The Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net and Waterway Guide Band Together to Promote "Fire Relief Fund"

Fire at McCotters Marina, Washington, NC. Photo courtesy of Capt. Aubrey Moore, Washington Yacht and Country Club

 The Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net and Waterway Guide Band Together to Promote "Fire Relief Fund" In Response to Dramatic Fire at McCotters Marina (Washington, NC)Yes, cruising friends, I know you just heard about this from me some 48 hours ago, but today we have news of a unique partnership to help those affected by this tragic event. Please read the joint Waterway Guide - SSECN announcement below.

Waterway Guide and the Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net, the two most trusted names. First at McCotters Marina Link to article on Water Guide and the Salty Southeast Cruiser's Net. for Southeastern USA cruising information, have joined forces to help those who lost so much, and gave so much, during the recent, dramatic fire at McCotters Marina in Washington, North Carolina. Those of you who have not yet heard about this tragic event can learn more from the Waterway Guide Discussion Board at: Waterway Guide discussion board

You can also link to this article from the home page of the Cruisers' Net at: Cruiser' Net

There were heroes aplenty in this tragedy, many of them fellow cruisers. A host of live-aboards lost everything they own, and others lost vessels that had undergone years of restoration work. The Red Cross is currently housing some of the affected cruisers at the local Days Inn in Washington, NC, but that offer of lodging will run out soon. With the North Carolina coast in the firm grip of old man winter, these brother and sister cruisers need our help!

Remains of the hulls of multiple boats after the fire.

So, in the spirit of the long standing tradition of cruisers helping cruisers, Waterway Guide and the Cruisers' Net are now jointly sponsoring a "Fire Relief Fund" to aid the 26 boat owners whose vessels were either totally destroyed or heavily damaged, and McCotters Marina, which lost a goodly portion of its dockage. At last report, the entire marina was still considered a "Haz-Mat" area, and no one was being allowed
back aboard their vessels.

Waterway Guide and the Cruisers' Net will jointly collect funds until 2/28/11. At that time, we will distribute all the collected funds equally to the affected boat owners, and a share to McCotters Marina. To get the ball rolling, Waterway Guide and the Cruisers' Net jointly pledge $300.00 to the Fire Relief Fund!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SSECN - WATERWAY GUIDE FIRE RELIEF FUND,
please send a check for any amount, made out to the "SSECN - Waterway Guide Fire Relief Fund," to:SSECN - Waterway Guide Fire Relief Fund
P. O. Box 67
Elon, NC 27244-0067

While checks are easier for us to process, you can also contribute via credit card by calling 336-266-1369. Please have your credit card #, expiration date, security code, and the amount you want to contribute, ready!

Thanks in advance to everyone who decides to help. Our fellow cruisers are counting on us, so don't delay!

Claiborne Young
Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net
CruisingWriter@CruisersNet.net  mailto:CruisingWriter@CruisersNet.net
Cruisers' Net website.

Chuck Baier
Waterway Guide
cbaier@waterwayguide.com  mailto:cbaier@waterwayguide.com
Waterway Guide website:

*Please donate generously. I can speak first hand what it is like to lose everything when our store Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery together with our second floor residence was destroyed by an adjacent church fire. We would not have made it if not for the generous assistance from all of the wonderful people here in Hampton Roads and beyond! Please forward this message to all of your boating friends.