editor’s Letter
We all got a little smarter after Memorial Day weekend.
Matt Winter
I know I did.
Anybody plugged in to the local boating and fishing scene has probably heard at least some of the horror stories from that terrifying May weekend.
May 24, in particular, was a day nobody should forget. The marine forecasts were calling for a relatively nice ocean early that Saturday, with a probable turn for the worse in the afternoon. Though this scenario is typical for a Lowcountry summer day, the outlook on this particular day was dicey enough for many seasoned anglers to stay off the water. The organizers of the James Island Yacht Club King Mackerel Tournament even canceled their event, despite predictions of a nice morning. (What a good call that turned out to be.)
But many still took to the water. And sure enough, a severe storm moved through late in the afternoon. Once that storm made it offshore, it blew up into an angler’s worst nightmare, with enormous seas and ripping winds. Those caught in it would later report that the ocean went from relatively calm to life-threatening in a matter of minutes. Some reports put the wave heights at more than 10 feet in certain areas.
At least three boats ran into trouble that day. One was left floating in huge seas after the crew was rescued by an outgoing cruise ship. The crew of a second boat rode back into Charleston after being rescued by an incoming cargo ship. And yet a third group of anglers escaped with their lives after being picked up by a local sportfisher that ran back out into the storm to answer their mayday. One of the sporty’s crew members jumped in the center console, took the wheel and followed the bigger boat home, riding the troughs of what he called “solid 8- to 10-foot seas.”
Now, I’ve never personally seen 10-foot seas. And I don’t want to. Especially in a relatively small center console.
Small-boat anglers such as myself would do well to stop and think about what happened that weekend in May. More and more of us are pushing our center consoles out to deeper water, and we should all realize how little room there is for error.
We were lucky, as a boating community, that lives weren’t lost on May 24. The bottom line, for me, is this: If there’s even a question, stay inshore. The ocean will still be there another day.
To our readers...
We’re proud to announce that Tideline, the Lowcountry’s premier maritime magazine, will now be published monthly.
To help give you the best possible coverage and customer service, we’re also bringing two new staff members onboard: Staff Writer Abi Nicholas and Advertising Account Executive Coleman Faircloth.
Abi Nicholas
Abi, shown here gearing up for a kiteboarding lesson on Sullivan’s Island, arrives at Tideline from the newsroom of The Post and Courier newspaper, where she wrote a retail column for the business desk. Prior to that, she served as news editor of the George Street Observer at the College of Charleston.
Growing up in Mount Pleasant, Abi learned to appreciate the Lowcountry’s waterways at a young age. The beaches, ocean, creeks and rivers were her playgrounds, and she’s excited to have the opportunity to share this passion with Tideline readers.
Contact Abi at 843-958-7375 or abi@tidelinemagazine.com.
Coleman Faircloth
Coleman will be taking over as the magazine’s key advertising executive. Before joining Tideline, “Coley” worked in the advertising department of The Post and Courier.
Coley, shown here enjoying one of his favorite pursuits, grew up just minutes from Clark’s Hill Lake near Augusta, Ga. Coley spends much of his free time fishing, skiing and boating, and in 2007 he followed this love of the water to Charleston.
If you’re interested in advertising in Tideline magazine, you can reach Coley at 843-937-5725, 843-708- 0983 (mobile) or coleman@tidelinemagazine.com.
As we transition to a monthly publication, Tideline’s mission will remain the same: To explore and celebrate our treasured maritime way of life. We’ll continue to focus on a wide range of issues and pursuits that define a vibrant coastal community: Maritime news and business, science and conservation, coastal culture and cuisine… and, of course, we’ll still devote much of our coverage to fishing, boating and watersports of all kinds.
As always, thank you for reading Tideline!
Comments
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)