Seaworthy.com

Nassau Harbour Port Controller, Commander Patrick McNeil, reported that the western entrance channel into Nassau Harbour will be restricted to one lane during dredging operations scheduled to run until approximately July 31.  The dredging, designed to widen the approach for ships using the harbour, began today, July 26, 2010.  All yachts are requested to contact Nassau Harbour Control on VHF ch. 16 for instructions at least one hour before arriving at the harbour entrance.  It would be advisable for yachts to use the eastern entrance to Nassau Harbour during this period.  The areas being dredged are just south of the western end of Paradise Island and north of the entrance channel, and south of the western entrance channel east of Arawak Cay. 

Dredging has begun on a new channel into the mailboat dock at Salt Pond, Long Island.  Look for a new dock offering better dinghy access to the shoreside facilities.

The Elizabeth Harbour Management Steering Committee recently held a town meeting concerning the IWCAM, Intergrating Watershed and Coastal Area Management, project currently underway in Exuma.  Highlights include new (as of March 2010) pump-out services for vessels in Elizabeth Harbour (Elizabeth Harbour is soon to be a No-Discharge Zone-all live-aboard boats are required to use holding tanks while in the harbour; vessels may use the local pump-out services or dump no less than three miles offshore); construction of a wastewater treatment center to be completed in June; a wetland restoration project for Victoria Pond; the addition of three new moorings in Gaviota Bay (bringing the total to 15 in late June-Gaviota Bay is now a No-Anchor Zone); the placement of future moorings in sensitive habitats such as sea grass beds; discussion of a plan for moorings at popular dive sites; and a stressing of the need for water purity levels in Elizabeth Harbour, Kidd Cove, and Victoria Pond.  Proposals likely to pass are
 

On May 27, 2010, NOAA forecasters predicted an "active to extremely active" hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin this year.  NOAA predicts 12-23 named storms (winds of 39mph or higher) including 8-14 hurricanes, of which 3-7 could be Category 3, 4, or 5 (winds of at least 111mph).  If you wish to read the entire report from NOAA click here.

As reported earlier, a woman had been picked up approximately 100 miles north of Curacao.  Angelica Ropke-Wiels and her husband, Hans Jorgen Ropke, were attacked on April 3, 2010, one mile north of the Venezuela’s Paria Peninsula.  The attackers killed Hans and after they left the vessel, the Spirit of Cologne II, Mrs. Ropke stayed aboard trying to sail her vessel north for four days.  Mrs. Ropke had no means of communication as all electronics had been stolen in the boarding.  Mrs. Ropke launched the vessel’s life raft and drifted away from her still floating boat. 

Mrs. Ropke was picked up at 1035 on April 16, 2010, by the merchant vessel San Fernando at 13° 16.01’ N, 67° 51.01’ W.  She was then transported to the Curacao Coast Guard Station and transferred to a hospital where she was treated for exposure and dehydration.  Her sailboat, with her dead husband’s body on board, was later found on a reef at Los Roques.

As reported by the Caribbean Safety and Security Net., the Paria and Araya Peninsulas continue to be the single most dangerous cruising grounds in the Eastern Caribbean (based on 12 years of tracking reported crimes against yachts).  Cruisers are urged to stay at least 20 miles (one source suggested 100 miles) off this coast to avoid the potential for armed robberies.

The new educational, eco-movement directed to teach Bimini’s youth the importance of protecting their island’s environment and conservation, launched on Thursday, April 22 at the Pep Rally. 

This was sent in from Kent Trompeter on S/V Southern Mist II:  Last week a meeting was held at West End Roatan by the Marine Park, the subject was mooring fees and anchoring restrictions. We got the word today, starting Monday April 26 the following fees will go into effect: $10.00/day; $20.00/week; $100/month, all fees in US Dollars. Absolutely no anchoring and they look to install up to 20 moorings.