Indians,” Columbus is perhaps the first European to ever try smoking tobacco. On his return to Spain, one of the most prized treasures he brought with him wasn’t gold or silver … it was tobacco.

But a long history of tobacco growing and being considered the inception point of the modern cigar doesn’t explain why Cuban cigars are widely regarded as some of the highest quality cigars in the world. The short answer is that this is all due to the island’s unique soil and climate, yielding some of the finest tobacco on the planet. These leaves are then carefully aged and fermented for up to three years before they are ready to be hand-rolled by the skillful “torcedores” using methods virtually unchanged for centuries. This all results in a smooth, rich taste and aroma that sets the Cuban Habanos apart from all other cigars worldwide.

Note that it is illegal to bring Cuban cigars back into the United States, which has only added to their appeal by creating a sense of exclusivity and rarity. The best way to truly experience an authentic Habano is with an excursion to Cuba’s lush tobacco-growing fields and visit with the local farmers.

I still don’t consider myself a cigar afficionado, but I’m thankful I didn’t pass up this opportunity to savor one of the world’s most sought-after cigars.

The author with a tobacco farmer in the Pinar del Río region

Jose Castelar Cueto; master Cuban cigar roller who works in a cigar factory in Havana

What is your first memory of being on a boat?

Being with my parents who had a 17’ Boston Whaler. I was probably four or five years old, and we were fishing for redfish and trout. My dad gave me a rod with an artificial lure and taught me how to cast. I don’t think he expected that I would catch a fish — but I did — a 13-inch trout!

If you could spend a day on the water with anyone, who would it be?

Other than my family, it would probably be Michael Jordan. From what I hear he is a pretty serious fisherman, and he also has a famous 80’ Viking Sportfish, Catch 23, that I would love to see and fish aboard.

What is the top attraction you recommend to visitors in your area?

If a boater comes to visit us, one of the first places we send them is across the street to Palmetto Dunes, which offers a wide range of activities such as golf, tennis, pickleball and bike trails.

Mason Lemon

Harbourmaster

Shelter Cove Marina

Hilton Head Island, SC

Where is your favorite body of water to anchor and relax?

My favorite place used to be in a creek behind Bull Island, but I’ve recently been spending a lot of time in Mackay Creek exploring the north end of the island.

If you didn’t work at a marina, what would be your dream job?

It’s hard to imagine not working at a marina, but if I had to choose another occupation it would involve water and boats. I would probably go into yacht sales.

What book do you believe every boater should read and why?

I would recommend The American Practical Navigator. It’s a great book to read if you’re starting to learn about navigating in open water. I think every boat should have one onboard.

Describe the perfect meal. What would you eat and where would you go?

My idea of the perfect meal is sashimi and ceviche as an appetizer followed by a thick-cut ribeye steak topped with lobster and béarnaise sauce, a Caesar salad and a baked potato.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you while boating or working at the marina?

Boating around Hilton Head Island, you are almost guaranteed to see a dolphin every time you go out. A year or so ago, I decided to take my dog on the boat for the first time. He was great at all points of the trip except when we saw dolphins. He would get so excited and just jump out of the boat anytime we saw them. Needless to say, he hasn’t been back on the boat much after that.

What is the nicest compliment a boater said about your marina?

Our most frequent compliment and the one I am most proud of is our exceptional customer service. Everyone on my team takes pride in going above and beyond for guests that stop into our marina.

ShelterCoveHiltonHead.com

The Quest for Empty Nest Part II: Bringing the New Boat Home

We were scheduled to fly to Ft. Lauderdale at the end of 2022 to pick up our new boat, Empty Nest. December came and went. Then February, then March. But the boat was not ready. COVID supply chain delays took their toll, and we had to remain patient. Finally, on May 24, 2023, the big day arrived. My wife Ann and I showed up in Florida about as excited as we’ve ever been.

My first thought upon laying eyes on Empty Nest was WOW!, this boat is so BIG! It seemed to grow larger as we approached. Our boat shared a slip with a similarly sized yacht, and I could not imagine how I’d ever be able to dock in a

BY AVI RUBIN

Avi and Ann, proud new owners of Empty Nest

Avi Rubin

Theo Vanbaak

spot like that. My experience was with Sababa, a Prestige 560 Fly with pod drives, a joystick and bow thruster, along with a cockpit docking station. After five years on Sababa, I felt comfortable in most situations, or as comfortable anyone can be when docking a boat. I don’t believe it is ever trivial, especially with uncooperative winds and currents.

Empty Nest has straight shaft drives, no joystick, slightly over a 19-foot beam, and an LOA of 71 feet. However, it also sports powerful bow and stern thrusters as well as four corner-wing docking stations. Shortly after we arrived, Captain Carl showed up to train us, and after a few days, I was pulling in and out of the tight slip, spinning in the narrow fairway, and

despite a few close calls in the early going, did not hit anything or hurt anyone — my standard for successful docking.

As I write this a month later, I’m happy to say that Empty Nest is by far the easiest boat to dock that I’ve had. Bigger boats are generally better equipped for docking. Ann and I wear headsets, and she covers the large areas where I have no visibility. Getting into a slip is definitely a team effort.

Stepping Onboard our Dream

Our first interior walk-through was surreal. After over a year of imagining, sketching, designing, discussing and perfecting our dream boat, we were finally on board and were not disappointed. All

the furniture, fabrics, carpets, lighting, refrigeration and other customizations came out exactly right. The engine room and helm were outfitted with everything I’d chosen.

Redundancy was the key to my approach with our goal of long-range cruising. Empty Nest has two generators, two raw water pumps, two freshwater pumps (one AC and the other DC powered), a fuel polishing system, hot swappable fuel filters, two compressors for the two chiller systems, two 50 kg anchors, and of course two engines.

We also have a water maker, a freshwater filtration system, a 400-gallon freshwater tank, and a 200-gallon black water holding tank. I put fuel fill and pump-out hookups on each side of the boat, as well as shore power connections forward and aft, for flexibility at the pier.

As with any boat with so many complex systems, the commissioning ran into snags. We ended up staying put for 10 days while the specialists redid the transmission plumbing to deal with a cooling issue, fixed a hydraulic fluid leak, adjusted two tables that were the wrong height, and addressed myriad of other punch list items. It seemed like every time there was a fix, something else needed attention. In other words, we had purchased a boat.

During our stay in Ft. Lauderdale, we spent several hours each day training on the water, as well as in the engine room and in various bilge areas with all kinds of

Avi with Captain Carl

Avi and Ann, first day on Empty Nest

Daniel Rubin

equipment. I’m very claustrophobic but managed to overcome that to get down and dirty in some tight spaces while I learned how to switch valves from one system to another and how to troubleshoot various issues. There aren’t many advantages in life to being only 5’6” tall, but I found that in the engine room, small people rule!

We trained with the new anchors (a Bruce and a Danforth, each with 350 feet of chain) and learned how to use the davit to get the dinghy and the jet ski on and off the boat. We also were briefed on how to use the stabilizers and trim tabs, both of which caused us some heartburn on the trip home.

We already knew how to use autopilot, radar and navigation, but new-to-us items such as FLIR, the remote MFD controller, and dual radar systems had to be learned.

Homeward Bound

With the critical items resolved, we decided to head home and deal with the rest in Annapolis. Our original plan was for me and Ann to do the trip alone. However, once we realized that commissioning is a fluid process and would not be completed for a long time, we opted to hire Captain Carl to continue

training us part of the way. Carl brought his girlfriend Kristy along for the ride, and the four of us cast off at first light on June 4, with the bow pointed toward home.

Our first major decision was whether to take the ICW or run outside in the ocean. The forecast was favorable, and leaving Ft. Lauderdale we had a nice Gulf stream current, so outside it was. We did about 90 miles to Ft. Pierce that day and stopped at a marina for the night. The following day, we were not as lucky with the weather. It was blowing over 30 kts from the northeast, and so we opted for the ICW and ran for 12 hours. Ann and I took turns at the wheel, with Captain Carl giving us a break from time to time.

We arrived at Smyrna Beach where we shared the marina with several large finishing boats headed to a tournament up in North Carolina. This was a challenging docking situation with strong wind and

large (expensive looking) boats tied up very close behind and in front of us. Once we were secure, the boat behind us had its bow above our swim platform, and we had a similar arrangement in front with another boat.

In the morning, the current was strong, and with no room for error, we debated whether to have Captain Carl get us out. However, with some instruction from him, I decided to go for it myself, and while it was scary, the experience boosted my confidence. The best piece of advice came from a dockhand who suggested we remove our rails from the swim platform until we were clear. I truly believe this saved us from damage. Whew! Lesson noted.

Leaving Smyrna Beach with favorable conditions, light southerly winds and following seas, we opted to make up the time we lost during commissioning and

Ann Rubin

Lowered jet ski from Empty Nest

Tied up in Smyrna Beach, FL

Avi Rubin

ran 36 hours straight, taking shifts at the wheel. We arrived in Wilmington, NC, in time for a late dinner. The next day, we docked in Ocracoke and then braved the new Oregon inlet on our way to Hampton, VA.

Captain Carl and Kristy left us in the morning on June 10, and for the first time, Ann and I piloted Empty Nest alone. By then, we felt extremely comfortable on the boat, and ran into no issues coming home. We stopped at Solomons Island overnight, so that we could have a short trip home and arrive refreshed.

We received a wonderful homecoming in Annapolis. Our daughter Tamara and our friends Jeff, Stephanie, Matt, and Herve and his boys showed up to greet us and gave us a big round of applause as we pulled into our slip. We spent about 45 minutes getting our lines right. Winds were 12 knots and increased to almost 40 later that day, so our timing was fortunate.

As I reflect on the experience of building a new boat, I have no regrets. The process is tedious and seems to take forever. I’m sure as we use Empty Nest, we’ll discover things we overlooked in the design. At the moment, I only know of one issue. We have two chillers and two separate sea water pumps for them, but they share a thru hull. That means that they are not truly independent, and if for example, we suck in a large plastic bag below the boat, we could end up without air conditioning, despite having two of everything. It’s a single point of failure I had not anticipated.

I now have several projects in what I believe will be a never-ending series of improvements. I am going to install four Maxeon M3 470-watt solar panels on the hard top. These will keep the house batteries topped off when at anchor and also provide backup for our shore power in the event of an outage. Another project is

to link our MAN engine data to the NMEA 2000 network used by most of my equipment. I like to see information such as fuel flow rate and range on boxes in my multi-function displays. Unfortunately, MAN and NMEA do not speak the same protocol, and the conversion is not as simple as one would hope.

We are loving life on our new boat, and if you cruise on the Severn River in the spring, summer or fall, look for Empty Nest on the Severn and the surrounding areas. We have already booked a slip at the Venetian Marina & Yacht Club in Miami for this winter for our first snowbird experience. It’s all part of my grand scheme to never need a winter jacket again. ml

Empty Nest arriving at home

Jeff Cormier

NATIONAL HARBOR MARINA

BY SUSAN ELNICKI WADE

BY LAND OR SEA, it’s hard to miss the colorful lights of the 180-foot-tall Capital Wheel that spins above the waters at National Harbor Marina. As the centerpiece for the 350-acre development along the Potomac River, the Wheel welcomes guests to its vibrant community that’s only 10 miles downstream from the Washington Monument.

Water taxis carry visitors on a short cruise to historic Old Town Alexandria, The Wharf and Georgetown Waterfront, but boaters who stay at National Harbor Marina find a convenient location to enjoy a cornucopia of amenities and attractions.

With 81 wet slips at floating docks, the marina accommodates all kinds of vessels from yachts and catamarans to research boats and dinghies. Two slips are for boats up to 150’, a few are ready for vessels up to 80’ and most of the remaining slips fit boats up to 60’. The marina offers boating essentials, such as a lounge, bathrooms,

picnic tables, pump out, fuel, security gates, ice and much more to make boaters feel right at home.

It’s no surprise that 12 million people come to National Harbor each year. Whether they tie up at the meticulously maintained marina, stay in one of the hotels or just drop by for a day, guests are delighted by entertainment that appeals to every whim and wallet.

Nature lovers walk the trails and public parks, ride the waves on kayaks or standup paddleboards, or cruise down the Potomac for bass fishing and birdwatching. Spirit Park, the latest waterfront venue, is home to a massive American flag, amphitheater, event space and unique artwork. The marina is also surrounded by historic sites from the first U.S. president’s home at Mount Vernon and the Jefferson Memorial to the Watergate building and International Spy Museum. The Smithsonian museums can keep you busy for days.

National Harbor is also known for its events and festivals. Highlights include PBS Kids Days, Shakespeare in the Park, Water Lantern Festival, Taco, Beer & Tequila Festival, and Salute the Sunset with military bands playing tunes in the evenings. MGM Hotel & Casino is a hub for games of chance and A-list performers lighting up its stage.

With 40 restaurants and bars, dining choices seem unlimited. Some favorites: Succotash for cocktails and chicken ’n waffles, Fiorella’s for Italian cuisine, Tom’s Watch Bar for sporting events and Walrus Oyster & Ale House for classic Chesapeake seafood. Wondering what to wear for all these activities? Somewhere at all the shops and retail outlets nearby, the perfect outfit is waiting for you at National Harbor.

MARINA SPOTLIGHT > OXON HILL, MD

National Harbor Marina

Internet Connectivity for your Boat

BY SCOTT MILLER

For some, boating means getting off the grid and not being connected. But for others, the past few years of remote work and school as well as the advancement of technology has fueled the ability to go online while on the boat and away from the dock.

If this sounds like a fit for your cruising lifestyle, there are several primary ways to connect your boat to the internet. I am purposely saying “connect your boat,” because you can communicate over satellite phones, cell phones and by connecting individual devices through LTE or Wi-Fi access points, but this is not the best way. If you want a consistent and quality experience, connecting your boat to the internet and then connecting all your devices to the boat will provide a more reliable, available and higher-quality connection that allows the captain to manage access more securely.

Here is a brief overview of each service:

Satellite Internet

This provides the best connection in terms of bandwidth (upload and download speeds), availability and reliability of service. Several satellite internet providers (KVH, Starlink and others) are on the market today, and based on intended use, each has strengths and weaknesses. KVH and Starlink are two of the leaders for satellite internet but with very different features when compared to each other.

KVH offers global coverage with very few locations not covered. Their service is good, and their technology is true and tested. While the cost of the service puts it out of reach for everyday use by some boaters, KVH continues to innovate for its customers. KVH is one of the only vendors to provide a single hardware solution for satellite, cellular and wireless that allows quality of service as well as automatic or manual switching between the three sources based on availability and bandwidth. If you need truly global service, KVH is worth looking at and selecting the service options that fit your budget and intended use.

Starlink Internet

It’s fairly new to the market and is luring boaters with fast internet for relatively cheap prices that allow for everyday use of the service whether streaming TV or movies, surfing the internet, or working or attending school remotely. You can select from several service options, but based on Starlink’s terms and

conditions, Mobile or Mobile Priority is the best choice. If your boat is stationary and likely will stay that way for long periods and you don’t need internet while underway, its Mobile Service and hardware may be a fit.

If you are underway and run offshore frequently, you may want to look at the Mobile Priority Service, which according to Starlink is the right fit for boats that use its service while in motion and coastal/offshore cruising. Based on a boater’s need for uninterrupted service on the move or stationary, Starlink is worth reviewing the latest terms and conditions to select the right package.

Cellular Broadband

With the proliferation of 4G/5G services from the major cell providers, Cellular broadband is a viable and economical option for boaters who need the connectivity. With the purchase of a Cellular router (like the Pepwave MAX BR1 4G or 5G) and an external cellular antenna, cellular broadband offers very good bandwidth and is reliable. Devices can still be wirelessly connected to the cellular router and then the router connects you to the internet. With an external antenna, boaters can typically receive cellular signals from 10-15 miles offshore and download speeds from 25Mbps to 100Mbps and upload speeds from 10Mbps to 25Mbps, based on relative location to the towers.

If you find that purchasing the router is too expensive, many priority SIM providers will lease a router that is already

Whether you’re out for the day, on a weekend cruise, or live and work aboard a boat, full-time, internet connectivity for you, your crew and family is more available than ever before. With so much of our activity and day-to-day life relying on internet connection, it isn’t right that some boaters have to stay tied to the dock to access it.

configured with single or dual SIMs from AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile. Many of the priority SIM providers like EVDODepotUSA offer the service on a month-to-month basis, so contracts are not required, and they have data plans from 300GB to 800GB.

Wi-Fi

The absolute cheapest way for boaters to connect to the internet is to connect to local Wi-Fi routers while in marinas or anchored/moored close to a Wi-Fi access point. With a Wi-Fi router and external Wi-Fi antenna and booster similar to the products that WAVE Wi-Fi provides, boaters can connect their boats to the local Wi-Fi offered by marinas or other local Wi-Fi access points. While this is the cheapest solution comparatively, it also typically has the lowest availability and reliability due to the varying loads at marinas and internet connectivity.

While many marinas invest in Wi-Fi access for their guests, it’s hard to control the way it is used, so if many guests are trying to stream movies, join video meetings and surf the internet, the experience for boaters may vary.

One final note about these services is that many options for hardware and service are on the market today. Not all service providers and hardware are equivalent. If the internet is something that you need to extend your time on the boat away from the dock, then I recommend good hardware and service that you can manage securely.

Security Considerations

When connecting to the internet, it’s crucial to prioritize security. Free Wi-Fi means that anyone can connect, and marina Wi-Fi is usually password protected but still allows fairly easy access to anyone. It’s up to boaters to protect their network and routers.

Configuring your router or hotspot device with a strong

password and enabling encryption protocols like WPA2 to protect your network are easy to do through the setup or configuration wizards provided with new equipment on the market today. Manufacturers also offer assistance through chat and online guidance.

Remember to check the terms of service of your internet service provider to ensure compliance with its usage policies, particularly when using its services and equipment on a vessel. If you buy equipment from a service provider, remember to keep it under warranty and follow the terms and conditions.

Being a boater no longer means just taking short weekend trips or staying in a marina because you must do a conference call. Internet connectivity has extended your cruising time as well as your range. ml

Important companies & links from this article

Starlink Internet, starlink.com

KVH, kvh.com/maritime-solutions/kvh-one-network

Pepwave, peplink.com

Wave WiFi, wavewifi.com

EVDODepotUSA, evdodepotusa.com

Do you have boating-related questions or problems? Send them to our editor at swade@marinalife.com, and we’ll see if Marinalife’s maritime experts can help.

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/InternetConnectivity

warrengoldswain/Getty Images

BLACKWATER National Wildlife Refuge

A photographic tribute to this historic Chesapeake treasure

BY ALEXA ZIZZI PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON SIEMER

Patient fishermen cast a line into calm waters, waterfowl wade through marshlands, red-headed woodpeckers dig their beaks into bark, and above all soars a bald eagle stretching its wingspan six feet across the sky. Each lifeform shares one common goal: to feed a family. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is where you can experience scenes like this — a wildlife sanctuary where land and sea creatures thrive.

Established in 1933 as a waterfowl sanctuary, Blackwater stretches 27,000 acres and is home to more than 250 bird species, 35 reptile and amphibian species, plus various aquatic life and resident mammals. The Little Blackwater River flows into Blackwater South, which empties into

Fishing Bay’s arm of the Chesapeake.

Chesapeake Bay culture is defined by a few simple treasures: Watermen, seafood, native fauna and flora, all tied together in efforts to preserve communities. Located on the Bay’s Eastern Shore, Blackwater spans across historic lands and natural habitats essential to the region’s vibrant ecosystem. It’s up to those who live and breathe the same air as our critter neighbors to protect the natural environment.

As the refuge’s name states, a blackwater river represents a slow-moving waterway flowing through swamps and wetlands. As a region’s vegetation decays, tannic acid seeps into the water, causing a dark, murky appearance. Tannins are found in tree bark, leaves, and roots, helping to protect and provide vegetation for some plant species, but in turn

reduces other vegetation in the water.

These wetlands are vital to the Bay’s health as their plants trap sediments and filter runoff flowing into the estuary, soaking up toxins. But the park staff will tell you to enjoy Blackwater Refuge while you can, because the land is shrinking due to rising sea levels. Though the refuge is flush with greenery, it’s also very brown as many habitats are sinking and sensitive marsh plants cannot survive in areas flooded with saltwater.

But the benefits of Blackwater are not just ecological. The wide-open grasslands and loblolly pines offer a peaceful escape to birdwatch, walk, hike trails, fish, cruise the waters or just relax.

Blackwater roving volunteer, Scott Warner, says the best time to visit and see active wildlife is in the winter. “Outside of Florida, we have the largest population of nesting bald eagles east of the Mississippi.” Migratory birds come from winter to spring and most leave by late summer.

Photographer Jason Siemer captures the Bay, birds and beauty of it all through stills that showcase this region. On the following pages, we honor the home of Chesapeake creatures and Blackwater’s miles of tranquility.

A Canadian goose wades through fields of flowers.

A fisherman casts a line into a popular fishing area that is abundant with snakehead, white perch, bluegill and carp.

Photographer Jason Siemer maneuvered through wet grass and marshlands to capture this tranquil moment of a layered landscape.

A dragonfly basks in the evening sun on a blade of tall grass as the sky fades to dusk.

A double-crested cormorant playfully shakes itself dry perched atop an old pier.

Just outside the small kayak-rental shop, this secret spot is the best area to catch a sunset. Most of the time you have the entire place to yourself.

Osprey nest sitting high above the water.

Jason Siemer is a Baltimore-based photographer who travels the globe to capture diverse landscapes, architecture, wildlife and people. Visit jasonsiemerphotography.com To

A young boy works diligently to catch fish near the piers.

A great blue heron rests within a majestic scene at sunset.

Staying

BRUNSWICK LANDING MARINA

BY ALEXA ZIZZI

CLOSE ENOUGH TO CATCH

the city’s downtown action yet secluded in a palm tree-lined protected basin for a peaceful escape, the family-owned, liveaboard-friendly, Brunswick Landing Marina is an ideal destination.

Situated just off Georgia’s East River, the spacious full-service marina boasts 373 wet slips, 100 dry slips with more than 3.5 miles of leasable dock space. The facility offers boat repair and concierge services, plus roaming security guards and gates at all 17 docks.

Southern hospitality is conveyed through the welcoming staff, and complimentary amenities are offered to guests such as laundry, lounges, a fitness center, and propane grills on every dock. All you can drink free beer and wine is offered three times per week at Happy Hour.

The marina recently expanded and doubled the size of their north bathhouse, adding four new bathrooms and showers as well as laundry centers in each bathroom. Marina management is currently working with the Army Corp of Engineers and Department of Natural Resources to construct a mooring ball field adjacent to the property to provide a lower cost option for visitors to the marina and the downtown area.

Conveniently located just 400 feet from the heart of downtown Brunswick, marina guests receive special perks including an exclusive 10% discount on downtown restaurants and merchants, plus access to new complimentary bikes that make for great transportation and sightseeing around town.

Less than a mile away, visit bars, restaurants and attractions such as yearround shows at the Historic Ritz Theatre. Enjoy small plates and rooftop views at 1509 Brunswick, sip tasty drinks at Tipsy McSways, feast on Italian cuisine at Arté Pizza or visit the prohibition-style speakeasy with a secret entrance at Reid’s Apothecary.

Brunswick’s Old Town Historic District hosts annual events such as the popular PorchFest, a free music festival where front porches across the neighborhood transform into live music stages for the day. No need to go far for socializing, as the marina also hosts events ranging from Cruisers’ Bingo to Yoga in the Yacht Club. The free three-times-perweek happy hours are a perfect opportunity to mingle with like-minded cruisers.

The facility is home to the Golden Isles Community Sailing Center where students take summer courses and race sailboats from the docks. Also, home to sailing teams from

Brunswick High School, Glynn Academy and the College of Coastal Georgia, the pier makes for a great view watching race practice throughout the year.

“Brunswick Landing Marina offers a number of important and unique features, but what stands out the most to me is the community of boaters, marina team members and Brunswick businesses that all appreciate and care for one another the way we do,” says President Daren Pietsch. “We are constantly working collectively to make things better, and you just don’t see that everywhere.” ml

MARINA SPOTLIGHT > BRUNSWICK, GA

Brunswick Landing Marina

Unlikely Partners

Follow the rise in alliances between luxury travel & conservation efforts

BY TERI MILLER

FOR THOSE WHO RELISH THE BOATING LIFESTYLE, it’s easy to appreciate the delicate balance between enjoying and protecting the environment. And it’s no surprise that boaters tend to prefer purpose-filled vacations that support the conservation of natural resources. Protecting habitats, rehabilitating endangered species, practicing waste reduction and water conservation, and providing educational experiences are just a few ways we see the vacation industry champion marine preservation.

High-end resorts aid restoration

The Nayara Bocas del Toro resort in Panama has expanded its conservation focus. Already built on stilts to protect native mangroves and reefs, it now partners with the Caribbean Coral Restoration (CCR) organization. As part of this collaboration, they have installed innovative fish habitats and artificial reef structures around the resort. Guests are welcome to visit CCR and learn more about the native species and efforts to reduce human impact.

In Jamaica, the GoldenEye Hotel, in a joint effort with the GoldenEye Foundation, established a reef restoration project around its property. Guests may observe the work being done and participate in coral planting in the underwater nurseries. This project produced an increase in fish populations by 1,800% and is now the template used

in restoration projects throughout Jamaica’s coastal areas.

In Africa, the conservation-focused tour company, &Beyond teamed up with Oceans Without Borders to address diminishing populations of sharks, the vital apex predators in reef ecosystems. Guests at &Beyond Mnemba Island have a front row seat to the work being done with snorkel/diving educational experiences.

In the big picture, cruise lines are innately the opposite of eco-friendly, but many companies are making significant strides to reduce their environmental impact. A newcomer to the cruise line industry is the Explora I Completed in July of 2023 out of the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, this ship was designed with conservation in mind from its inception and built to evolve in line with electric- and hydro-powered developments.

Targeting destination stops tailored to sustainable tourism standards and eliminating single-use plastics are just a few of the ways they hope to make cruising more eco-minded. Updated systems technologies, like water and air purification, propeller designs, and waste management equipment, are helping to lower the impact of some cruise ships.

When considering a cruise ship experience, a little research will go a long way. Information about a cruise line’s environmental policies, sewage treatment practices and water quality compliance are easy to locate online.

Daniel Lange/Getty Images

Bocas del Toro, Panama

The team checks on a mooring buoy in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Explora I

Green getaways

In the United States, environmental considerations are taking hold in many vacation hot spots. Alaska has initiated a vacation industry certification program to promote best practices. The Adventure Green Alaska program (AGA) curates businesses that incorporate sustainable practices and eco-friendliness through their services or excursions. Many businesses are adjusting properties and practices to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications. LEED is a global thirdparty green certification program established in the 1990s by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council. Companies can earn status levels based on adherence to environmentally considerate measures, including construction, interior design, operations and management.

Properties retrofitting their systems to gain certification are seeing energy efficiencies pay off in just seven years. Montage Deer Valley in Utah is an example of a LEED (Silver) Certified property. The resort incorporated significant sustainability features and practices to minimize waste, preserve open space, and use renewable energy sources. Many resorts and hotels throughout the United States now include energy and water efficient equipment and fixtures, and adhere to green housekeeping, purchasing

and landscaping policies. Onsite culinary gardens and the use of locally sourced products are another welcome trend in the field of hospitality.

Vacation experiences that support the environment are frequently located on our beloved waterways. Kayaking, hiking and boating eco-tours are available on the west and east coasts. These immersive tours promote awareness of unique ecosystems and a renewed appreciation for our natural resources and the need to protect them.

If you visit sensitive coastal areas, you may find places to volunteer as part of your vacation experience. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is just one of many organizations that rely on volunteers to support their educational and environment protection missions.

Hands-on, eco-educational opportunities are increasingly popping up on hospitality offerings. One example is found at Tides Inn & Resort in Irvington, VA. As part of an ongoing sustainability project and conservation effort, an onsite ecologist and horticulturist provide an educational experience. Guests learn about the role of oysters and crabs on the Chesapeake Bay by seeding oysters or catching crabs, and enjoy a cool beverage, roasted oysters, and steamed crabs. Tides Inn also offers a beehive experience. Visitors learn about the honeybee and the importance of these vital pollinators. The workshop concludes with a tasting of local honey.

Boaters have a vested interest in keeping our environment healthy while celebrating the beauty that surrounds us in our cruising lifestyle. From luxury resorts in faraway places to stateside venues, options abound for those who want a purpose-filled, eco-friendly experience. ml

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/UnlikelyEcoPartners

Sanctuary biologist at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Tides Inn & Resort

National Marine Sanctuaries/Wikimedia Commons

GoldenEye

GoldenEye Hotel

SPLASH OF INSPIRATION

OWNED BY:

PRODUCED BY:

FLORIDA & THE SOUTH

FLORIDA’S FALL

Calendar of Events

BY ALEXA ZIZZI

It’s no wonder snowbirds fly south to escape

the northern cold and often land in Florida. The region is known for festivals, beautiful autumn boating and year-round fun in the sun. From the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf Coast, the Sunshine State hosts events through December to get you excited for the season. Check out everything from arts and crafts events and concerts to holiday markets and fall wine festivals.

OCTOBER

Beaches Oktoberfest

Jacksonville Beach

October 6-7

Get in the fall spirit by sipping pumpkinflavored seasonal beers at Florida’s largest Oktoberfest celebration. Sea Walk Pavilion hosts live music, food trucks and Germaninspired competitions such as bratwurst eating and stein hoisting.

Where to Dock: Fort George Island Marina

Patrice Ross/Visit Jacksonville Jacksonville

Pirates of the High Seas & Renaissance Fest

Panama City Beach

October 6-8

Hunt for treasure, watch live performances and enter a piratethemed costume contest. The familyfriendly festival celebrates the local legacy of buccaneers who once crossed the Gulf of Mexico.

Where to Dock: Bayside Marina

Miami Carnival

Miami

October 6-8

Celebrate this cultural Caribbean tradition without leaving the country. Witness amazing performances, beautiful outfits and signature events including Panorama, J’ouvert, and a costume parade and concert.

Where to Dock: Venetian Marina & Yacht Club

Florida Birding & Nature Festival

Apollo Beach

October 12-15

Experience one of the most peaceful festivals you’ll ever attend at this four-day event packed with boat trips, seminars, keynote speakers, a silent auction and free nature expo.

Where to Dock: Apollo Beach Marina

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

Fort Lauderdale

October 25-29

Florida’s larger-than-life boat show returns this fall hosting prestigious brands with everything from superyachts to personal watercraft. A few of the show’s seven locations include the Broward County Convention Center, Bahia Mar Yachting Center and Superyacht Village at Pier 66 South.

Where to Dock: Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Marina Bay Yachting Center

NOVEMBER LagoonFest

West Palm Beach

November 4

Lake Worth Lagoon’s 20-mile urban estuary flows through cities from North Palm Beach to West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach. This festival celebrates with a day of exhibitors, vendors, boat tours, kids’ activities and kayaking.

Where to Dock: Palm Harbor Marina

Key West Offshore World Championship

Key West

November 5-12

This exciting tradition showcases some of the most experienced offshore racing from around the world. Visit the Truman Waterfront Park Race Village and don’t miss the competitions, awards ceremonies and Rockhouse

Live RWO Kickoff Boat Parade Party.

Where to Dock: Conch Harbor Marina

Siesta Key Crystal Classic

Sand Sculpting Festival

Siesta Key

November 10-13

Dig your toes (and hands) in the sands and watch the beach transform into the “Sand Village” at this fun festival. About 24 artists compete for the best sculpture while guests enjoy the Barefoot Beach Bar Party Tent with a full bar and live music all four days before voting for the winners.

Where to Dock: Safe Harbor

Siesta Key

Country Bay Music Festival

Miami

November 11-12

If you love country music, be sure to get tickets for this star-studded lineup at Miami Marine Stadium’s waterside

Rob O’Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau-HO

Key West Offshore Races

venue. Headliners include Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Chris Young and more. Dock at the venue’s anchorage and enjoy the concert from your boat.

Where to Dock: The Basin at Miami Marine Stadium

Sarasota Fall Fine Art Festival

Sarasota

November 18-19

This festival celebrates its 10th season with an outdoor gallery of fine arts and crafts. Displays from local and national artisans line J.D. Hamel Park with sculptures, paintings, ceramics, jewelry and much more.

Where to Dock: Marina Jack

Monkey Business Images

Photo

Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival

DECEMBER

Art Basel

Miami Beach

December 8-10

This international event returns to Miami every December to celebrate works of modern and contemporary art from leading galleries across the globe. VIP events take place Dec. 6-7, and public events are held Dec. 8-10 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Where to Dock: Miami Beach Marina

Seminole Hard Rock

Winterfest Boat Parade

Fort Lauderdale

December 16

Among all the holiday boat parades across Florida, this annual celebration is by far the largest and most popular. Join the live-broadcast party and watch spectacular displays as decorated boats cruise down the 12-mile parade route.

Where to Dock: Bahia Mar Resort & Yachting Center

Riverwalk Holiday of the Arts

Bradenton

December 16-17

Explore artwork and handmade crafts from over 100 artisans at this free event. An outdoor gallery and craft stands at Riverfront Park present

everything from woodwork and ceramics to mixed-media art.

Where to Dock: Twin Dolphin Marina

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/2023FloridaEvents

Florida Seafood, Beer & Wine Festivals to Enjoy this Fall

South Beach Seafood Festival

Miami

October 18-21

Stone Crab Festival

Naples

October 27-28

Stone Crab Jam

Crystal River

November 4

Treasure Coast Brew Fest

Stuart

November 4

Savor St. Pete Festival

St. Petersburg

November 4-5

Wine & All That Jazz

Boca Raton

November 5

Boca Raton Wine & Food Festival

Boca Raton

November 11

Riverside WineFest

Jacksonville

November 18

Leesburg Craft Beer, Wine & Food Festival

Leesburg

November 20

Siesta Beach Seafood & Music Festival

Siesta Key

December 1-3

Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival

Palm Beach

December 7-10

Photo by zielinski creative

Ross Helen

Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade

GULLS, GATORS & GARS, OH YES!

Paddle the Everglades National Park

BY CAROL M. BAREUTHER

At times when the wind blows through the stilt-like roots of mangroves deep within the Everglades National Park it sounds like music from the strings of a harp. This is just one of the lyrical moments Anne McCrary Sullivan has enjoyed in the over 20 years she has paddled the park’s 99-mile Wilderness Waterway, a system of creeks, rivers and lakes that connects Everglades City to Flamingo, FL.

“Only by paddling can you get into the deepest wilderness areas of the park, areas where sometimes there are whole days without any mechanical sound,” says Sullivan, who with co-author Holly Genzen wrote the

guidebook, Paddling the Everglades Wilderness Waterway, from personal experience. “I love the challenge of navigating through the maze of mangrove channels, negotiating tidal shifts, being surprised by appearances of wildlife. Along the roughly 100-mile route, you can camp on a beach, on an island, or my favorite, on a chickee built over the water.”

The Wilderness Waterway is only one way to experience the park by paddle. Nearly a dozen authorized companies guide everything from two- to three-hour to full-day and multi-day guided kayak and canoe tours. Most of them also rent paddle craft, paddles and lifejackets, and

some rent gear such as tents, sleeping bags and cooking equipment for DIY trips. A ranger-led canoe trip is also an option.

Since the Everglades National Park is the third-largest national park in the contiguous United States (founded in 1934 to protect 1.5 million acres of South Florida’s fragile ecosystem), it provides plenty of places to paddle. The sheer expanse, plus the natural daily changes in weather and wildlife, means no two trips are alike. Entrances to the park on Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts make it easy to reach whether docked at marinas in Homestead and Miami or Marco Island and Naples.

Explore from the East

The park’s main entrance at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is in Homestead,

FL, some 40 miles southwest of Miami.

“We offer pick-ups from Miami, Florida City, and Homestead,” says Stacy Wolfe, marine biologist and guide at Wild Lime Adventures, based in Hollywood. “One of our most popular trips is about seven hours and includes a two-hour kayak trip led by a naturalist and two guided nature walks in two different ecosystems. I always say that the most beautiful shells in Florida are on the trees — the tree snails. Midday, we stop for a catered picnic lunch overlooking the Florida Bay.”

The wildlife along the way gets people excited on paddle tours with Garl’s Coastal Kayaking, located at the Robert Is Here Fruit Stand in Homestead.

“Our tour is unique in that we experience paddling through both freshwater and saltwater on every tour, conditions permitting,” says owner Garl Harold, who served as an Everglades

location expert for media such as National Geographic, Netflix and the New York Times

“Some highlights in the freshwater mangrove kayak include paddling near gators, keeping a respectful distance, and spotting Croczilla, a resident croc about 14 feet long. We also do a wet walk/slog into the Cypress domes, where we find myriad wildlife and sometimes even a gator with her babies. Another guest favorite is seeing manatees as we launch into the saltwater and often seeing sharks and dolphins in Florida Bay.”

About 38 miles east of Coe Visitor Center is Flamingo, FL, and the Guy Bradley Visitor Center with a manned ranger info desk, educational displays and a gift shop. Rebuilding after hurricane damage, a new lodge and restaurant will open this fall.

“In Flamingo is a campground,

Florida Offshore Adventures

marina, marina store, public boat ramp, canoe rentals, and hiking and canoeing trails,” says Allyson Gantt, chief of communications and public affairs for the Everglades and Dry Tortugas national parks.

A favorite DIY paddle is the 5.2-mile loop at Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail, north of Flamingo. Rental companies at Flamingo can provide drop-off and pick-up. The selfguided trail is marked with numbered white poles, winds through grassy marsh and mangrove islands, and takes four to five hours to complete. There’s a chance to glimpse the endangered snail kite here, a bird of prey in the hawk and eagle family.

“Many families like to rent a houseboat in Flamingo and two kayaks. This lets you get into the backcountry by boat, into Whitewater Bay, and then splash the kayaks and explore farther from there. The houseboats are like floating cottages with two bedrooms, a kitchen, AC and grill on the back to cook fresh-caught fish,” says Joe Pereira, national sales and marketing director at Guest Services, Inc., which runs the Everglades Guest Services in Flamingo.

Lane River

Courtesy of Garl’s Coastal Kayaking

Courtesy of Florida Outdoor Adventures

Go from the West

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City is 30 and 36 miles northwest of Marco Island and Naples, respectively. Five minutes away from Marco Island, Rising Tide Explorers launch from the Shell Island Road Boat Launch for their 2.5-hour Sunset Bird Rookery Kayak Tour of the Rookery Bay Reserve. This large stretch of protected waters and uplands borders the western Everglades.

“It’s pretty amazing to paddle into the Rookery Bay Reserve and watch hundreds of birds like herons, pelicans and anhingas return to their nest as the sun sets. Sometimes there is such a flood of birds that you can’t see any of the green leaves on the trees, only birds,” says Capt. Ryan Young, founder and lead explorer of the Naplesbased company.

The Big Cypress National Preserve, which borders the Everglades to the north with its entrance seven miles from the park’s Gulf Coast center, is where Jack Shealy, a third-generation native Gladesman, guides kayak, canoe and old-time pole boat tours.

“I grew up here, so I know it like the back of my hand. I think one of our coolest trips is kayaking through the maze-like mangrove

Garl’s Coastal Kayaking

Courtesy of Everglades National Park

Courtesy of Garl’s Coastal Kayaking

Garl’s Coastal Kayaking

tunnels lined with air plants and bromeliads. It’s pretty incredible. On our half-day paddle, we also go through immense grassland prairies and cypress swamps,” says Shealy. “We also offer guided hiking and paddle fly and light tackle fishing trips. We target largemouth and peacock bass, pike, and bowfin.”

South of its base in Everglades City, Florida Outdoor Adventures runs three-, five- and eight-day kayak tours. These give up close and personal access deep into the remote backcountry where visitors see no signs of human impact.

“Our five-day trip is a loop itinerary where we visit several ecosystems including the Ten Thousand Islands, Gulf of Mexico and parts of the Wilderness Waterway,” tells David Kochendorfer, owner and guide. “In the day, we see exotic wildlife like sea turtles, alligators and manatees. Each night, we stay at park campsites from a wooden chickee platform to historic Watson Place shell mount and remote Gulf beach.”

What to know before you go

Paddle tours can fill quickly during the park’s peak November to April visitor season, so be sure to make reservations with a company

Courtesy of Florida Outdoor Adventures Courtesy of Florida Outdoor Adventures

ahead of time. Ditto for renting kayaks, canoes, and other equipment.

For safety’s sake on DIY trips, register a float plan with the company renting the paddle craft or with the park for those who bring their own kayaks and canoes. To camp in one of the park’s ‘chickees,’ make reservations online in advance at nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/wildernesscamp.htm

The park offers maps at its visitor’s centers and sells guidebooks like Paddling the Everglades Wilderness Waterway. NOAA charts can be indispensable on long paddle trips. GPS is a big help, too. Cell service is often non-existent in the backcountry. Finally, the National Park Service has a new free app with interactive maps, on-the-ground accessibility info and trip-planning tips on its 400+ parks, including the Everglades National Park. nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/FL-Everglades

Everglades Adventure Tours evergladesadventuretours.net

Florida Outdoor Adventures floutdooradventures.com

Garl’s Coastal Kayaking garlscoastalkayaking.com

Rising Tide Explorers risingtidefl.com

Wild Lime Adventures wildlimeadventures.com

Courtesy of Florida Outdoor Adventures

Susan Elnicki Wade

Birdwatching by Boat

Witness the beauty of flight in Southern skies

BY TERI MILLER

THE TERM “BIRDWATCHER”

may conjure up images of khaki wearing, pith helmet-topped people with large binoculars swinging about their necks. But today’s “birders,” as they are called, are a multigenerational group with diverse vocational backgrounds.

As boaters, many of us have become accidental birders. If you watched a pterodactyl-like bird with a bright orange inflatable throat pouch soar above your Florida anchorage and wondered what it was … you may be a birder. If you were serenaded by rooster vocals in a marina parking lot and wondered if each variation has a different purpose (they do) … you may be a birder. If you found yourself gleeful at the sight of a flock of pelicans in formation across the horizon … you may be a birder. If a feathered friend took refuge on your vessel while you were far from shore, and you found yourself wondering about the origin and destination of this wayward fowl … you may be a birder.

When your lifestyle involves spending time on the water, you will never stop seeing birds. Boaters are natural birdwatchers. Observing and identifying various bird species is an enjoyable and relaxing activity while underway or at port. Besides, boat supplies already include basic bird watching gear, such as binoculars or a camera.

GUIDES & APPS TO DISCOVER FEATHERED FRIENDS

Resources to help identify or share your bird sightings are easy to find and use. Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, eBird is a popular online platform and app. It allows users to record and submit bird observations, create checklists, and explore bird sightings from other birders in real-time. Also from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Merlin Bird ID is a free app that identifies nearby bird species based on sounds as well as your location, date and a brief description or photo of the bird. It is an excellent tool for beginners. Imagine sitting in an anchorage or at a marina and noticing a cacophony of bird calls. Simply open the Merlin Bird ID app, and it will “listen” and identify all the birds singing around you.

The Audubon Bird Guide app offers a comprehensive field guide with detailed information on bird species, photos, bird calls and maps. This guide also helps you learn to recognize the shapes and silhouettes of birds in flight.

Another popular bird identification app, iBird, offers extensive information on North American bird species. It includes photos, sounds, range maps and advanced search features to help identify birds more effectively. Websites such as AllAboutBirds.org, Audubon.org, and BirdWatching.com provide valuable resources, articles and forums to make birdwatching easy to enjoy.

HOT SPOTS TO SEE FABULOUS FOWL

Birdwatching is particularly eventful when cruising along the southern Atlantic shore. This coastal ecosystem of marshes, estuaries, beaches and barrier islands is home to numerous migratory birds, shorebirds, wading birds, seabirds and raptors throughout the year.

Boating Florida’s waterways allows you to spot wading birds such as herons, egrets and roseate spoonbills, and even the

hstiver/Getty Images

Black-capped petrel

elusive snail kite, which breeds in South America and the Caribbean but has been known to migrate to Florida in the winter months. Florida’s protected spaces such as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Everglades National Park are prime bird-watching areas. While its accessible to boats, use care when navigating shallow and tidal waterways.

A popular stop for many boaters and birders is Cumberland Island, GA, which is a designated National Seashore that offers tranquil birdwatching. You can spot a wide range of birds, including painted buntings, ospreys and shorebirds amid the island’s diverse habitats.

Jekyll Island, another barrier island along the Georgia coast, is a haven for birdwatchers. You can explore the coastal marshes and creeks by boat to observe a wide range of shorebirds, seabirds and wading birds. Keep an eye out for pelicans, wood storks and plovers.

In South Carolina, the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge is a birder’s paradise. This protected area encompasses barrier islands, salt marshes and tidal creeks. Boaters can a ccess remote habitats including nesting sites for pelicans and other seabirds.

North Carolina’s Cape Lookout National Seashore is an excellent destination. As you venture around barrier islands and estuaries, you will encounter shorebirds, terns and migratory songbirds. The Great Dismal Swamp, in Virginia and North Carolina, is anything but dismal when it comes to birdwatching.

Bald eagles, warblers, woodpeckers and waterfowl of all kinds will escort you along this waterway.

ROCKSTARS IN THE WATERFOWL WORLD

Boaters have a unique vantage point for sighting some of the rarer bird species such as the swallow-tailed kite and northern gannet. The swallow-tailed kite is a graceful bird of prey with striking black and white plumage and a deeply forked tail. Watch them soar and glide over wetlands and coastal areas.

The northern gannet is a large seabird with a white body, black wingtips and a yellowish head that’s known for spectacular diving behavior when hunting for fish in the open ocean. Unlike their land-based contemporaries, boaters who birdwatch along the south Atlantic coastline may encounter a black-capped petrel, which was once thought to be extinct but was rediscovered in 1963. This elusive bird’s breeding grounds are in the Caribbean islands, but most of their life is spent at sea with a range that includes the southern Atlantic coastline.

RESEARCH & CONSERVATION OF AVIAN LIFE

Sighting common or rare birds can be rewarding, and it can also help support citizen science initiatives. Records of sightings help researchers track populations, migration patterns and distributions.

Roseate Spoonbill at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

The National Audubon Society conducts several citizen science projects such as the Coastal Bird Survey project and an annual Christmas Bird Count. The Coastal Bird Survey enlists the efforts of birdwatchers who report activity along coastal feeding and nesting areas. The annual Christmas Bird Count is a single-day bird census. Volunteers count bird sightings in an assigned area, providing valuable data for researchers.

Southeastern Avian Research (SEAR) is a regional citizen science project that focuses on monitoring bird mortality along the southeastern U.S. coast. Participants can report sightings of dead or injured birds, which helps researchers understand potential threats and conservation issues. NestWatch is a citizen science program of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology that invites participants to monitor and report nesting-bird activities. Birders can observe nests and contribute to the understanding of breeding success and nesting habits.

Birdwatching and boating on the southern Atlantic shore offers a unique and rewarding way to connect with nature. Observing myriad of avian life in this ecologically significant region promotes mindfulness of the need to preserve and protect our environment. It has been said that birdwatching is like seeking treasure, hunting without harm and collecting without cluttering your living space. Perhaps this is part of what makes boaters prime for becoming accidental birders.

Oystercatchers, marbled godwits and dowitchers at the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge

Candy Box Image

Dive In...

Southern Boating offers the best content for the boating lifestyle. From boat reviews, to destinations, and the latest in marine products.

We’re celebrating 51 years! W ceelebr

Florida’s Beachside Resorts

Indulge in glamorous getaways at these divine locations

BY SUSAN ELNICKI WADE

The Breakers main drive

With cool days just around the corner, it’s time to start planning for autumn excursions in warm waters. If you’re in the mood to get pampered, experience a luxurious lifestyle, or simply relax at sunset with your toes in the sand, Florida’s coastal retreats are the place to be.

As thousands of beautiful resorts reside along the state’s east and west coasts, choosing the right one might be challenging. To help pick your dream destination, Marinalife has assembled a sampling of 10 unique places in the Sunshine State. Some of them bustle with an energetic contemporary vibe; others project a laid-back atmosphere with Old Florida charm. All of them guarantee sun, surf and a memorable visit by the sea.

The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island

Amelia Island

Whether you want to explore nature on a 13-mile barrier island or nurture your senses in the lap of luxury, this Ritz-Carlton offers a cornucopia of amenities in a breathtaking setting. Located just north of Jacksonville, the resort is surrounded by pristine beaches and ancient forests with moss-draped oaks. Balconies on 446 rooms overlook the pool, spa, fitness center, tennis courts, golf course, family game room, shops, and restaurants ranging from fine dining to a dune bar. Guests can go fishing or kayaking, or take eco-field trips to discover coastal sea life. ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/jaxam-the-ritz-carlton-ameliaisland/overview

Where to Dock: Oasis Marinas at Fernandina Harbor

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

Manalapan

This beachside beauty promises to please all its guests, including canine companions by offering puppy cabanas and two dog beaches. But being pet friendly does not distract from the coastal elegance of seven acres of oceanfront, lush tropical gardens and a fresh paint job in 2023 that highlights the classic Florida architecture. Enjoy the pool, spa, tennis courts and watersports such as snorkeling and surfing lessons. Loggers Kids Club and play zone offers summer camp and lessons about endangered sea turtles. Eight dining options range from a farm-to-fork steakhouse and Italian cuisine to a breezy beach bar and craft cocktail lounge. eaupalmbeach.com

Where to Dock: Loggerhead South Lantana Marina

The Breakers Palm Beach

Palm Beach

In 1896, railroad magnate Henry Flagler built this opulent Italian Renaissance-style resort on a barrier island now dotted with posh hotels and estates. Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, presidents and royalty have cruised up the palm-lined driveway to the Florentine fountain and stepped inside to marvel at arched ceilings decorated with intricate drawings. Its 140 oceanfront acres host 534 guest rooms and suites, 10 restaurants, six spas, four swimming pools, two golf courses, 10 tennis courts, 13 boutiques, and a family entertainment center. thebreakers.com

Where to Dock: Palm Harbor Marina

The Breakers Palm Beach

Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

Luxuori Collection

Boca Raton Beach Club

Boca Raton

Five hotels in one stunning location boast an immaculate private beach as the centerpiece of all the action. The resort’s 356-acre property is graced with floor-toceiling windows to accentuate the ocean view. Cabanas at eight pools come complete with butler service, and 17 restaurants accommodate every culinary whim from white linen and gourmet plates to a casual burger bar. Kids’ activities, tennis and pickleball, boating, watersports, a fitness center, and shops keep guests busy. Events include holiday celebrations, movie nights, food and wine festivals, full

moon yoga, and family bonfires on the beach. thebocaraton.com/suites-rooms/ beach-club

Where to Dock: Port 32 Marinas

Lighthouse Point

Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale

Nestled between Miami and Palm Beach on a lovely stretch of the Atlantic coast, guests are welcomed to a destination of relaxed glamour that reflects a modern spin on the classic yacht club lifestyle.

Think clean contemporary design with a tasteful touch of tropical décor. Arriving is easy thanks to three international airports and several deep-water marinas nearby. Amenities include two ocean view pools, a spa, salon, fitness center, kids’ clubhouse, yoga classes and bicycles. Whether you like snacks at the pool or upscale dishes, expect coastal Florida cuisine that’s fresh and healthy. fourseasons.com/fortlauderdale

Where to Dock: Bahia Mar Marina

Acqualine Resort & Residences on the Beach

Sunny Isles Beach

With cherry-red umbrellas and lounge chairs poised at the beach and muted earth tones garnishing the interior, this luxurious resort blends the combo of fun and relaxation at the shore. The Mediterranean villa-style property covers 4.5 miles of south Florida that houses 98 oceanfront rooms. Dining options: Italian, Greek, Japanese fusion, tapas and picnic baskets packed with gourmet treats. Guests can stay on-site to play soccer or basketball, swim in the pool or the waves, play beach games, or engage in marine biology activities that explore seashells and other aquatic life. Offsite activities include water sports, jet skis, surf lessons, local arts, shops and world-class golf. acqualinaresort.com

Where to Dock: Williams Island Marina

Faena Hotel gilded woolly mammoth

Boca Raton Beach Club lounge

Steve Jurvetson/Flickr

Tbrjasmine/Wikimedia Commons

A destination of relaxed glamour that reflects a modern spin on the classic yacht club lifestyle

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Perhaps the most unique and strikingly beautiful resort on the list, this destination is certain to spark the imagination and

creative spirit. A golden mammoth statue is on display in the tropical garden overlooking a white-sand beach. Every space is splashed with vibrant colors, bold designs and distinctive artwork that echo Miami’s eclectic cultural scene. Enjoy

water activities, yoga, meditation, and jazz and experimental music concerts. Four restaurants introduce guests to cuisine from South American live-fire cooking and modern Asian cuisine to Tokyo-style sushi and traditional Mexican dishes. Amenities: pet friendly rooms, pool, theater, salon and holistic healing spa. faena.com/miami-beach

Where to Dock: Miami Beach Marina (transients) or Sunset Harbour Yacht Club (members)

JW Marriott Marco Island

Marco Island

The recent $230 million renovation created a Balinise-style paradise with adult-only spaces and a kids’ day camp, so everybody gets to do their own thing. Located about 17 miles from Naples, the resort is known for a gorgeous half-moonshaped beach and spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico. Attractions include 12 restaurants, two golf courses, four pools, a

Faena Hotel pool attendants

Todd Eberle

Courtesy of Faena Hotel

Faena Hotel pool

spa and fitness center, stylish rooms, and an arcade with mini golf, bowling and other games. Hungry guests can opt for a range of meals from breakfast buffets and tiki bar snacks to high-end steaks and seafood. jw-marriott.marriott.com

Where to Dock: Marco Island Marina

Gasparilla Inn & Club

Boca Grande

About an hour south of Sarasota awaits a charming Old Florida gem that overlooks the Gulf’s warm waters. Plans for the luxury hotel began in 1909 when the state was emerging as a vacation spot for wealthy northern visitors. Over the years, renovations and upgrades transformed it into an idyllic destination for modern travelers while retaining its historic inn designation. The 142 rooms are cozy and cheerful. Guests can stroll around the grounds to soak in the relaxed vintage groove, or engage in activities such as golf, tennis, croquet, sportfishing, sunset cruises, seashell collecting, billiards, backgammon,

bike and kayak rides, and much more. gasparilla-inn.com/beachclub

Where to Dock: Boca Grande Marina

The Don CeSar

St. Pete Beach

When it opened in 1928, the “Pink Palace” was considered the crown jewel of Gulf Coast resorts, attracting celebrities and A-list guests from around the globe. During its almost 100-year history, it served as a hospital for World War II airmen, fell into disrepair, was saved from the wrecking ball and eventually restored to its former grandeur. Today, this timeless luxury resort wows visitors with 241 exquisite rooms and 36 suites, newly renovated lobby and restaurant, and stunning seaside views. As a hallmark for lavish opulence and superb architecture, it’s a must-visit destination with a delightful history and plenty of activities and amenities to create an unforgettable experience. doncesar.com

Where to Dock: Loggerhead St. Petersburg Marina

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/FLBeachsideResorts

The Don Cesar in St. Pete

Michael Block/Pexels

SEASHELL HAVENS ALONG SOUTHERN SHORELINES

BY ELLEN HONEY

For millennia mankind has been entranced by the seashell’s delicacy, elegance, symmetry, and the mystery of how such fragile beings endure the relentless lashing by sand and sea. Shells have been used for jewelry, commerce and decoration yet still retain a near mystical allure. The chances of scoring good shells increase after a storm, at low tide and on deserted beaches. Following are some southern places that meet those criteria by delivering excellent samples from the sea. But be sure to carefully check intact shells to ensure the owner is not in residence.

Ocracoke Island, NC

Because long-protected stretches of the Outer Banks lie close to the Gulf Stream, they yield to exceptional beach combing. At North Point, the bounty includes olives, baby’s ears, petite coquinas, cowry helmets and North Carolina’s state shell, the Scotch bonnet. South Point is a good place to find sand dollars. Mornings after a storm, especially nor’easters, are the most productive. Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum has an extensive shell display with no exertion required. Tired of shells? Try digging for Blackbeard’s gold rumored to be buried on the island.

Where to Dock: The Anchorage Inn & Marina

Cumberland Island, GA

Although other Georgia barrier islands offer great shelling, Cumberland’s northern end is accessible only by boat and is less picked over. In addition to the knobbed whelk or conch (Georgia’s state shell), the island is scattered with ark shells, moon snails, heart cockles and fossilized shark teeth. The best shells wash ashore at Dungeness Beach, site of the ruins of a 59-room Carnegie mansion from the 1800s. Collecting a bucket of sand dollars might make you feel robber-baron rich. For the best finds, anchor out and search under moonlight.

Where to Dock: Greyfield Inn

Ten Thousand Islands, FL

The Ten Thousand Islands, a cluster of tiny, mostly uninhabited islands just south of Marco Island, are accessible only by boat. With ocean currents flowing past,

jewel box and alphabet cone shells lay intact on isolated islands. The highly coveted Junonia, a twisted cone shape with markings like a giraffe’s spots, is one of the rarest shells. Junonia snails live on the ocean floor; when it dies, its shell is more likely to stay buried than wash the 60 to 150 feet to shore. Here visitors also see evidence of Native American habitation from 3,500 years ago when the Calusa people created large shell mounds.

Where to Dock: Port of the Islands Marina (Naples)

Marco Island, FL

The shape of Marco Island traps the current and delivers shells aplenty to shore. Except for the large Lions Paw, most of the shells on Sanibel Island are found here. Tigertail Beach is known for conch, calico scallops, limpets, starfish and lightning whelks. Sand Dollar Spit is aptly named for its abundance of sand dollars. At the island’s southern edge, South Marco Beach has a wider selection.

Where to Dock: Esplanade Marina or Marco Island Marina

Sanibel Island, FL

It’s not that more shells live and grow near Sanibel, it’s that they wash up more easily. Because the sands meet the water at a 90-degree angle from the mainland, the water flushes downward, leaving behind a treasure of shells. The island is so popular with shellers it’s picked clean by noon. Go north almost to Captiva Island to Bowman’s Beach for the best chances of finding coquinas, scallops, whelks and sand dollars. Captiva has abundant beach space where many of the same gorgeous shells wash up. A must-stop is the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum (undergoing

Indian Key Pass, Ten Thousand Islands

Shells on the beach, Sanibel Island

Javel/Pexels

Marco Island beach

The island is so popular with shellers it’s picked clean by noon.

post-Ian renovations). The museum has a Southwest Florida Shell Guide with photos and descriptions of 400+ mollusks.

Where to Dock: Sanibel Marina

Honeymoon Island State Park, FL

Shelling at Honeymoon Island’s four miles of beaches is especially rewarding on the sand spit. Over the past four decades, the spit has expanded from a few bars to two miles of pristine beach. It’s a peaceful place to lie on the sand and recover after a day stooping for treasures, but be careful not to disturb nesting osprey, least terns and snowy plovers. Herons, egrets, tortoises and more feed in the waters surrounding the park.

Where to Dock: Marker 1 Marina

Gulf Islands National Seashore, FL and MS

A two-state, 160-mile park, Gulf Islands National Seashore is a place of myriad wild riches — blue and green waters, sparkling beaches, and fertile coastal marshes. Its 13 areas include historic forts, shaded picnic areas, trails and lovely beaches. Prehistoric shell middens prove beachcombing this area has always been rewarding. Opal Beach, one of the park’s great treasures, is a shelling favorite. In addition to combing bittersweets, ceriths, common nutmegs and lucinas on the beach, a special treasure is exclusive to the park — egg-shaped hurricane balls. During big storms, wave action twists seaweed, straw and palmetto grass around a shell or small stone to form tight balls and then tosses them onto the beaches.

Dauphin Island, AL

Located three miles south of Mobile Bay, Dauphin Island is a well-known designated bird sanctuary, but its clear blue water and white sand also make it a perfect shelling site. After a storm, lovely finds such as the elusive sun dial will be scattered on the seven miles of seashore. Indian Shell Mound Park, a well-preserved archaeological site, is on the island’s north shore. The shell middens dating from 1,100 to 1,550 A.D. were visited for centuries by natives who roasted oysters and fished in the Little Dauphin Island Sound. The 11 acres of subtropical natural wonder represent a botanical treasure not seen on other Gulf barrier islands.

Where to Dock: Dauphin Island Marina

James St. John/Wikimedia Commons

San Jose Island, TX

Previously a working ranch, the island is now a wildlife management area. Public access is only allowed below the mean high tide line where shelling and beach combing are best. Every visit to Saint Jo is different — tides and currents wash fresh sand and new shells such as sand dollars, shark eyes, and rippled lightning whelks ashore. After dark, phosphorescent plankton are visible in the tide pools.

Padre Island National Seashore, TX

For the best shelling in Texas, head for Padre where a convergence of ocean currents washes up millions of little jewels — shells of unique shapes, sizes and colors. On Little Shell Beach, 25 miles south Corpus Christi, currents from the north generally deposit smaller shells. A few miles farther is Big Shell Beach where larger specimens wash ashore. The area is plentiful with driftwood and ship debris as well as sea beans or drift seeds that travel north from the Caribbean. Per National Park Service regulations, found items must fit in a five-gallon bucket.

Failed to snag the elusive perfect specimen?

The Shell Factory & Nature Park in North Fort Myers has the largest collection of shells for sale in Florida.

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/FL-SeashellShorelines

Mix Beach Combing with Family Fun

Keewaydin Island

Naples, FL

Keewaydin provides a unique opportunity to experience unspoiled nature in an immersive environment. It’s an important sanctuary and breeding ground for wildlife and a vital nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles. Gentle waves and soft sands create the perfect setting for young children to search for shells and for families to understand our delicate ecosystem and the importance of conservation.

The Shell Factory, Nature Park & Scallywags Fun Park

North Ft. Myers, FL

This entertainment complex provides visitors a place to play, shop and eat. A huge store is filled with shells, a nature park, Christmas shop and renovated game room. Rain or shine, indoor and outdoor activities provide hours of family activities.

Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

Sanibel Island, FL

The museum has lots of children’s activities. At the twice-daily Keeper Chats, kids can hold mollusks and learn about them from educators at the Touch Pools. Also enjoy popping up through a viewing bubble in a red mangrove ecosystem, and much more.

Hurricane Alley Waterpark

Corpus Christi, TX

Experience everything from thrilling three- and six-story waterslides to the Gulf Stream, a winding lazy river made for relaxing. Captain Kid’s Cove gives the little ones a stimulating atmosphere including a kid-sized aircraft carrier, the USS Dusty, complete with cannons and waterslides.

Padre Island National Seashore beach

William

L. Farr/Wikimedia Commons

Adventure starts here

Unveiling St. Petersburg, Florida: Where the Arts & Culture Shine

BY APRIL WINSHIP

James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art

Mark Evans

Nestled in a perpetually sunny corner of Tampa Bay on the west coast of Florida, St. Petersburg boasts stunning beaches, wide walking and biking paths that traverse its shoreline, and a mile-long pier. But “The Burg,” as it is affectionally called by locals, also plays host to a vibrant and thriving arts scene. From awe-inspiring visual art to world-class musical performances, this cultural haven serves as a testament to the city’s commitment to nurturing artistic expression.

Discover Breathtaking Exhibits

At the heart of St. Petersburg’s creative landscape lies the esteemed Salvador Dalí Museum (aka The Dalí), a mecca for surrealism enthusiasts. This architectural gem houses the largest collection of Dalí’s works outside Europe, inviting visitors to explore the eccentric and imaginative world of the iconic artist. Located on the waterfront of Tampa Bay, its central location is just steps away from downtown restaurants, marinas, hotels and parks.

The Museum of Fine Arts is a treasure trove showcasing masterpieces by renowned artists such as Monet, O’Keeffe and Renoir. Visitors can marvel at the diverse range of art forms, from classical sculptures to contemporary installations.

Another gem is the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art that houses paintings, sculptures, jewelry and

Glassblowing demo at Morean Glass Studio Hot Shop

Daniel Kelly

artifacts. The collection is divided among several galleries: Early West, Native Life and Frontier Wildlife.

Locals and visitors like to explore Central Avenue with its charming art spaces, boutiques and cafes. The Morean Arts Center and its Glass Studio & Hot Shop and Chihuly Collection serve as a hub for glass artists and offers mesmerizing demonstrations and hands-on workshops. Nearby is the Duncan McClellan Gallery, a must-visit for lovers of glass art, featuring breathtaking glass sculptures that push the boundaries of creativity.

Dance, Music & Drama Take Center Stage

St. Petersburg’s love affair with the performing arts is evident in its rich lineup of theaters and performance venues. The Palladium Theater, an historic gem, presents a diverse array of productions, including plays, ballet and musical performances.

The Mahaffey Theater, located a stone’s throw away from the Dalí Museum on the waterfront, is a premier destination for music lovers. From classical concerts to contemporary performances, this venue hosts a

range of musical events to showcase many genres.

For a one-of-a-kind experience, visitors can catch a show at the American Stage Theatre Company. Known for its thought-provoking and

Dali Museum

Ebyabe on Wikimedia Commons

Dali Museum bench

Susan Elnicki Wade

innovative productions, this theater aims to inspire and challenge audiences through powerful storytelling.

Whether you’re interested in the visual or performing arts, stroll along the waterfront, take a dip in the warm Gulf waters or soak up the most colorful sunsets in Florida, there is something for everyone in this vibrant and exciting city.

Additional Museums & Theaters in St. Petersburg

If you’re looking for a unique cultural experience when you visit St. Pete this fall, check out the following exhibits and spaces:

• The Florida Holocaust Museum, thefhm.org

• freeFall Theatre Company, freefalltheatre.com

• Great Explorations Children’s Museum, greatex.org

• Imagine Museum, imaginemuseum.com

• Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement, museumaacm.org

• Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, mypalladium.org

• St. Petersburg City Theatre Mainstage Productions, spcitytheatre.org/mainstage-productions

• St. Petersburg Museum of History, spmoh.com

WHERE TO DOCK

The Vinoy Marina 727-824-8022

Just steps from The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, the full-service marina offers hotel guests and transients 74 fixed slips for vessels up to 130 feet.

St. Pete’s Municipal Marina 727-893-7329

Port St. Pete 727-893-7678

Also downtown just south of the municipal marina, this port is the only superyacht marina on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It accommodates vessels up to 500 feet with 23-foot dockside depth.

To view this article online, visit marinalife.com/StPeteArts

In the heart of downtown St. Pete, this marina is surrounded by museums, restaurants and entertainment venues, and offers 640 wet slips, a fuel dock, and a public boat launch.

Loggerhead St. Petersburg Marina 727-867-2600

Located on Frenchman’s Creek with easy access to Tampa Bay, this hurricane-rated, protected marina boasts 127 wet slips and 326 dry stack slips.

Great Explorations Children’s Museum

Familie Schmitt/Flickr

James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art

LittleT889/Wikimedia Commons

Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg

Pelicans watch the sun set in Naples, FL

Photo by Rick Fesenmyer

YOUR PLACE IN THE SUN!

EXPERIENCE THE SUNTEX DIFFERENCE!

Suntex Marinas are so much more than a place to park a boat. Suntex adds the valuable personal touch that is delivered by our highly-responsive staff, and provides premium services and amenities that enhance the customer experience. Our rigorous standards to maintain the marinas in top condition are also why Suntex Marinas’ customer satisfaction ratings are among the highest in the hospitality industry.

To learn more about our growing network of more than 50 marinas with an unwavering commitment to world-class guest services and experiences, scan here or visit SUNTEX.COM.