News & Events
Contents
I never was good at navigating!
Or, to cut costs . . . !
Amendment to the Sportfishing Regulations in the Bahamas:
Nick Wardle writes, "For the avoidance of doubt and misrepresentation, spear fishing regulations have NOT been changed from what they have been for many years. You have always required your Fishing Permit to be endorsed to allow spear fishing, but Customs, when issuing the permits, appear to have been unaware of that requirement, so ignorance was bliss. You could and still can, of course, only use hand-propelled/aimed Hawaiian Sling or pole spear (with or without rubber band to propel) - spear guns have always been illegal. The regulation reads "unless otherwise authorised by the respective permit".
Update from Nick: (11-16-07) "They have relaxed the conch so you can now have six aboard at any time; also ten crawfish, but that depends on you having your fishing permit endorsed to allow spearfishing. That has always been the case, with no changes - Customs mostly did not bother to even ask, when you cleared in, but I believe they now do. It's not clear about demersal fish (60lb or 20 fish, as one grouper could be over 60lb!)
When we have more clarification, we'll announce it on the net."
You may download the Amended (Oct. 2007) Press Release (pdf file - requires Acrobat) explaining the new changes here.
DIY GPS Position Encoder: Sam, N4UAU, suggests using the "TinyTrak3" as an inexpensive way to transmit your position, connected between a serial GPS and your radio transmitter. You can purchase PCB, case and all parts, cables and assemble it yourself. Click image for details.
CQ100 Virtual Radio: Read Terry's, K1LCH article about a new way to receive the Waterway Net over the Internet using VOIP technology. This could be of great help when you are traveling without your rig, or when propagation is poor. ARTICLE
Chesapeake Rendezvous
June 19, 2008 - Solomons, MD
It's Happening! The First Annual WRCC Chesapeake Rendezvous will begin at 1100 on Thursday, June 19, at Zahniser's Yachting Center in Solomons, on Maryland's western shore. Hamburgers, rolls, condiments, paper plates and utensils will be provided, at a cost of $3.00 per person.. Each person or couple attending is asked to bring a covered dish, salad or dessert.
Schedule of Events
1200 - Barbecue & Lunch at Zahniser's picnic tent
1330 - Show and Share. Display and/or talk about a gadget, great idea, or proven way of doing something on your boat or Ham rig that you would not leave home without.
1400 - 1830 Swim at Zahniser's pool, walk the town, visit boats or just relax. Games of Rummicube or Mexican Train might happen.
1830 - Dinner at Zahniser's restaurant (optional, at own expense).
Details about Zahniser's Yachting Center . Dockage Fees: Sun-Thurs - $2.00/ft; Fri & Sat - $2.25/ft (LOA) per night plus $5 for 30 AMP or $10.00 for 30-30 or 50 AMP. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the reservation will be charged a $25 per day cancellation fee.. .Same Day. cancellations will be charged full dockage. Upon arrival in Solomons Harbor, with the marina in sight, call the marina on VHF channel 09. At that time, the Dockmaster will give each vessel docking instructions. If arriving after 5:00 pm, please call in the afternoon for a dockage assignment; they will put reserved signs out for an after hours arrival. The marina has a 10:00 pm Quiet Hour. Zahniser's has 9 mooring balls, $35, first come first served.
Contact Information: Marina: 410-326-2166 www.zahnisers.com (See the web site for directions by land.) Peter's cell: 410-310-1091
There's plenty of room to anchor out if you prefer, but then the marina will charge dinghy dock and shower fees. We'll be using the marina's facilities and it would be a good thing if many of us use their slips or moorings and restaurant so we'll be welcome back. If you plan to attend, please email Peter at K3PKC@yahoo.com. Put Chesapeake Rendezvous in the subject line. If you want a slip, include LOA (with appendages), beam, draft, manufacturer, power needs, and whether Power or Sail. (Need this info in advance for planning purposes.) Then call Zahniser's to make your own reservation as part of the WRCC group and give a $25 deposit. Look forward to seeing you!
~Peter K3PKC
Free Charting Software: For those of you who like to plot positions at home (or on your boat), there is available a free computer program, "Chart Navigator" by Maptech. This program is very useful for planning purposes, even plotting routes and waypoints for transfer to a GPS. I use it from time to time just to plot friends positions and to keep up with them during their voyage.
Also free, are the charts! I believe most NOAA charts are available for download from the Maptech site. Maptech keeps their files up-to-date and offers the latest version of each chart. If you are interested, I'd download the program and a set of charts before Maptech changes their mind! - N4UMS
Update (2-24-2007): It's Official! Morse Code Requirement Has Been Dropped! -- As of Friday, February 23, the requirement to know Morse code has been dropped. That's when the 5 WPM Morse code requirement disappeared from the Amateur Radio Service Part 97 rules in accordance with the FCC's Report and Order. See ARRL site for more information.
ARRL charts showing new Ham frequencies. These are .pdf files and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. They can be printed from the same program. Choose either the color version or the B/W version.
Coast Guard to discontinue use of *CG: The U.S.C.G. has announced that they are asking all cell phone providers to stop allowing the sequence, *CG to be used to contact the Coast Guard. 911 will still be allowed as a secondary option, but VHF radio is highly recommended. Using VHF makes more sense anyway: if there are other boaters in your vicinity that can offer help, they're not going to know you have a problem if you use your cell phone! Also, using marine VHF gives the rescuers a chance to triangulate your position, saving valuable time in an emergency.
Weather Reporters Guide - Marti, KF4TRG has published her Weather Reporters Guide for Net reporters and any other interested parties. The Guide is in pdf format (Acrobat Reader required) and can be downloaded HERE.
Marinas with Wi-Fi Service. Listings of marinas that offer Wi-Fi service around the world.
For WRCC shirts, pins and burgees, check our new WRCC Store page .
Note: Membership in Boat U.S. increased from $19 to $25 on Jan. 1, 2006. WRCC members can get a 50% discount by using our group ID number when applying. The number is published in the current Scuttlebutt.
New U.S.C.G. SSB Emergency Hailing Frequencies
Florida Antenna Statutes and FCC ruling pertaining to amateur radio (pdf file)
New National Weather Service Offshore & Highseas Times for HF
Voice broadcasts of National Weather Service marine forecasts from NMN Chesapeake, VA and NMG New Orleans, LA were modified on June 15, 2005 to accommodate a greater range of products and reduce mutual interference between these and other stations.
NMG/NMN HF voice starting times were: 0330, 0500, 0930, 1130, 1600, 1730, 2200, 2230 UTC
NMG/NMN HF voice starting times are changing to: 0330, 0515, 0930, 1115, 1530, 1715, 2130, 2315 UTC
Frequencies for these stations are:
Chesapeake (NMN) 4426, 6501, 8764, 13089, 17314 kHz (USB)
New Orleans (NMG) 4316, 8502, 12788kHz (USB)
List of possible NASA Space Shuttle listening frequencies.
To check for any upcoming launches, try this NASA site.
Latest News On Bahamian Cruising Fees (12/09/2003) - According to
Noonsite.com, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism released the following information:
"The Bahamas has given due consideration to the concerns of the boating
community and has decided, as an interim measure, that, with effect from December 1, 2003, the current Fees of $150 for boats up to 35 feet in length and $300 for boats over 35 feet, shall be valid for two entries during any
90 day period."
"In the long-term, The Bahamas Government is considering an annual fee
structure and will continue the dialogue with both the domestic and international boating community to determine how such a policy can best be implemented."
According to the Noonsight article, the intent is to allow an additional entry into the Bahamas at no charge as long as it occurs within 90
days of the original issue of the Cruising Permit.