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LETTERS“Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.”A.J. LieblingIn its continuing endeavor to share its press, SOUTHWINDSinvites readers to write in with experiences & opinions.E-mail your letters to editor@southwindsmagazine.comLOWER PRICES ON MOORING FIELDSOR BOATERS WILL JUST GO FARTHER OUTThe FWC got the go-ahead from the Legislature to findworkable solutions/ordinances to Florida’s anchoringchallenges. The FWC produced the mooring field pilotprogram. Five Florida areas are involved — St. Augustine,Stuart/Martin County, Monroe County (Key Largo to KeyWest), Sarasota, and St. Petersburg. These areas get to trynew ordinances that affect ALL boaters, liveaboards andnon-liveaboards alike. Those new laws and the pilot programexpire July 2014.Yes, there is federal maritime law that says don’t messwith boats in navigation and that anchoring is intrinsic tonavigation. Yes, there is a public trust doctrine that says thenavigable waters of our nation are held in the public trustfor the free use of citizens.The pilot program has as its principal goal “to promotethe establishment and use of public mooring fields.” Thebalance of the goals—improve the environment, improvenavigation, etc.—can be reached when boaters use publicmooring fields. There is no question that public mooringfields are assets to both the boating community and theshoreside community. They provide efficiency, safety, controlsand services. But how a pilot program and fresh lawsin Key Largo (Monroe County) promote use of public mooringfields in Boot Key (also in Monroe County) is a mystery.The focus seems to be to create more laws to furtherrestrict anchoring in any given area. More laws are seen asthe means to promote public mooring fields. What’s reallyhappening is more laws are generating anchor sprawl. Lessaffluent boaters anchor beyond the reaches of the new laws.In St. Augustine, we have some 30 boats displaced by thepermitted mooring fields, beyond municipal reaches andbeyond the convenient use of the pump-out boat, wherethey properly, prudently, reasonably and lawfully enjoytheir United States’ Rights of Navigation.A public mooring field ideally could include, accept,invite, willing boaters into the safety, efficiency, convenience,and order IF rates accommodated the less financially able.Municipalities see public mooring fields as a revenue stream,not as a public service or a means to improve our waterways.Jay Bliss, USCG-licensed CaptainSt. Augustine Port Commissioner Seat 5Jay,Yes, I agree—it appears the municipalities are in the profit businessinstead of the public service business. They will get the highestprice they can get to make as much money as possible, andthese boats will move farther and farther away. Some will movefarther because they just won’t pay, and others will move fartherbecause they can’t afford it. If it were a public service, priceswould be at cost and more would use the mooring fields, becauseof the good services, like shore facilities, dinghy docks, location.See LETTERS continued on page 10The Bradenton Yacht Club presentsThe 29th AnnualKickoff RegattaSeptember 23-25, 2011SPINNAKER - NON-SPINNAKERMULTIHULL - CRUISINGRACER/CRUISERONE-DESIGN(One-design on separate course with additional races)This is the first event for the Suncoast Boatof the Year Series and the second event inthe Sarasota Bay Boat of the Year SeriesENTRY FEE INCLUDES:2 T-Shirts, Cap, 2 Saturday Dinner Tickets, Free Beerall days (while it lasts), Party with Live MusicSaturday Night, Continental Breakfast Sat. & Sun.,Complimentary Dockage Friday-Sunday.Single point hoist (4000-lbs. maximum),mast crane, and ramp available for boat launchingFor more information, go towww.bradentonyachtclub.comFIND US ON FACEBOOK:“Bradenton Yacht Club Kickoff Regatta”or call Jeff Walden (941) 776-9653Dock Reservations : (941) 722-5936, ext. 212or Dockmaster Cell: (941) 374-2310News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS September 2011 9