Hello Fellow Cruisers:
I have a hard and fast policy that, after a major hurricane such as Ivan, I
wait at least two weeks before I begin calling marinas concerning damage and
what services, if any, are still available. These people don't need me in
their face while they are still getting a handle on just what's happened to
their marina, and where they go from here. However, recognizing the critical
need of the cruising community to have information in hand about the state of
marinas along the Northern Gulf Coast as we move into the fall season, I've
made a few discreet inquiries today of friends and marina owners with which I
have a personal relationship.
So, with all those caveats in mind, here goes. As a general rule, cruisers can
not count on finding any marina or repair yard facilities on the Waterway from
the Gulf Shores, Alabama bridge, moving east as far as the eastern tip of
Choctawhatchee Bay. This means that the marinas and yards in Pensacola, Fort
Walton Beach and Destin all received major and very serious damage. I talked
to one boat owner today who found his 38 foot sailcraft stacked up like so
much cordwood at Sevellie Harbour in downtown Pensacola.
As more specific information comes my way, I'll pass it along as soon as
possible through this list and my Salty Southeast update mailing list. In the
meantime, my good buddy and fellow cruising guide author, Fred Meyers, with
whom I've just spoken by telephone, will be posting information about
facilities along the Tennessee River, the Cumberland River, the Tennessee
Tombigbee Waterway and along Mobile Bay. The good news here is that the
marinas and yards along Mobile Bay did NOT suffer serious, long term damage.
As I've said, Fred will have more to say about this in his note.
Fred and I would be most appreciative if our fellow cruisers would forward
information about Hurricane Ivan damage to opcom@cruisingguide.com . We'll
distribute this data to the entire cruising community immediately.
Let's hope that Ivan is the last hurrah of the hurricane season, but you never
know. Out thoughts are with all those cruisers who have suffered from this
cruel storm. A brighter day is ahead. Good luck to everyone and good
cruising!
Claiborne Young
Watermark Publishing
opcom@cruisingguide.com
http://www.CruisingGuide.com
Hello Fellow Cruisers:
I have a hard and fast policy that, after a major hurricane such as Ivan, I
wait at least two weeks before I begin calling marinas concerning damage and
what services, if any, are still available. These people don't need me in
their face while they are still getting a handle on just what's happened to
their marina, and where they go from here. However, recognizing the critical
need of the cruising community to have information in hand about the state of
marinas along the Northern Gulf Coast as we move into the fall season, I've
made a few discreet inquiries today of friends and marina owners with which I
have a personal relationship.
So, with all those caveats in mind, here goes. As a general rule, cruisers can
not count on finding any marina or repair yard facilities on the Waterway from
the Gulf Shores, Alabama bridge, moving east as far as the eastern tip of
Choctawhatchee Bay. This means that the marinas and yards in Pensacola, Fort
Walton Beach and Destin all received major and very serious damage. I talked
to one boat owner today who found his 38 foot sailcraft stacked up like so
much cordwood at Sevellie Harbour in downtown Pensacola.
As more specific information comes my way, I'll pass it along as soon as
possible through this list and my Salty Southeast update mailing list. In the
meantime, my good buddy and fellow cruising guide author, Fred Meyers, with
whom I've just spoken by telephone, will be posting information about
facilities along the Tennessee River, the Cumberland River, the Tennessee
Tombigbee Waterway and along Mobile Bay. The good news here is that the
marinas and yards along Mobile Bay did NOT suffer serious, long term damage.
As I've said, Fred will have more to say about this in his note.
Fred and I would be most appreciative if our fellow cruisers would forward
information about Hurricane Ivan damage to opcom@cruisingguide.com . We'll
distribute this data to the entire cruising community immediately.
Let's hope that Ivan is the last hurrah of the hurricane season, but you never
know. Out thoughts are with all those cruisers who have suffered from this
cruel storm. A brighter day is ahead. Good luck to everyone and good
cruising!
Claiborne Young
Watermark Publishing
opcom@cruisingguide.com
http://www.CruisingGuide.com
