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April 2021
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In the Tides CREW
Issue No. 68 APRIL 2021
Publisher/Editor Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
7 Editor's Note
Consulting Naturalist John "Crawfish" Crawford crawfish@uga.edu
9 Right Whale Deaths 11 Save the Snags
The Bitter End Columnist Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill theoriginalcaptaingator@gmail.com
12 Relics of the Past 17 Community Science
Around the Reef Columnist Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov Contributors
19 Commissioning Checklist 20 Community Updates
Rick Lavender GADNR Wildlife Resources Division
22 The Bitter End
Michael Sullivan UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Copyright © 2015-2021
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, S.C.
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About the Cover:
Has the HMS Rose been found in the Savannah River? This is what she might have looked like underway in the late 1700s. (Article starts on page 12.) Photo by Darrell Slater
April 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
Letters to the Editor:
We love hearing from you! Questions, comments, ideas, or whatever you'd like to share, please do! Send your thoughts to any of our email addresses listed above. 5
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Editor’s Note T
he lowcountry coast is the most beautiful place on earth and every single time I get out there with water under the hull, I’m so grateful to live here. Heading out early, when the rising sun casts a surreal glow over a flood tide and the water is like glass, gives you a sense of peace that you just don’t get sitting inside. I love this time of year, when air and water temperatures have both started to rise and there’s a resurgence of life. Marsh grass is greening up, jasmine and wisteria are in bloom and the air smells amazing, other flora offers bursts of color everywhere you look, and our world is lush again. Any day now, horseshoe crabs will be nesting on beaches, shrimp will be returning to our creeks and rivers, as well as the fish species that feed on them; migratory shore birds will be making their annual visits, and dolphin will entertain us with their playful antics. Our world is waking up from winter. No, springtime in the South isn’t for the faint of heart. Between the pollen, the gnats and the humidity, you have to be tough to still enjoy being outdoors, but the rewards are worth it. Get out there! There are countless places to visit and explore within a couple hours by boat or car. Any of the Revolutionary or Civil War forts (most are near water), any of the lighthouses along our stretch of coast, hike Cumberland Island and see the marsh ponies roaming free, beach on a barrier island and have a picnic, paddle or motor up a creek you’ve never followed and see what there is to see. Pay attention. Look for eagles, osprey, herons, egrets, oystercatchers, roseate spoonbills, woodstorks or any of the countless other birds that hunt and nest along our waterways. Keep an eye on the water too, for schools of shrimp, fish jumping, and of course dolphins. Maybe you’ll spot a gator sunning on a creek bank, or some wild boar piglets foraging in the marsh. And don’t forget to look up. Birds in flight, pretty cloud patterns, rainbows, sunrises and sunsets, or even just the stunning clear blue of a warm spring sky. Use all of your senses, not just sight. Smell the marsh mud, listen to the bird calls and the soothing sound of water lapping against the hull or waves rolling onto the beach, feel the sun and saltwater on your skin. There’s so much beauty and life out there, and if you let it, it will soothe your soul. Our world is crazy these days. The political arena is a hotbed of antagonism and divisiveness. It seems that every segment of our society is trying to impose its will on every other segment and civil unrest is worse than it’s been since the 60s. But our little stretch of coast is a pocket of sanity. The water doesn’t care about politics or divisiveness. The water doesn’t know conservative from liberal, male from female, wealthy from poor, black from white, or Christian from atheist. Out there, those things don’t matter. When you have a fish on the hook, when you have an engine issue and a stranger gives you a tow, when an unexpected storm blows up, when you’re passing another boat and give a wave, when you have a boatload of kids looking in awe at dolphins playing off the bow, when you’re standing on the dock at the end of the day with a cold beer, none of those outside things matter. We’re just people with a shared love of, and respect for, the water. And hopefully each other. I hope each of you can get some time on the water this month and that it soothes your soul and puts things in perspective for you as well. See you out there!
ere it goes! Fo llow a creek and see wh
Find a r ooke r
Keep an eye out for our f
y & do some
birdwatchin g!
lippered fr iends!
Explore t id al poo ls at t
Amy Thurman
Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
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Right Whale Deaths Increase Cottontail swimming off Indialantic Beach, Fla., Feb.18, 2021 Photo by Joey Antonelli, Florida FWC Under NOAA permit 18786
By Rick Lavender Communications and Outreach Specialist GADNR Wildlife Resources Division Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions that may be difficult to read.
D
eath came quickly for the calf. For the adult nicknamed Cottontail, it took months. There are fewer than 375 North Atlantic right whales left. The two leading threats pushing them closer to extinction are entanglement in commercial fishing gear and being hit by ships and boats. Within two weeks in February, the Southeast coast saw right whales die from both; losses that overshadowed an otherwise encouraging winter calving season. Cottontail was a 12-year-old male cataloged as right whale no. 3920. In October, he was seen trailing hundreds of feet of fishing rope off Massachusetts. Right whales swimming past buoy lines linked to gillnets and lobster and crab traps – mostly in New England and Canadian waters – often inadvertently snag the ropes and end up pulling lines and sometimes even traps with them. The heavy, synthetic ropes can saw into flesh and bone and drain a whale’s energy. Some whales shed the lines, but many don’t. For them, too often the result is a slow death from infection and starvation. And entanglements aren’t rare. Reports suggest that about eight in 10 right whales bear scars from being entangled. A Center for Coastal Studies disentanglement team managed to cut 90 feet of line off Cottontail near Nantucket, Mass., last fall, but the prognosis wasn’t good. The rope was still wrapped tightly around his upper jaw and coming out both sides of his mouth. Things looked worse after he swam more than 1,000 miles to the species’ only known calving grounds off the coast of Georgia and north Florida. Spotted near Sebastian Inlet, Fla., on Feb. 18, Cottontail was emaciated. Agencies rallied for another try at cutting away the rope, but Cottontail disappeared. Within days, he was dead. The crew of a whale survey plane saw his shark-ravaged carcass off Myrtle Beach, S.C., in late February. Yet even when Cottontail was swimming at Sebastian Inlet, there was actually little hope for him. There is hope that a NOAA analysis will show where the rope came from. Clay George, a senior wildlife biologist who leads Georgia DNR’s work with right whales, said the rope was embedded in the whale’s upper jaw and woven through the baleen in his mouth. “We’ve seen that before: It doesn’t tend to end well for the animal. He probably died from a combination of running out of steam and potentially also infection.” April 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
In January, researchers photographed the first calf of right whale no. 3230 off Amelia Island, Fla. A month later, the toddlerage male, having grown to nearly two tons, washed up dead on a beach near St. Augustine. His head and back had been scored by boat propellers. “The cuts were deep,” said Tom Pitchford, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wildlife biologist who helped with the necropsy. The props sliced through bone in the calf ’s mouth and into a network of blood vessels. The back wounds laid open skin, blubber and muscle, even penetrating the lung cavity. The impact also left bruises, broken ribs and a fractured skull. A state investigation into the boat strike reported no violations. A NOAA probe is ongoing. The calf ’s mother, named Infinity, was seen swimming days later with fresh cuts on her side consistent with a vessel strike. Pitchford said the wound patterns suggest the mom and calf were swimming together at the time of impact. “Side by side, with the calf on the mom’s hip, if you will.” Researchers know more about this incident because the captain of the 54-foot sportfishing boat immediately reported the strike (the boat began taking on water and had to be grounded). But it also shows how recreational vessels shorter than those 65-feet or longer – which are regulated by seasonal speed limits – can also be dangerous for right whales. The strike that seriously injured a calf in Georgia waters last winter possibly involved a boat less than 65 feet long. That calf has not been seen since. Nor has another entangled whale from this winter: a 33-year-old male photographed with fishing rope wrapped around its tail. Which means NOAA’s Unusual Mortality Event for North Atlantic right whales will likely continue. Infinity’s calf was the 33rd right whale found dead in U.S. and Canada since 2017. Add another 14 live but seriously injured whales and the designation covers more than 10 percent of the known population. To read the NOAA report visit: bit.ly/RW_Mortality Meanwhile, a new study says that the right whale deaths documented represent only a fraction of the number that have died. Two weeks in February provided grim reminders of that toll and two primary reasons for it. Learn more about how you can help. Visit: www.fisheries.noaa. gov/species/north-atlantic-right-whale 9
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Save the snags As you head outside to do a little spring cleaning on your property, please leave the snags! Snags, also called wildlife trees, are trees that are dead or dying and provide crucial habitat to wildlife as they decay. Every part of the tree is beneficial to the surrounding environment, serving as habitat for birds, mammals and the small bugs and insects they feed on, providing nest space and perches for birds and roosts for bats, and even food storage space for wildlife. Very little in nature goes to waste!
Graphic provided by SCDNR April 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
11
Relics of the PasT
Evidence of another shipwreck discovered in the Savannah River.
One of three cannons brought up during maintenance dredging in late February. Photo by J. Gary Hill
By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
O
to preserve their integrity, until a holding facility could be made ready, and within days were transferred to a secure location. As word about these finds got out, rumors were flying fast and free like cannonballs in a full broadside exchange. One of the first was that the ship was the HMS Rose. This British Navy vessel was a sixth-rate post ship; her keel was laid on June 5, 1756, and launched on March 8, 1757, at the Blaydes Yard (the same shipyard that produced the HMS Bounty) in the port city of Kingston upon Hull, England. The Rose was briefly considered for Captain James Cook’s circumnavigation of the world but was rejected in favor of the HMS Endeavour, a larger vessel better suited to carrying the provisions needed for this extensive voyage. HMS Rose made her presence known in the American colonies, initially around Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, where she served
ver the last several years the mighty Savannah River has given up her dead in the form of scraps of history retrieved from its bed. Just a few years back, an extensive recovery effort was undertaken to recover the remnants of the CSS Georgia, a Civil War era Confederate ironclad discovered during the Savannah Harbor Deepening Project. During recent maintenance dredging in the same area, the river gave up yet another surprise. Due to the proximity to the CSS Georgia site a clamshell dredge was used, which allows for more sensitive removal of materials, and on February 18, the dredge Weeks 320, brought up another discovery. The find included three cannons, an anchor, and a sizeable piece of timber with copper spikes. These pieces were reported to the Army Corps of Engineers, as they are the controlling entity on these navigable waters. The finds were kept on board, safe and wet 12
Southern Tides Magazine
April 2021
as an interceptor against smuggling. At that time, Newport was the fourth wealthiest city in the colonies, largely due to a healthy trade in smuggling distilled spirits. The Rose, under the command of Sir James Wallace, was so effective that it prompted the building of the Providence, to counter her efforts. Providence, a sloop commanded by John Paul Joes, was the precursor to today’s U.S. Navy. In July 1776, the HMS Rose was once again at the center of attention, playing a key role in driving General George Washington out of New York City. Over the next three years the ship filled many roles from pressing merchant sailors into British Naval Service, to procuring provisions for the British. On September 12, 1779, the British were using the HMS Rose to protect their position in Savannah, but the ship was showing wear and taking on water. The order was given that she be sunk some three miles downriver in what was referred to as the “five fathom hole,” along with another vessel named the Fowey. The purpose was to block the channel and prevent the French Navy from providing support to colonists. Research shows that several British vessels were employed in the defense of Savannah, to include the Keppel, the Thunder, Comet, Savannah and Venus, both downriver to defend against the French
and upriver to prevent invasion by colonists ships from South Carolina. It was perhaps the sinking of the Rose that kept Savannah in the hands of the British until July 11, 1782. With that bit of history laid, let’s return to 2021. Is the ship recently discovered in the Savannah River the Rose, or is it not? The short answer is that it’s still too early to tell. It can take months or years to identify a shipwreck, if it’s even possible to do so. Like many others, I’d love for this to be the HMS Rose, but the more research I’ve done, the more disinclined I am to think it is. Let’s take a look at the facts. The Rose had a 108-foot gundeck and was just shy of 91 feet on the keel, with a draft of nine feet, seven inches, and her armaments consisted of 20 9-pounder cannons. I’ve come across a couple accounts that raise questions as to whether these were standard nines, or long nines. Standard nines were about seven feet long, while long nines were just over nine feet long, and 9-pounder refers to the weight of the cannonball the gun fired. The Rose may also have been armed with an additional four 9-pounders as bow and stern chasers. The cannons recovered in this new find are closer to five feet
Part of an anchor also discovered at the site, weighing approximately 150 pounds. Photo by J. Gary Hill
in length rather than the seven- to nine-foot cannons that should have been aboard the Rose. However, it’s hard to tell what the exact dimensions of these guns might have been with concretions and decay over time. Back in 1779, the captains of the Fowey and the Rose spent a couple days offloading their cannons, powder and shot, and transferring the loads to shore positions in preparation for scuttling. Cannons were valuable, especially in these times of war, and the ships would not have been sunk with their armaments. But it is possible the cannons found at this site could have been defective in some way, which might have resulted in their being left aboard when the ship was sunk. The anchor that was recovered fits with the admiralty style anchors in use during that period, and into the 1800s. However, the recovered anchor, which weighs approximately 150 pounds, seems a little small for a ship the size of the HMS Rose. But perhaps this wasn’t her primary anchor? Could these relics be from the HMS Rose? Your guess is as good as mine! Countless vessels have sailed the Savannah River and at least three wars have been fought in these waters. Do some research of your own and see what you discover. It’s a fascinating dive into the rich history of our area and I’m sure there’s much more to learn about this ship, whichever ship it might be.
A large piece of timber, possibly from a ship, with embedded copper spikes. Photo provided by USACE
I want to mention several people for their part in the ongoing research into this find, as well as source material for this article. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held an awesome press photoop, giving me a chance to get some great shots as well as seeing the artifacts up close and seeing firsthand this important piece of Savannah history. Andrea Farmer not only gave an excellent presentation, but took time for some one-on-one conversation as well. Thanks to Rashida Banks and Billy Birdwell for the invitation and the work they do to share what the Corps is doing with the public. Thanks to Theresa Smullen at the Maritime Museum of San Diego, home site of the HMS Surprise, for some great pictures of what the HMS Rose would have looked like during her service years (cover photo). If you travel to the San Diego area stop in and walk the decks of nautical history.
Want to do some research of your own? Here are some keyword searches to help get you started: • HMS Rose • Savannah River shipwrecks • Siege of Savannah • Georgia Maritime History Also visit the Ships of the Sea Museum in Savannah.
The bore of one of the cannons raised in February. Photo by J. Gary Hill 14
Southern Tides Magazine
April 2021
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Community Science Beneficial By Michael Sullivan External Affairs Manager UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Y
ou don’t have to be a professional scientist with an advanced degree to make a meaningful contribution to scientific research. That is one conclusion of a recent paper by Dorothea Sanders, an educator at the University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, and UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography researcher Jay Brandes. The article was published in the winter issue of Current: The Journal of Marine Education. The paper focuses on the researchers use of “community scientists” in a project to study the extent of microplastic pollution on the Georgia coast. The community scientists are volunteers, without extensive training or graduate degrees in the field. The initiative began in 2018 when Brandes and Sanders were faced with the daunting task of collecting monthly water samples at 12 different sites along the Georgia coast, but without a large team to conduct the field work. The previous summer, a UGA undergraduate student, Jacob Mabrey, demonstrated that using community scientists to fill the gap might be the answer. Mabrey spent the summer travelling up and down the coast and collected dozens of samples. Sanders and Brandes wanted to know whether community science could play a significant role in scientific research. They started with a model developed by the University of Florida microplastics project, Florida Microplastic Awareness Project. “We took that model and adapted it to what we thought we needed here on the Georgia coast,” Sanders said. Sanders and Brandes initially approached the Satilla, Altamaha and Ogeechee Riverkeeper groups, who conduct monthly water tests in their areas already. The riverkeeper groups gladly joined the project. Sanders and Brandes then expanded to include a small group of volunteers who were working with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant on the Skidaway Island campus. “It’s worked out great, because we have a group of volunteers that are very interested in learning more about this global issue,” Sanders said. “But more importantly, they’re interested in doing something about it. And so, this afforded an opportunity for volunteers to come in and not only help us do the science, but also become advocates for the project and advocates for what we were trying to accomplish.” Roger Cayer is one community scientist volunteer. “I feel like studies like this are important to raise the awareness level of the general population about plastic pollution,” he said. “Who would have thought that synthetic clothing would become such a major problem?” Brandes is very careful to avoid using the term “amateur” to describe the team of volunteers. “I think, sometimes, there can be April 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
Volunteers Maddie Monroe and Jim Orr collect water samples for microplastics. Photo by Dorothea Sanders
a negative connotation to that word, but the people who have been working on this project have been wonderful and very dedicated.” He said that everyone involved understands the critical importance of proper research technique, strict protocols and training in order to obtain believable data. The COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to the field work for the past 12 months. As Brandes said, it is difficult to socially distance on a 24 foot Carolina skiff. Sanders and Brandes would like to see their work benefit other researchers and community scientists. The overarching concept of the article is to provide a model that other researchers can put to work elsewhere. “Take community science, and its advantages, and its bonuses and how people can be an integral, an important part of scientific research, because they are force multipliers,” Sanders said. “They allow us to do so much more on such a larger scale than we would be able to do on a day-to-day basis.” Sanders said the community scientists opened her eyes to how the public is interested in environmental issues, especially issues that are in their own backyard. And they want to be advocates. “So that’s been a rewarding aspect of this project, to not only get to know the volunteers or the community scientists on a personal level, but to realize their passion for the work is just as great as our passion,” she said. That passion is echoed by Cayer who said he has enjoyed “the camaraderie, the laughs, the sharing of knowledge and ideas. And getting to know each member on a deeper level by sharing a common passion and goals.” 17
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Spring Boat Commissioning Checklist
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etting the boat ready for the summer boating season is an exciting time for America’s nearly 12 million recreational boaters. BoatUS has developed a Spring Commissioning Checklist to help boaters start the season right. Before You Launch □ Inspect and replace hose clamps as necessary. Double clamp fuel lines and exhaust hoses with marine-rated stainless-steel hose clamps. While not technically required, it’s a wise move to double clamp whenever possible on all hoses - especially those below the waterline. □ Inspect all hoses for stiffness, rot, leaks and cracking, and replace any that are faulty. Make sure they fit snugly. □ Inspect prop(s) for dings, pitting and distortion. Make sure cotter pins are secure. □ Grip the prop (on inboard drive systems) and try moving the shaft up and down and side to side. If it’s loose and can be wiggled, the cutless bearing may need to be replaced. □ Check the rudderstock to ensure it hasn’t been bent. Operate the wheel or tiller to ensure the steering works correctly. □ Inspect the hull for blisters, distortions and stress cracks. □ Make sure your engine intake sea strainer (if equipped) is not cracked or bent and is free of corrosion, clean and properly secured. □ With inboards, check the engine shaft and rudder stuffing boxes for correct adjustment. A stuffing box should leak no more than two drops each minute when the prop shaft is turning. □ Inspect, lubricate and exercise seacocks. □ Use a garden hose to check for deck leaks at ports and hatches. Renew caulk or gaskets as necessary. □ Inspect and test the bilge pump and float switch to make sure they’re both working properly. □ Check stove and remote LPG tanks for loose fittings and leaking hoses. □ Inspect dock and anchor lines for chafe and wear. □ If equipped, ensure that the stern drain plug is installed. □ After the boat is launched, be sure to check all thru-hulls for leaks. Engines and Fuel Systems □ Inspect fuel lines, including fill and vent hoses, for softness, brittleness or cracking. Check all joints for leaks, and make sure all lines are well supported with noncombustible clips or straps with smooth edges. □ Inspect fuel tanks, fuel pumps and filters for leaks. Ensure portable tanks and lines are completely drained of stale fuel before filling with fresh fuel. Clean or replace fuel filters and/or fuel-water separators if not done before winterization. □ Every few years, remove and inspect exhaust manifolds for corrosion (for inboard-powered and inboard/outboard boats). □ Charge battery. □ Clean and tighten electrical connections, especially both ends of battery cables. Use a wire brush to clean battery terminals, and top up cells with distilled water (if applicable). □ Inspect the bilge blower hose for leaks and run the blower to confirm correct operation. Engine Outdrives and Outboards □ Inspect rubber outdrive bellows for cracked, dried and/or deteriorated spots (look especially in the folds) and replace if suspect. □ Check power steering and power trim oil levels. □ Replace anodes/zincs that are more than half wasted. April 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
□ Inspect the outer jacket of control cables. Cracks or swelling indicate corrosion and mean that the cable must be replaced. □ Inspect lower unit oil level and top up as necessary. Sailboat Rigging □ Inspect swage fittings for cracks and heavy rust (some discoloration is acceptable). Inspect wire halyards and running backstays for “fishhooks” and rust. □ Remove tape on turnbuckles and lubricate threads, preferably with Teflon. Replace old tape with fresh tape but don’t wrap airtight. □ If you suspect the core around a chainplate is damp, remove the chainplate to inspect and make repairs. Trailers □ Inspect tire treads and sidewalls for cracks or lack of tread and replace as necessary. Check air pressure; don’t forget the spare. □ Inspect wheel bearings and repack as necessary. □ Test all lights and replace any broken bulbs or lenses. □ Inspect winch to make sure it’s working properly. Inspect hitch chains. □ Inspect trailer frame for rust. Sand and paint to prevent further deterioration. □ Inspect brakes and brake fluid reservoir. Safety □ Check expiration dates on flares. □ Inspect fire extinguishers. Replace if more than 12 years old or if age is unknown. More than 40 million Kidde extinguishers with plastic handles were recalled on Nov. 2, 2017. □ Ensure you have properly sized and wearable life jackets in good condition for each passenger, including kids. Check inflatable life jacket cylinders and dissolvable “pill” bobbins in auto-inflating models. □ Test smoke, carbon monoxide, fume and bilge alarms. □ Check running lights for operation and spare bulb inventory. □ Update paper charts and chartplotter software. □ Replenish first-aid kit items that may have been used last season or are expired. □ Check the operation of VHF radio and that the MMSI number is correctly programmed in. (BoatUS members can obtain a free MMSI number at BoatUS.com/MMSI.) □ Get a free vessel safety check from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons. Find out more at SafetySeal.net. For the Dock □ In addition to checking its entire length for wear or abrasions, check both ends of the shore power cable connections for burns, which indicate the cable and/or boat’s shore power inlet or the dock’s receptacle must be replaced. □ Test ground-fault protection on your boat and private dock and know how to prevent electric shock drowning. The Paperwork □ Make sure your boat registration is up to date. Don’t forget your trailer tags. □ Review your boat insurance policy and update coverage if needed. Provide a copy to your marina or club. □ If you are a BoatUS member, ensure your membership is in good standing. You can also download the free BoatUS app to make it easy to summon on-water assistance and speed response times. 19
Safe Harbor
Rigging Services, LLC Proudly Serving Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida
231-578-5087 info@safeharborriggingservices.com www.safeharborriggingservices.com
John S. Ramsey, Owner Authorized
Dealer
Community Updates Vessel Safety Checks Now In-Person or DIY
No cost, no penalty vessel safety checks, which up until last season were given by U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons volunteers at launch ramps, boat clubs and marinas, are back. Boat owners can now request in-person safety checks from the Coast Guard Auxiliary or download a DIY checklist and perform the inspection themselves. DIY virtual safety check: A new virtual safety check continues the tradition of no-cost inspections by offering a combination of an easily downloadable virtual safety checklist – the same used by actual vessel examiners – along with online guide that makes it easy for any boater to perform their own examination. To start, visit: bit.ly/CGAux_SafetyCheck Doing a DIY virtual safety check does two things: It can give first-time boat owners a line-by-line recipe for making their boats safe. It can also greatly increase the chances of any boat successfully passing an in-person vessel safety check. Examiners note that it’s often just one or two items, such as expired flare or a burnt-out navigation light, that prevents a boat from earning a passing grade. The Auxiliary and Power Squadrons also note that some boaters desire to earn a vessel safety check decal to display aboard the boat, which can only be earned through an in-person vessel check. In-person vessel safety check: While COVID has affected many groups, including the Auxiliary and Power Squadrons, each is endeavoring to get vessel examiners in the field this year. The easiest way to find out if a marina, boat club, or launch ramp will be the site of a scheduled vessel safety check event is to contact your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons. You can also request an individual vessel safety check at cgaux.org/vsc, but note that scheduled vessel safety events may offer the surest way to earn a vessel safety check decal this season. All in-person vessel safety checks follow COVID safety protocols.
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If you enjoyed the first five books of Michael C. Grumley’s Breakthrough Series, you’ll be pleased to know he’s released book six, Echo. In this action adventures series, scientists have discovered that dolphins are capable of communicating with humans in far more complex ways than were ever previously imagined. The impact this has on the world, and especially the team of researchers and an elite military team tasked in protecting the project, continues in book six. From the author: It began with a breakthrough. In interspecies communication. Leading both John Clay and Alison Shaw through a series of startling discoveries and life-altering revelations. Divulging who we really are as a species. Why we are here...and who is here with us. And the greatest lesson of all, that our brains are not as rare and unique as humans had assumed. But rather just one of three brains between three extraordinary species. All influenced by a fluke of evolution and something that should never have existed on Earth in the first place. Something we are now finally on the verge of understanding. It will take more than just one brain to do it. More than just one species. And courage from all three. Courage in the face of those still trying to stop Clay and Alison before their stranglehold on the world is lost. But Clay and his team already know the truth. That there is no courage without fear, and no victory without sacrifice. You can purchase the book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/2Q27iXS 20
Southern Tides Magazine
April 2021
Darien Man Breaks Pompano Record
Richard Bjorneby, 26, of Darien, landed a record-breaking African pompano (Alectis ciliaris) off the Georgia coast Saturday, March 13, 2021, and has been certified as the new state record holder for that species. Bjorneby caught the 47.8-inch (total length), 40-pound, 0.48-ounce fish near Navy Tower R4 aboard the vessel Anchored Up, captained by Johnny Wildes. The fish breaks the previous record of 37-pounds, 1.28-ounces held since August 2019 by Alvin Dezern of Brunswick. Doug Haymans, director of DNR’s Coastal Resources Division, which oversees the state’s Saltwater Gamefish Record Program, said Bjorneby’s catch is a credit to the years of experience he has as an angler. “This achievement recognizes not only the size Richard Bjorneby with his recordof the catch, but Mr. Bjorneby’s skill as an angler setting pompano. and the sportsmanship displayed in landing a Photo provided by GADNR record-setting gamefish,” Haymans said. Bjorneby landed the African pompano using a 6-foot, 6-inch Shimano Talavera rod with Penn Slammer 7500 reel with 85-pound braided Spiderwire line and a diamond jig as bait at the end of a 3-foot, 60-pound monofilament leader on a swivel. The catch was weighed at the Georgia DNR regional headquarters in Brunswick on Monday, March 15, 2021, on scales certified by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The Saltwater Gamefish Records Committee, comprised of DNR marine biologists and staffers, approved the new record Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Bjorneby will receive a certificate signed by Gov. Brian Kemp acknowledging his record catch, and the record will be added to the list published at CoastalGaDNR. org/RecreationalFishing. It will also be included in the 2022 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations guidebook. For the current list of men's and women's saltwater fishing records, as well as information on how to submit a catch to the Georgia Saltwater Gamefish Record, please visit CoastalGaDNR.org/RecreationalFishing.
5 Ways to Get Your VHF Ready for the Season
In recreational boating, cellphones are just fine for routine communications. So why do you need a VHF radio – either a handheld or fixed mount – on your boat? Because in an emergency it’s the only thing that can directly connect you to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Rescue 21 system, giving you access to high-tech emergency response and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities that can hasten your rescue. To ensure your VHF radio is ready to go for the season, here are five tips from the BoatUS Foundation: 1. Check the antennae, power and ground to the VHF radio, and batteries/charger if a handheld. Rusty or ill-fitting connections rob your radio of range. Hand held VHF batteries need to be fully charged. 2. Read your radio’s manual so you know features like squelch, scan, and hi/lo power settings. Familiarize yourself with the most important VHF radio channels. 3. For those with non-DSC VHF radios, automated VHF radio check systems are no longer available. However, you can make a short radio check voice call on VHF channel 9 (do not tie up the distress channel 16). 4. For those with DSC VHF radios, enter the U.S. Coast Guard coast station group identity “003669999” into the radio’s DSC memory. Once stored, 1. select “Test Call” from the radio’s DSC menu; 2. select the U.S. Coast Guard number you just entered; and 3. transmit the call. Your DSC VHF radio’s display should indicate when that test call is acknowledged and display the acknowledging station’s nine-digit identity. Note that the identity may be different than the group identity you previously entered. 5. Get your DSC-VHF radio’s Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number by going to BoatUS.com/MMSI. MMSI numbers are free for BoatUS members or $25 for nonmembers. Don’t forget to enter the new MMSI number into your DSC VHF radio and ensure GPS connection is made (if DSC-VHF radio doesn’t have internally). More information on VHF radios can be found at bit.ly/VHF_RadioInfo. April 2021
Southern Tides Magazine
21
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The BitterEnd A View of the Past By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
H
umans are curious creatures. We also love our lives to fit into compartments and follow orderly trains of thoughts and actions. But seldom does life fit into boxes, instead it sometimes runs willy-nilly along meandering paths. When chasing shipwrecks that is more often the case than not. In addition, time has little respect for our hopes and wishes, and when searching for and identifying lost ships or treasures, years, decades and sometimes centuries pass before the truth is brought forth. Treasure hunter Mel Fisher spent over fifteen years in his search for the Atocha, a 17th century Spanish galleon found in the Florida Keys, holding treasure valued at over $400 million. During the years of searching, Fisher was often quoted as saying “Todays the day!” Many shipwreck hunters approach life with this attitude. Tommy Gregory Thompson, an Ohio marine engineer, spent years researching the route of the SS Central America which sank off the South Carolina coast in 1857. What made the Central America a unique find (other than the gold valued at $150 million when it was found) was the economic panic that her sinking caused. Very much like the little incident with Ever Given, the Evergreen container ship that recently got stuck in the Suez Canal. For me, shipwrecks don’t have to be laden with gold, their holds filled with gems and treasures plundered from around the world, to be significant. Sometimes it’s about the story. Most of us have seen the movie Titanic, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, directed by James Cameron, but have you ever heard of Robert Ballard? Ballard was the lead guy involved in finding the wreck of the real Titanic. But did you know the search for the Titanic was a ruse? Yes, they did find her, but that wasn’t the mission. In 1985 when word broke that the Titanic had been found, everyone thought that years and years of scientific and nautical research had gone into it. Not so much. The search was a cover story for a naval operation trying to determine the state of and hopefully recover two Navy nuclear subs, the Thresher and the Scorpion, that were lost in the same area as the Titanic. The Navy was concerned about nuclear weapons left onboard as well as the impact of the reactors on the environment. A cover story was generated to throw the Russians off the scent. Reminds me of a Clive Cussler novel. Speaking of Clive Cussler, this author and marine researcher is credited with finding and recovering the CSS H.L. Hunley, America’s first submarine to successfully sink a warship. Cussler’s non-profit research organization, the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA) is given credit for the find. I’ve visited the Hunley a few times through the years since she was first publicly displayed at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in Charleston. But I later learned of another story, just below the surface. Cussler says his team discovered the Hunley in 1995, however, a gentleman named E. Lee Spence says he discovered it in 1970 as a 12-year-old boy with homemade dive gear. Let’s circumnavigate back to the ship artifacts found in the
A cannon recovered from the Savannah River in February. Photo by Captain J. Gary Hill
Savannah River. Is it the HMS Rose? It’s still a little early to tell. I would love for that to be the case as it would fit in a nice, neat, little compartment. However, this mystery is a long way from being answered, and we may never know with certainty. I think the pivotal information lies in what the artifacts reveal, and I hope to revisit this story down the road. As always, peace and love, shrimp and grits, wash your hands, and I'll see you on the water!
Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com
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Southern Tides Magazine
April 2021
To all my clients, customers, friends and family, What interesting times we are in now. The past year has been a little different for sure. I hope you were able to reconnect with loved ones and spend some time doing something new and creative. We are now in the throes of finishing up the vaccine for everyone. That should help shed new and brighter light on 2021.
6349 Abercorn St. Savannah, GA 912.352.1222
Lyn McCuen 912.224.0927
lyn@coldwellbanker.com www.lynmccuen.com @lynmccuen
I know that most of us lost someone close and it really makes us think and appreciate the memories and what we have.
Find me on:
Savannah has been “found” by so many newcomers. When “sheltering in place” allowed people to realize that they could work from home, many rethought where was the place that they wanted to raise their family and lay their head. My clients are continuing to tell me that they chose Savannah for a positive life change. Really makes a native girl love her home and town even more. Whether you enjoy a downtown busy life or more laid back along the coast and islands, we have it for all. The real estate market in Savannah has remained strong and is incredibly robust right now. New listings are flying off the shelf. Interest rates are continuing to remain low. I have been honored to have worked with many sellers and buyers in the last year to help their goals and dreams come true. What an exciting and satisfying career that I have. Every single time a buyer or seller achieves their goal, a little bit of me is there too. I love working with you all. There are so many wonderful partners that we all work with, from agents to mortgage brokers to inspectors. We all help build this unique and special community. Now it is time to think to the future. Spring has arrived in Savannah. With it comes the beautiful skies and temperatures. A little pollen thrown in for good measure. The birds and bees are helping the flowers to burst forth with so much color. It cannot help but make you smile. Spring also brings new homes to the market. So many changes. Let’s get together to help those happen. Lots of buyers needing new homes. Time to first time buy, invest, move up or downsize. I am excited about helping new and repeat clients realize their dreams. Sellers, let’s get your house spruced up and find the perfect new owner. We all get so busy in our daily lives that it is hard to take time to remember and then be thankful for this thing we call life. My wish for you all is to purposely take one moment each day, think about one special thing that exists in your life and rejoice. Just takes a second and for the rest of the day, you will smile brighter and laugh louder. Love you all,
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