Here’s a great service for snowbirds heading south on the Intracoastal Waterway or offshore: Free daily weather briefings at Southport Marina in historic Southport, North Carolina. The briefings, on the docks at 6 p.m. daily, cover weather, sea conditions and any particular navigation problems from Southport south to Savannah, Georgia.
Now in their fifth year, the popular briefings are known as “ICW Navigation and Offshore Weather Briefs on the Dock” and they’re sponsored by Carolina Yacht Care and Zimmerman Marine, Southport Marina. Aimed at transiting boats, the briefings are done by Hank Pomeranz, a retired U.S. Navy meteorologist, cruising sailor and owner of Carolina Yacht Care.
Every day Pomeranz will review the latest National Weather Service advisories, analysis and forecasts, and will cover winds, sea conditions, precipitation, temperatures, fog and severe weather. For the ICW, Pomeranz will draw on Army Corps of Engineers surveys, Coast Guard Notices to Mariners and contemporary cruiser postings from Salty Southeast Cruiser’s Net, Waterway Guide, ActiveCaptain and local knowledge.
After the briefings Pomeranz will give everyone handouts to take back to their boats to help them prepare for the next day’s cruise. The briefings also will have informal discussions among cruisers at the end of the day. They will continue through Dec. 15.
Southport Marina, a full-service marina with 200 slips with deep water access, a fuel dock and a Travelift for up to 55 tons, is at Intracoastal Waterway mile 309, Marker 2A. It’s within easy walking distance of downtown Southport. For more:
