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all about the water February 2019

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CREW Publisher/Editor - Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com Editorial Assistant - Tovah Swan tovah@southerntidesmagazine.com The Bitter End Columnist - Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill jgaryhill@gmail.com Around the Reef Columnist - Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov Ebb & Flow Columnist - Trey Leggett info@southerntidesmagazine.com Consulting Naturalist - John "Crawfish" Crawford crawfish@uga.edu Contributing Writer - Erin Weeks weekse@dnr.sc.gov Contributing Writer - Emily Woodward ewoodward@uga.edu

I n the T ides 5

Editor's Note

Ebb & Flow

Around the Reef

"Identify This" Quiz Answers

11 Taste of the Tides Red Curry Fish with Snowpeas 12 Winter Weekend - Island Style 15 Sunken Vessel Refloated 15 Jekyll Creek Dredging Update 17 Southern Tides Reader Poll 21 Marine Science Summer Camps 21 Tiny Bones, Big Insights

All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission. Southern Tides is a free magazine published monthly and can be found at multiple locations from St. Marys, GA, to Beaufort, SC.

22 The Bitter End Wrong vs. Right (of Way)

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Tybee Light is the tallest (145 feet) and oldest lighthouse on the Georgia coast. Plan a visit and climb to the top! Photo by Amy Thurman

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them tools and tactics they won’t learn in college classrooms. I've found the experience to be both rewarding, and beneficial to my business. Southern Tides welcomed a new intern in January. Tovah Swan accepted a position as our editorial assistant. In this role, she helps with compiling information for various sections, creating content, such as this month’s recipe, and much more. In the past few weeks she’s proven herself a valuable assistant and a tremendous asset! If you’d like information on finding and utilizing interns, shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to talk with you about what’s worked for me and help you find a program that will help you. And look for more in the coming months on dealing with your workload. It’s become a big issue for many of us, but there are tactics to manage time and tasks for better efficiency. In the meantime, enjoy this issue and stay warm!

n talking with people in our community, I’ve come to realize that one thing many of us struggle with is finding time to get everything done. The economy is getting stronger and everyone is spending a little more money these days than they were a few years ago, which translates to more business. Our responsibilities have increased, our daily workload has increased, and along with that, for many of us anyway, our stress levels have increased. Stress is bad! One potential solution is to get help. Yes, I know, sometimes finding qualified help is challenging, sometimes there isn’t a budget for it, and sometimes it’s hard to hand off tasks to someone else. While all of these are valid obstacles, there is a potential solution: interns. I’ve been using college interns through Armstrong State University, now Georgia Southern University, for several years and find the program to be very beneficial. Most colleges have an intern program and they’re happy to work with local businesses. It provides students with hands-on experience while earning college credits and provides businesses with motivated employees who are eager to learn and help. How do you go about it? First determine what you need. Spend a week keeping track of how you spend your time, not only what you do, but what you don’t get done. Is your bookkeeping piling up? Maybe an accounting intern could help. Did you do any marketing? What about how you track and follow up on sales leads? Maybe a business management intern could help. It helps to have a plan for the student. They’re typically with you for a 16-week period, and need a specific number of hours each week, (typically 10 – 20), depending on how many credit hours they need to earn. Developing a plan for that time will help keep both you and your intern on track. The work you have them do does need to be related to the degree they’re seeking – this isn’t just free labor! It’s also an opportunity to help a young adult gain hands-on experience in their field and teach

See you out there!

Amy Thurman Editor in Chief

amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

Meet Tovah Swan!

Tovah is a graduating senior at the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern University. Her degree is in English Communications, (which is to say writing). She spent eight years on the west coast before returning to her native Savannah—the mountains were nice, but nothing beats the welcoming sight of the sun rising over the ocean, except maybe the sun setting over the marshes. Tovah enjoys beachcombing for seashells, boat rides, and learning more about the rich cultural history and ecology of the low country.

What's Under the Sea?

Here are the answers to last month's quiz to identify the following critters found at Gray's Reef. Unfortunately we didn't have a winner, but better luck next time!

Juvenile Cubbya fish Photo by Tim Henkel/VSU

Tulip snail Photo by Tim Henkel/VSU

Plumed scorpionfish Photo by Tim Henkel/VSU

Gray trigger fish Photo provided by NOAA

Regal Sea Goddess Nudibranch Photo by Greg McFall/NOAA

Long-spined sea urchins Photo by Greg McFall/NOAA

Scamp grouper Photo provided by NOAA

Sea anemone Photo by Greg McFall/NOAA

February 2019

Southern Tides Magazine

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Ebb & F low Catching Cold By Trey Leggett

Trrey's fellow Hobie fisherman Kevin Kelly with a nice red. Photo by Kevin Kelly

strikes, slow down your presentation, or try dead sticking your bait. Dead sticking is where you cast to (or place) your bait in a targeted area and just let it sit for upwards of five or ten minutes, while checking for any line resistance periodically. Redfish may be lethargic in taking the bait at times, but once you’re hooked up, the fight is as exhilarating as any other time of year. Don’t limit yourself though. Sheepshead are also a sure bet. Look for them around dock pilings and other structure. A few ounces of fiddler crabs and a light touch will get you plenty of tasty fillets on the table. During the milder winters our waters also yield some good spurts of speckled trout action. If you can’t find the trout in shallow water, try deeper holes in creeks where the water temperatures are a bit warmer. Use a slow retrieval or dead sticking method and you’re sure to have some success. Just because its wintertime doesn’t mean you can’t fish! And remember, if you don’t go, you don’t know.

rose from a good night’s slumber and made my way through the quiet morning to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. Mmmm … the aroma of freshly brewed Arabica beans, and the crispness of the air, were refreshing and helped to clear the sleep from my head. I let the dogs out for their morning duties and stood there on the back porch listening to the world wake up. Birds were chirping, squirrels were running about, and a very light breeze stirred my senses. I thought to myself, “yes, it’s February, but it’s going to be a mild day, in the 60-degree range with sunny skies. Instead of the normal honey-do list or organizing my fishing tackle, why don’t I go fishing?” To make an obvious statement, we live in the good ol’ South, where the daytime temperatures can range anywhere from the 40s to the 80s. Regardless of the widely varying temps, the lowcountry and coastal plain can be very active for inshore fishing, even in the winter months. Sometimes you just have to go and find out if the fish are chewing. Any true southern fisherman knows that unless it’s bitter cold with very cold water temperatures, the redfish (red drum) are hungry and are catchable. I like to target redfish in shallow creeks, much like most other times during the year. The bait of choice is also the same; artificial paddle tails, shrimp, live mullet and mud minnows, to name a few. Keep in mind that during the colder months water clarity increases and the redfish can see you as easily as you can see them. Their senses are heightened to provide protection against their predators, dolphins. In winter months, I’ve seen redfish congregate in shallow waters in large groups for protection. If you know redfish are in the area, but you aren’t getting any February 2019

Southern Tides Magazine

Stay safe and tight lines.

Trey fishes for Hobie Polarized Sunglasses, and ENGEL Coolers.

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A round the Reef By Adam Chulawat

Communications Intern Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary

he staff at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary feels lucky to work alongside the only NOAA Corps officer stationed in Georgia. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Officer Corps, informally referred to as NOAA Corps, was established in 1917, but originated in 1807 from Thomas Jefferson’s “U.S. Survey of the Coast.” With 321 professionally-trained officers, NOAA Corps is the smallest of seven uniformed services in the United States. Though it may be small, the Corps plays an extremely crucial role to our nation, providing aid and support during disasters like the 2010 Deep Horizon oil spill, Hurricane Sandy, and the blizzard of 2016. The Corps also plays an important role internationally through their advancement of science and research. Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Marybeth Head is on site at Gray’s Reef for a three-year land-based assignment. Originally from Applegate, Oregon, she has served in NOAA Corps since 2014. After working as a marine biologist, LTJG Head says, “I just wasn’t digging it. I didn’t have a good idea of what was happening in the world. I’m a big picture kind of person. I like to learn a little about a lot.” After she was given a personal two-hour tour of a NOAA Corps ship by a NOAA Corps diver, her mind was made up. NOAA Corps has many focuses, ranging in areas from oceanography and hydrography to fisheries science and engineering. Some officers are trained to fly aircraft and others are trained to operate ocean vessels. Their versatility also allows them to hold positions in the United States Department of Defense, United States Coast Guard, and various other United States administrations and departments. Officers in NOAA Corps may even be called into service during war. These attributes make NOAA Corps members extremely adaptable and flexible. They can do various jobs quickly and effectively. In fact, LTJG Head describes her job as being “the operational arm of NOAA.” “The primary mission that we have is driving the vessels and aircrafts for NOAA,” Head added. Though this may be their primary mission, NOAA Corps officers can take on numerous challenges and positions of leadership. NOAA Corps officers receive rotations in land and sea-based assignments. “At-sea assignments tend to be two years,” LTJG Head comments, “and land-based assignments typically last three years.” Each of these assignments can sharply differ from the last. “You have a lot of collateral duties … you can wear a myriad of hats and you are expected to carry out that role effectively.” Many people are unaware of what NOAA Corps is and what its mission is. “I would probably say five percent of the people I talk to know what it is,” LTJG Head says. “I feel like NOAA Corps is NOAA’s best kept secret.” In her time at Gray’s Reef, LTJG Head has participated in dozens of operations, dives, and events hosted by the sanctuary. Her official role at Gray’s Reef is Vessel Operations Coordinator (VOC), and in addition to driving the vessels, she is using new technologies and software to implement management systems for the sanctuary. For example, she currently is working on a vessel information management system that will provide automatic updates on what services need to be done to vessels. “In the past it’s always been in the captain’s head.” When the captain leaves, this knowledge is gone. “I want to prevent that from happening.” February 2019

Southern Tides Magazine

NOAA Corps Officer LTJG Marybeth Head (orange helmet) trains for vessel evacuation with the U.S. Coast Guard. Photo by Michelle Riley GRNMS

LTJG Head has been recognized for her efforts during her time at Gray’s Reef. In 2017, she received the Directors Ribbon for outstanding performance and exemplary operational support during the sanctuary's science mission aboard NOAA Ship Nancy Foster. LTJG Head also has been working hard to understand visitor use of Gray’s Reef. Her aim is to find out who is using it, for how long, and why. This will give the sanctuary superintendent vital information that will help support recreational activities such as fishing and diving while still protecting Gray’s Reef. What LTJG Head especially loves about being at Gray’s Reef is that she gets to be involved with the community. “I get to participate in the events. I get a lot of hands-on with the volunteers. It’s fun because I can get my hands in a little bit of everything.” NOAA Corps serves to help the entire nation: from natural disasters to local community events, they are ready to handle it all! As LTJG head declares, “I am the jack of all trades, ready to fill an empty shoe that needs to be walked.” This is what the NOAA Corps is all about. For more information, email Michelle: michelle.riley@noaa.gov 9

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INGREDIENTS

2 4-oz sea bass fillets 2 tsp each of: ground ginger, garlic powder, ground coriander, white pepper and salt 1 tbsp vegetable oil (not olive oil) 1 can unsweetened coconut milk 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (more to taste) 2 tbsp Thai red curry paste 1 tbsp loosely packed brown sugar 1 tbsp peanut butter (chunky or creamy) ½ medium red onion, diced ½ tsp dried Thai basil (you can substitute regular basil) Cilantro, chopped 1½ cup snow peas, rinsed Splash of lime juice

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• Mix ginger, garlic, coriander, white pepper and salt together into a spice rub. Dry fillets with a paper towel then coat with rub. • Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. When oil begins to lightly smoke, reduce heat to medium. Place fillet in the pan skin-side down, then press lightly with a spatula to ensure skin is in full contact with the pan. Cook until the meat is mostly white, then flip to lightly sear the skinless side, just a minute or two. • Reduce heat to medium low, remove fish and set aside, skin side up to preserve the crust. • Deglaze the pan with entire can of coconut milk, stirring gently with a spatula or whisk. Add crushed red pepper flakes, Thai curry paste, and brown sugar. Bring sauce to a simmer, stirring until ingredients are well-blended. • Stir in peanut butter and Thai basil then add most of the diced red onion, about a handful of the chopped cilantro, and the snow peas to the sauce. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for five minutes or until peas reach desired tenderness. Stir in lime juice, then remove from heat. • Pour sauce over a bed of rice, place filet on top of sauce and garnish with cilantro and red onions.

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February 2019

Southern Tides Magazine

FUN WINTER WEEKENDS

Island Style HILTON HEAD

TYBEE

Saturday: Start your adventure with a morning horseback ride followed by a stroll through the petting zoo at Lawton Stables. After lunch, walk off those calories and learn a thing or two at the Coastal Discovery Museum. Sunday: Commune with the wildlife and practice your photography skills at the Audubon Newhall Nature Preserve. After lunch embrace lowcountry culture with a visit to The Gullah Museum.

Saturday: Start the trip off with a kayak tour of Little Tybee with Sea Kayak Georgia. When you return to dry land, head to the east side of the island for lunch then a visit to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. While away the rest of the afternoon fishing off the pier and enjoying a couple cold ones. Sunday: Get a little closer to God by climbing to the top of Tybee Light. After lunch at North Beach Grill, stop at Fort Pulaski on your way home to learn about Savannah's role in our nation's wars.

Although it’s hardly cold

enough to hibernate, it is still winter and some of our usual warm-weather activities just aren’t optimal right now. It’s still important to get out on occasion and stay active and engaged. To help with that, we’ve come up with a series of fun outings to a few of our lowcountry barrier islands, with activity ideas that will meet a wide variety of interests. So load up the family or a group of friends and make a day (or a weekend) of it! Things to pack: A cooler of water & snacks Suitable layers & shoes Sunscreen (even in winter!) Your camera (&/or sketchpad) Things to leave behind: Stress Electronic devices

Top of page: Wild marsh ponies on Cumberland Island. Opposite page: Driftwoood Beach. Photos by Amy Thurman

Seagull resting. Photo by Lee Coursey (bit.ly/lee_coursey)

Aquarium life at Tybee Island Marine Science Center. Photo by Amy Thurman

ST. SIMONS

Saturday: Explore the pier village shops or play a round of golf (or both). After lunch, visit the St. Simons Lighthouse and museum. Finish off the day fishing or handlining for crabs off the pier . Sunday: Rent a catamaran or go for a sailboat ride with Barry's Beach Service. After lunch, expand your knowledge of history with a visit to the Fort Frederica National Monument.

St. Simons Light. Photo by Moultrie Creek (bit.ly/moultrie_creek)

JEKYLL

CUMBERLAND

Saturday: Explore the island looking for treasure whie visiting driftwood beach, the Jekyll Island Museum and the 4-H Tidelands Nature Center. End the day browsing at beach village after dinner. Sunday: After an early walk on the beach, visit with sea turtles at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. After lunch at Zachry's Riverhouse, go fishing with Captain Eric Moody and Coastal Expeditions.

Saturday: Pack a lunch and take the ferry to Cumberland Island. Explore the ruins and watch the marsh ponies play. Back on dry land, check into your room at The GoodBread House B&B and see if the ghost of the sea captain visits your room! Sunday: Take an early morning fishing trip with Captain Tripp Lang. After icing your fish, get your landlegs back exploring the shops in historic downtown St. Marys.

Sea turtle at Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Photo by Keely Kasper

Young foal on Cumberland. Photo by Amy Thurman

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Sunken Vessel Refloated

Jekyll Creek Dredging to Begin in March

he Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW, or just ICW for our purposes) runs from Norfolk, Va. to Key West, Fla. It serves as a highway for boats needed to journey up and down the east coast without the hazards or rough conditions offshore. Traffic on the ICW consists of commercial vessels, transient boaters (boats that journey north and south with the seasons), and local boaters. Water depths in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) have long been an issue of concern for both the vessels that use it, and the businesses that benefit from the traffic. Although the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining the waters to a minimum depth of 12 feet, budget restraints often prohibit dredging. Lobbyists, such as the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association (AIWA), and our own Georgia Marine Business Association (GAMBA), have their work cut out for them petitioning elected officials at both state and federal levels for funding to maintain this valuable resource. Trouble spots in Georgia include Hell’s Gate, Little Mud Creek and Jekyll Creek, where tides and currents have filled in the river bottoms resulting in unsafe depths through these passageways. In recent years, limited funding has been allotted to the Corps for dredging. While it isn’t in sufficient amounts to fix all of the trouble spots, one of the worst, Jekyll Creek, will finally be getting some attention. In late January, the Savannah District of the Corps of Engineers awarded a maintenance dredging contract to Cottrell Contracting Corporation of Chesapeake, Virginia to remove material from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Jekyll Creek, Georgia. A portion of the material will be used beneficially in a thin-layer placement project on the northern end of Jekyll Island. The thin-layer placement project is a pilot project for the AICW and is designed to restore and enhance existing marsh areas on Jekyll Island. The project was designed with input from numerous stakeholders and will be monitored for success and evaluation. Although a schedule has not yet been developed, work should being in March 2019.

DNR CRD reacted quickly to survey the wreck and get containment booms set up. Photo provided by GADNR

n December 19, shortly before high tide, a 56-foot tugboat, the Miss Addison, sank in about eight feet of water in Jekyll Creek, off Jekyll Island. The vessel was traveling at about seven knots when it sank, and the sinking happened in only minutes. No one was injured in the incident. The DNR Coastal Resources Division (CRD) immediately surveyed the site to check for leaking fuel, while also contacting the vessel's owner and insurance company. All parties were cooperative and worked to resolve the issue. In late January, the boat was refloated and towed to a shipyard in Fernandina Beach, Fla. The vessel’s owner, Salonen Marine of Yulee, Fla., used two 165-ton marine cranes to right the Miss Addison after it was surveyed by salvage divers. The vessel was dewatered then divers inspected the hull for any necessary repairs that might be needed before it could be towed. “We’re very pleased to see this vessel being removed from Jekyll Creek, and we do not anticipate it will leave any permanent damage to the water bottom,” said Buck Bennett, a compliance and enforcement manager for the CRD. “Salonen Marine and its insurance company was fully compliant with CRD and we are not taking any further actions at this time.” The Miss Addison did not appear to be leaking fuel when observed by CRD staff after the incident. After the capsizing, Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance installed containment booms around the vessel and safely pumped off 2,265 gallons of diesel fuel. A skimmer boat was used during the salvage operation to ensure no further pollution escaped into Jekyll Creek. The cause of the sinking is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard. To view video footage of the vessel visit: http://bit.ly/tug_refloat.

Two 165-ton marine cranes refloat the Miss Addision in Jekyll Creek. Photo provided by GADNR

Jekyll Creek, a section of the ICW, has filled in to dangerous levels, limiting access to traffic and impacting local businesses. Some dredge spoils will be distributed in the marsh on the north end of Jekyll in a process called "thin layer placement." Image credit: NOAA (Chart 11489) February 2019

Southern Tides Magazine

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Tiny Bones, Big Insights

Marine Science Camps

By: Emily Woodward UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

onna McDowell leaned over a microscope in a dimly lit laboratory recently as she peered into a twin-lens eyepiece. She prefers to work with the bright, overhead fluorescent lights turned off so she can see better through the microscope. "It's just a little easier," said the veteran marine biologist with the Coastal Resources Division (CRD) of the Georgia DNR in Brunswick. McDowell has plenty to look at. Since Decemeber 2003, she has overseen the Age and Growth Laboratory at CRD. In her career, she's analyzed tens of thousands of fish ear-bones, called "otoliths." By examining the samples under a microscope, McDowell can count the rings in the bones and determine the fish's age, much like counting tree rings. "If you look at the data over time, you'll be able to tell how fishing affects the sizes of certain ages of fish," she said. "If the population is stressed, they mature at a smaller size — because they have to. When a smaller female reaches maturity early, she'll have fewer eggs and they'll be smaller. A more robust female will have a larger cavity, larger ovaries, more and bigger eggs." The data collected by McDowell is used by the Georgia Board of Natural Resources to set certain fishing regulations. Most of the fish analyzed by McDowell are spotted seatrout and red drum, but the lab has also gathered data about Southern kingfish (also called whiting), black drum, Southern flounder, Atlantic croaker, sheepshead, tripletail and others. It depends on what Georgia's anglers are catching — the sample bones that come to McDowell's lab are courtesy of more than 2,000 Georgia anglers who have donated their fileted fish carcasses to CRD since 1997. Ryan Harrell, another CRD marine biologist, helps collect those carcasses and get them ready for the lab. He and his team of marine technicians visit 15 sites, including marinas and public docks, along Georgia's coast to collect bags of fish carcasses left in freezers by anglers. The freezers were purchased with funds donated by the Georgia Power Foundation and the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation. "This is a great partnership between CRD, anglers, marinas, private fishing clubs and others," he said. "It helps us re-allocate our time for other projects, rather than having to go out and catch all these fish ourselves, and the data is really valuable." Harrell and his team have an industrial-size freezer at DNR's regional headquarters in Brunswick stocked to the brim with bags donated by anglers. On certain days, the marine-tech team slices open the bags, measures the fish and removes the otoliths for McDowell to examine in her lab. Justin Bythwood, one of CRD's marine techs who works hands-on with the process thinks it's a great program. "We're getting data that we wouldn't otherwise have unless we went out and got it ourselves," Bythwood said recently as he used a long filet knife to remove the otoliths from a spotted seatrout. While it may be slightly smelly work handling scores of thawing fish carcasses, Bythwood doesn't seem to mind. He's an avid angler who knows his way around the process. "The best way to describe it is we take the carcass, identify its sex, measure the centerline length in millimeters and then remove the two otoliths," he said of the process. Sometimes the carcasses left by anglers have to be thrown away. That's usually because the card anglers are supposed to place in the sample bag is incomplete and missing important data like the date of the catch. "It's really important people fill out the card completely and correctly," Harrell said. "It's not very long, and we keep track of the anglers who donate. We like to thank them by giving away things like T-shirts, hats and other cool stuff." Back at her lab, McDowell said she's excited about the program's future and the ongoing partnership between CRD, anglers and foundation partners. "This is a unique opportunity for Georgia's anglers to help CRD conserve their favorite fish for their children and grandchildren," she said. "A lot of what we do here is kind of behind-the-scenes, but we're grateful to our partners. Without them, we couldn't do this."

A Women in Science summer camp group heads out on the water. Photo provided by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

he floor is littered with markers, paper plates and half-eaten pizza. For the past two hours, marine education interns have been creating paper plate awards for campers participating in Summer Marine Science Camps at the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant on Skidaway Island. On the plates are drawings depicting awards like enthusiastic ecologist, coastal naturalist and blue crab queen. Each award is unique and designed to showcase a camper’s individual personality or interests. The plates are presented to the campers on the last day of camp during a ceremony attended by parents and staff. This particular awards ceremony will wrap up the 25th year of summer camps. Since 1993, about 5,500 children have explored the coast, and learned about the importance of marine ecosystems through handson activities. Each camp session is geared towards a different age group. Activities range from salt marsh explorations to squid studies in the lab and, for older campers, trawling aboard the R/V Sea Dawg. Guest researchers are often invited to lead experiential learning activities that not only teach campers how the scientific method can be applied to projects, but also expose campers to the multidisciplinary world of marine science. In 2018, the Women in Marine Science Camp, for girls 12 to 14, featured four female researchers who work in different fields of marine science at the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. During activities led by the researchers, campers learned how to identify phytoplankton, which are tiny microscopic organisms living in coastal waters, and built their own autonomous underwater vehicles. “It is especially valuable for young girls to witness female professionals because it fosters a sense of inclusion,” said Julia Diaz, assistant professor of marine sciences. Diaz led an activity that involved measuring levels of phosphate in water samples collected near Skidaway Island. “It was rewarding to see the girls enjoying the activity and discussing the topic among themselves,” Diaz said. “It showed that they were interested and engaged in the experience.” The activity made an impression on Atlanta resident Kennedy Johnson, 12, who participated in the Women in Marine Science Camp. “I learned much more than I already knew, and, after I came home, my passion grew for wanting to be a marine biologist,” Kennedy said. At the core of Summer Marine Science Camp is providing opportunities that connect campers to the natural world and encourage them to be good stewards of the coastal environment through outdoor exploration. “While they are here, I want campers to gain confidence to ask questions and inquire scientifically,” Lindsay said. “My hope is that they leave with positive feelings about themselves and their ability to explore.”

February 2019

Southern Tides Magazine

T he Bitter End Wrong vs. Right (of Way) By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill

elcome, once again! And thank you for joining us for another episode of Captain Gator’s Not-Ready-for-Primetime Boaters chat! This month we will take a closer look at who has right of way and when this navigational “rule of the road” applies. To start with, even as cars have certain rules for safe operation, so too do watercraft. Many are straight forward and resemble rules for regular highway driving – for example, when two vessels are approaching one another, both vessels stay to starboard (the right side of the boat when you’re facing the bow), passing port to port and holding a safe distance between one another. This is considered proper passing both in channels and in open bodies of water. However, we don’t live in a perfect world, and boats (and their helmsmen) sometimes tend to run willy-nilly. If by chance you are making way on what is technically the wrong side and meet another vessel, and it appears safer to pass starboard to starboard, then do so. At a certain point some common sense does come into play. No need to cross in front of each other! One thing most pleasure boaters fail to practice is proper radio disciplines, but with proper radio usage many problems or questionable intentions could be made simpler. Hailing a vessel if the captain's intentions are unclear, or to announce your own intentions, is perfectly acceptable. What do you do when you’re traveling and have a boat crossing in front of you? All too often what results is a guess-timation, by which I mean, you hope you’re making the right choice. I’ve witnessed folks simply come to a stop or decrease speed to allow the other vessel to take action. While this may work at times, it isn’t the right way. “Stand on” or “Give way” are terms used to describe which vessel has right of way. As you are going down the water way of life and a boat approaches you from the right with plans to cut across your path of travel, it becomes the “stand on” vessel and you become the “give way” vessel; in other words, they have right of way. (You may also hear or see the term “privileged” being used for the vessel with the right of way.) Conversely, if a vessel is crossing you from the left (you are crossing from his right), then you are the stand on vessel and have right of way. With that being said, ALWAYS watch the other vessel for they may not know the rules. Now, what to do when a third vessel is thrown into the mix. Easier than you might think. The two vessels that would be passing in a normal port to port passing are stand on, and the crossing vessel gives way. Again, use common sense and always have your head on a swivel out there, observing everything. If the give way vessel does not give way then take the appropriate action and steer away from potential danger, typically to starboard. This next one tends to confuse people – overtaking or passing another vessel. Pretty simple once again, when you understand right of way. The lead vessel is the privileged vessel and you are the burdened vessel, meaning they have right of way. The proper way to pass is to angle to your port and pass him on his port side, and to alert him to your intentions. Before the days of radios, whistles and horns were used as communication devices. Two whistles or horn blasts indicates your plan to pass to port. A return of the same indicated the privileged vessel’s compliance. You can also simply

When overtaking a vessel, pass to his port when possible and hail the captain on VHF to let him know your intentions. Photo by Amy Thurman

hail him on the radio and announce your intentions, to which he’ll either tell you that’s acceptable or warn you if there’s some reason you shouldn’t, such as if he’s planning to turn to port himself or there’s an obstruction you can’t yet see. I can’t emphasize how important VHF radio is. Not only having it, but using it. Also remember that there are sailboats out there, my friends, and at times they get special consideration. If a sailboat is underway using sails, they always have right of way. This is because a boat under sail may not have the quick maneuverability that a boat with a motor may have. If they have no sails up and are motoring, they’re treated as any other power vessel. But also be aware that they may be restricted in their due to the depth of their keel and unable to move into waters that a shallow-draft boat can access. For sailboats meeting other sailboats, the vessel with the wind on their starboard side has right of way. I personally use what I call "the rule of gross tonnage" which, simply put means any vessel bigger than me has the right of way. But in case of doubt, give any other vessel right of way if you're unsure of their intentions. Just in case the captain doesn't know the rules of the road or isn't paying attention. At the end of the day it comes down to common sense - pay attention, don't assume others know the rules of the road, and take the path that poses the safest route for all involved. I hope these things have helped to un-muddy the water to some degree. Maybe next time we will deal with lights, buoys and other

blinky things.

Until next time, I'll see y'all on the water!

Email: jgaryhill@gmail.com 22

Southern Tides Magazine

February 2019

110 Robin Road

VERNONBURG Perfect home situated on 1.5 acres with beautiful marsh and deep water views. Amazing master suite on the main floor with luxurious bath and huge closet. Two additonal bedrooms on this floor plus two BRs and baths upstairs. Very open floor plan featuring living room, great room, office, dining room, breakfast area and fantastic kitchen. Beautiful hardwood and porcelain floors. Lovely patio. You will fall in love. $639,900 ISLE OF HOPE

Wonderful large buildable lot on Isle of Hope. Walk to everything. The lot has recently been cut so you can walk the entire area. Plenty of hardwoods and few pines. View of water is on a land locked lot so no building to disturb your view. Very sought after area. Close to shopping and restaurants. Golf cart approved neighborhood. $149,000

7621 Central Avenue

ISLE OF HOPE

113 Holcomb

This wonderful 2 BD 2.5 BA home was originally the location of a dairy farm. Two buildings for living. One two story with a wonderful master suite upstairs with new bath and large closet. Separate “bunkhouse” has full bath, bedroom, kitchen and living area. They are joined by a cozy courtyard and expansive deck. This deck overlooks a back yard for outdoor enthusiasts. Large detached workshop and several outdoor storage buildings. Welcome to the Isle of Hope area. You can walk everywhere. Down to the marina, over to the community pool, along Bluff Dr and views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The community is one the few golf cart approved areas. This special historic home is for the special lover of beautiful and unique properties. $399,000

SOUTHSIDE

28 Litchfield

This 4BDs, 3BAs home has all the upgrade choices. One owner. Very open floorplan with bedrooms and space for everyone. Perfect for a large family or multi generational. The master suite is very large with its own sitting room. TWO LARGE walkin master closets. Split staircase allows access to second floor from front foyer or butler’s pantry. Large two car garage. Close to schools and shopping and military bases. Bonus Room and separate office. Immaculate. $289,000

12726 Largo

This wonderful family home is one of the nicest in Berkshire Woods. Ranch style with three bedrooms and two baths. The master bath has been redone and has an awesome shower. Two master closets. Newly painted throughout. New roof, water heater and newer HVAC. Huge lot on the LaVida golf course. Large bonus room, craft room and workshop. Parquet floors. Just unpack and settle in. $250,000

REDUCED

WINDSOR FOREST

6349 Abercorn St. Savannah, GA 912.352.1222

Lyn McCuen 912.224.0927

lyn@coldwellbanker.com www.lynmccuen.com

BURNSIDE ISLAND

This 4 BD, 3 BA home boasts one of the largest non estate lots on the island. Over an acre. Lots of beautiful camellias and mature flowering vegetation. Very open GR and a beautiful fireplace. Sun Room off the GR. Three BRs, 2 B on the first floor. Bonus is fourth BR and has its own private bath. Kitchen has eat in area with exposed brick. Gas stove. Plenty of outdoor storage. Lovely Pergola over a large outdoor deck area. Oyster Party Haven. This is a family home, ready for your personal updating. Great island living. Golf cart approved community. Optional Assoc. with annual picnic and golf cart parades. $389,000

505 Moon River

BURNSIDE ISLAND

OMG!! 4BRs, 3BAs. That is all you can say about these views over the marsh and Vernon River. The sunsets alone are breathtaking. This traditional Low Country home is located on 2.8 acres and has views out of every window. Inground pool and screened porch overlooking the view as well. This estate is perfect for the discerning owner with privacy and lots of potential for gardens or a family compound. Burnside Island is a unique island with single family homes and lots of walking, riding, etc. Golf cart approved island. Owner may apply for membership in the Burnside Island Yacht Club on the Intracoastal Waterway. $799,000

REDUCED

281 Shipyard

MIDTOWN

Wow!! No lots like this in Parkside. 4 total lots with amazing outdoor space. This charming bungalow will draw you in and make you want to settle in for life. Two bedrooms and bath down and a fantastic master suite and sitting area with bath on second floor. Hardwood floors and contemporary kitchen. There are two outdoor screened areas. Detached single car garage with lots of extra storage. Parkside is such a welcoming community with lots of friendly neighbors. Walk to Daffin Park for the dog park, watching games or enjoy the Banana games and fireworks. Ready for you now. $375,000

1205 E. 51st Street

TYBEE ISLAND

Neverending views of the Atlantic Ocean with amazing sunrises. 3 BR, 3.5 BA custom built home has all of the details that you desire. Ironwork, high end Gourmet kitchen, master suite, soaring ceilings and elevator are just a few of the special traits. Open floorplan with space for entertaining. Master Suite has private balcony, huge dressing room and luxurious tub with adjoining FP. Step directly out of the LR to the screened porch and adjacent walk way to the beach. $2,190,000

3 6th Terrace

ISLE OF HOPE MARINA

912-354-8187 www.iohmarina.com

Located in a Scenic Historic District; Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

The Best of Savannah, Georgia!

Complimentary Loaner Cars Drive in minutes to local restaurants, grocery stores, West Marine, and a Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Dockside Amenities • Complimentary High-Speed Wi-fi • 30 - 50 - 100 amp electrical service • 4,000 feet of floating concrete docks • 600 feet of deep water face docks • Gas and diesel facilities • Pump-out station Marina Amenities • Complimentary loaner cars & bicycles • Ship’s store and laundry facilities • 2,000 sq. ft. overwater pavilion • Private restrooms and showers • Seasonal swimming pool

50 W. Bluff Drive • Savannah, GA 31406 On ICW, Mile 590 - Marker 46A