Excerpts from the latest Scuttlebutt issue.

Greetings from C6ALD

Guess what, gang, it's election time again. I know that every year at this time there are a bunch of you sitting there thinking, "Maybe I should run for something this year." And every year, most of you decide not to. The usual reasons seem to be: I can't spare the time -or- I'll be embarrassed if I don't get elected -or- I don't know enough to do the job properly.

In answer to these objections, let me say from my own experience: The Net runs so smoothly nowadays that helping to manage it doesn't really take up much time. There's no reason to be embarrassed. Even if you don't get elected this time around, your fellow members will simply admire you for at least being willing to give it a go. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to help run the Waterway Net. In fact, you don't have to know much of anything: there are always plenty of "old hands" (or old hams?) around to give help and advice when you need it. So - no more excuses! Let this be the year you take the plunge and run for office.

Our nominations committee chairman will be Paul, KM4MA this year. Please contact him via phone or e-mail with your nomination for all positions. Also, I would like to add that we are always looking for volunteers to fill positions for net controls, relays, Wx Reporters and fleet captains. We would like to hear from you if you have the time to do so.

With best wishes,

Bob - C6ALD

If you were a member in good standing as of September 30th, you are eligible to vote and you should be expecting to see a Bill and Ballot in the mail shortly after November 1. Please vote for next year's officers.

Please note that I need the ballot returned to me BEFORE the end of November so that we can announce the winners on December 1.

Also, please check your mailing label to see what year you are paid through. If it says 2005, you will owe dues in November.

It's also the time for you to correct any of the data that is in the Roster. Roster changes will be accepted up to about January First when we send the 2006 Roster to the printer. BUT, please do not wait until the last minute to give me your address, phone, email, boat name changes.

Also, if you have a really good picture that you think would look special on the cover or the back of next year's Roster, please forward them to me as soon as possible.

See you in Melbourne at the picnic on Nov 10 (you can pay your dues there if you like).

88,  Jeanie - N4WFM,  WRCC Sec-Treas

Participation continues to increase in the CW Net despite poor conditions recently and our Yahoo Group shows that hams like to talk via e-mail as much as on the radio. Contact Sam, N4UAU for more info on this group. Check in (QNI) any day 7:00AM Eastern time 7.050 MHz. On Fridays we still encourage slower speed.

Forrest Myers (former IBM programmer) AG4ND, has written a CW Terminal Program with DSP Filters. This program runs on most PC's and will receive CW as well as allow you to type rather than use a key to send CW. Certain stations seem to have suddenly improved their code and I can't wonder how many 'closet CW typists' we have now.

The CW net had 3 active members near New Orleans during Katrina: Pete, KC5GXC, Ken, N5CM and Frank, W4DLZ. They are all OK and suffered less damage than expected except Frank who had roof damage and has moved (for now?) to Carabelle, FL. After the hurricane Ken, N5CM was able to check into the CW net with battery power and his antenna literally lying on his roof top. Forrest, AG4ND, who had hurricane boat damage last year in Ft Pierce, took his boat up the Tennessee River this summer for safe keeping. Yes, Katrina followed him, but no damage.

Also of note is that Brit Chance, W2IBK, continues to gain world wide notoriety with a series of invited lectures at places like the 46th Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference and at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine meeting where he talked about "Photons, Protons, Electrons and Radar". Fortunately on the CW net he limits his QSO's to less erudite topics such as sailing on Barnegat Bay.

There is always a number of the CW group at the annual Melbourne picnic,' which this year is November 10. This is when we elect next years WRCC CW Net manager.

Nominations will be announced on the net and on the Yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WRCCWNET/.

Hope to see you at Melbourne in November.

73, Sam Ulbing, N4UAU es Chuck, ND7K

(Editor's Note: We received this letter and reply from WRCC member Bob Norman, KE4OIL referencing a commonly heard issue.)

If you think you are operating your vessel legally in the state of Florida, think again, particularly if you own a vessel with U.S. Documentation and are from the states of Virginia, Maine and a few others. You may recall that a protracted discussion took place on the Waterway Net one morning in December 2004 brought on by my report of an encounter with one of Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement officers. Bottom line is that we were told our U.S. Documented sailboat was operating illegally in most states, and particularly Florida, because we did not have a state registration from our home state The officer advised us that we could be given a citation and, indeed, one of our Net members was cited a year earlier.

Having returned from our winter cruise I took the opportunity to research the issue. Here are the facts: Vessels documented by the U.S. Coast Guard for use on interstate waters cannot be titled or registered in Virginia. Ref: www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/guide/ section3.html

Certain other states also have this restriction.

- Documented vessels without a state registration in full force and effect, must also obtain a Florida registration and display the validation decal.

Ref :www.myfwc.com/boating/safety/ law_summary.htm and Florida statute 328.58 available at www.flsenate.gov/ statutes

- All documented vessels must comply with the laws of the state in which they are operated. States may require documented vessels to be registered (but not numbered) and to display decals showing they have complied with state requirements. Ref: www.uscg.mil/hq/g tn/vdoc/faq.htm

The Florida position on this issue was confirmed by e-mail with Captain Richard Moore, Boating Law Administrator, FWC Division of Law Enforcement. He can be reached at (850) 4885600. I have provided a copy of this email to our Commodore, Vice Commodore and Scuttlebutt editor. I have written my Virginia state delegate and state senator requesting them to review the issue and seek resolution. I would recommend that all Net members who find themselves in this situation do the same.

Happy Sailing! Bob Norman KE4OIL, s/v Quest -

(Reply to Bob Norman)

First, I must apologize for passing incomplete information to you in earlier emails. Shelly Gurr and I met to review statutes and develop a response to your request, and I didn't dig deep enough. Unfortunately, the statutes pertaining to this are not as straightforward as might be desired, so the appropriate answer is not overly apparent.

The information you referred to from our web site that indicates that documented vessels without a state registration in full force and effect must also obtain a Florida registration when using Florida waters is correct. The 90-day exemption from registration only applies to vessels that have another state registration in effect, and obviously Virginia does not register documented vessels so you aren't required to be registered in your home state.

I would suggest that you email Mr. Boyd Walden, the chief of vessel titling in Florida, at walden.boydChsmv.state.tl.us to get info on the procedure for obtaining FL registration as well as the fees involved.

I would also suggest that you check with Va. to see about getting a home state registration, even though not required there, since that may be the best solution as you travel around the country. Most other states register documented vessels, and my expectation is that they also have a reciprocity law similar to ours. Having your boat registered in your home state may provide you an appropriate amount of relief in other states as well.

Again, I apologize for not giving you thorough information initially and any inconvenience it may have caused. I should have been more thorough in my research and transfer of information to Shelly as she prepared a response.

Captain Richard Moore
Boating Law Administrator

FWC - Division of Law Enforcement

(Editor: Just prior to closing this edition, we received another note from KE4OIL referencing the above information:)

"As of 26 September, this is the situation in Virginia: A boating regulation amendment has been proposed to the Board that oversees the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in the State of Virginia.

The Board is expected to take action on this amendment at their 27 October meeting. I encourage others interested in this issue to contact their appropriate state representatives for a resolution. The official that has responsibility for this amendment in the State of Virginia is Charlie Sledd (Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries). He can be reached at 804-367-6481.

I will be happy to provide a copy of the letter that I sent to my State Delegate to anyone that would like it. My e-mail address is current in the roster.

Regards,

Bob KE4OIL

Editor's Note: We thought Dennis would be the storm of the Summer up on the Gulf Coast and then along came Katrina. As we watched her grow and head for New Orleans, we knew this would be a major storm, but no one had an inkling of an idea just how bad it would get. Here is one of many stories we received from WRCC members.

We first had become aware of Hurricane Katrina from a phone call from our son who lives in Miami. It seemed unusual to us that he would notify us of a Hurricane because as live-aboards we make it a habit during hurricane season to stay in touch and did not really know of this storm until his phone call. But Hurricane Katrina was not your typical storm. So, on Saturday before the storm (August 27) I told my wife Bianca I was going to West Marine to purchase more lines, at that moment we felt the storm would at best be a nuisance and not the monster if eventually became.

Late in the afternoon we had resolved ourselves that Hurricane Katrina would most likely strike Louisiana. We were never really concerned because that was the same forecast we got before with Hurricane Georges (1997), Hurricane Matthew ( 2002) Hurricane Ivan (2004) they were all bearing down on us but at the last minute they took the ole right hook and wound up in Mississippi, Alabama or the Florida Pan Handle. However with that said we prepared for the worst and prayed for the best but this storm seemed different. Late in the afternoon of Saturday it was apparent that Hurricane Katrina was not bearing to the east as we had hoped and the preparation became a little more intense.

As a retired State Trooper and Veteran Army Ranger, I have experienced winds of 100 plus, generally from leaping out of perfectly good air planes or car chases with the drivers window opened. But trying to figure out which small crevice to tape on a sailboat to keep out sideways rain was beginning to fry my thinking. So I made a plan, take out valuables, secure moveables and seal leakables.

Bianca and l worked side by side never really saying a word be cause we had done this many times before, but this time was different.

The entire marina was different, folks everywhere, not a soul was visiting, everyone was focused. With that said there was an eerie quiet, it was then that I realized the sea gulls, ducks and general marine life had vacated the area. And, so, hurricane Katrina came and obliterated our little sailing community, the wind meter in Slidell registered gusts of 175mph and steady at 135. We were not prepared for what we saw or the helplessness we felt. A newscast on television the day after briefly showed a flyover of our marina, there was nothing left, boats were in an ugly, jumbled mess and we could not resolve ourselves to sit and wonder where our Jojamela was. I grabbed my retirement badge and my wife and I left, I knew that the authorities were restricting entrance because of the devastation but I also knew the guys manning those post were guys that worked for me before I had retired, hopefully they would let me in.

To describe total destruction looses its content when it is experienced. The one noticeable distinction we remember when we arrived was the smell, diesel fuel on the water the rank smell of the Pontchartrain Lake mud everywhere and the stillness was disturbing. Bianca and I decided since we were the first to get in, our job was to catalogue the tragedy by taking pictures and loading them on our web site (www.jojamela.us).

This way our friends and our sailing community could have access via the internet to see if their boats survived or not, either way the simple fact of knowing was reassuring enough for those who could not get in right away. Now we have spent time recounting over and over whether or not we could have done any more. Perhaps we could have helped our neighbor to secure theirs better? Some of us were lucky and have a salvageable vessel to one day return to but there are many, many of our friends who do not. The survivors guilt almost pushes you to wish yours had sank also, but we do not have the luxury in making that decision, Hurricane Katrina did that for us.

As sailors for the last 13 years and live-aboards for 1 year the one thing Bianca and I love is living on the water and we thought we could handle any storm at sea or in the slip. But storm season it is extremely un-predictable event, even so you believe you are prepared either at sea or in the slip. Preparation is never really enough when you get hit with a 500 year storm, preparation should be made for the aftermath. That is the lesson we learned here, homeless and possibly jobless is a position I never ever thought I would find myself in, but here we are. Yes, we will salvage Jojamela and once fixed she will be good as new and continue to be our home, but next time we will prepare in a different way. Bianca and I will secure our future before our lines. We can always fix a boat but trying to fix a way of life is a lot tougher.

Mike & Bianca Brooks, S/V Jojamela - www.jojamela.us - for log & pictures

Location: 3845 N Wickham Road, Melbourne, FL 32935 - Wickham Park Website

When: Thursday, November 10, 2005

Times: Registration starts at 10:30am, ET.
Those displaying items at flea market should also register by 10:30am.
Dinner line will start at noon, ET.

Facts: Please bring a covered dinner dish to share, not chips or dips. The following will be provided: soft drinks, water, beer, ice, paper plates, cups, napkins and utensils. Drinks in cans are permitted, but no glass bottles. A BBQ grill will be available but it is outside and in back of the pavilion. This is a larger covered pavilion than we had before. Foul weather gear would only be required to get to the pavilion from your transportation in case of bad weather. We are trying to keep things simple to keeps costs down. We are asking $3 per person to cover expenses.

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