River Rat Yacht Club

08/29/2026

Update on Dolly:

Atlantic Gale Warning: The remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly have opened up into a trough at the surface, and is now a tropical wave along about 51W. This system is passing directly south of the Atlantic subtropical ridge, and producing gale-force winds to 35 kt, from 16.5N to 17.5N between 49W and 51W. Peaks seas there are estimated at 14 ft. This tropical wave will approach the waters east of the Leeward Islands late Sat as a strong tropical wave, with winds expected to diminish to 25-30 kt by then, and below gale conditions. Strong winds with gusts to gale- force, rough seas, accompanied by squalls and thunderstorms will spread into the far NE Caribbean, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico and the adjacent waters Sat evening into early next week in association with this tropical wave.

08/26/2026

MARVs weather opinion:(8-26-2026)

For now, Invest 96-L is nothing for you to be concerned or worried about.

First, more than likely, Invest 96-L will not be a significant threat to the Lesser Antilles or the eastern Caribbean early next week. The reason why is it should still be fairly weak & it may end up tracking just north of the Lesser Antilles to not be a concern at all.

Second, we are more than a week away from Invest 96-L possibly reaching the southwestern North Atlantic where it might find itself in a more favorable environment for development. So, even if it does develop into a tropical system later next week, we have more than enough time to keep an eye on it.

My advice to you is to just monitor the progress of Invest 96-L and check back in about once a day to see if there are any changes to the forecast of this disturbance.

08/16/2026

08/16/2026

What a party! Third Saturday for River Rat Yacht Club. 100lb pig- thanks Mr Butcher in Belhaven- a lot of prep by our Commodore Mike and gracious hosting by Linda and Maggie greeting each guest with a lei. About 40 Rats showed up in luau dress.

Can’t say enough about the abundant sides- beans, slaws, salads, potatoes and the desserts- bunt cake, flan(with brandy to drizzle), Carmel bars, key lime bars and so much more

08/14/2026

Ever wonder about those plentiful cormorants? They are controversial with fishermen. Here is what SC is doing:

State plans authorizing hunters to take Cormorants during waterfowl season

South Carolina is planning to bring back something you don’t see every day: a public hunt for double-crested cormorants, a federally protected migratory bird. The proposed hunt would take place on Lakes Marion and Moultrie in the Santee Cooper system beginning in February 2027 and running through March. Hunters would need a South Carolina hunting license, complete mandatory training and obtain a special cormorant permit. (SCDNR⁠)

This isn’t the first time South Carolina has used hunters to manage cormorants. In 2014, more than 1,200 permitted hunters participated in the state’s first public cormorant management hunt, killing 11,653 birds. The program was later halted after a federal court vacated the depredation orders that provided the legal framework for cormorant control.

Now South Carolina is looking to bring the program back as cormorant numbers and concerns over their impact on forage fish in the Santee Cooper system continue. The birds are protected under federal law, but federal authorization allows states to conduct targeted management. If approved, South Carolina hunters could once again be legally shooting cormorants in February 2027.

Aaron B. Futrell, Author|Owner, Delong Lures

08/13/2026

https://ocracokeobserver.com/2026/08/12/electric-ferry-team-proposes-ocracoke-hatteras-links-to-mainland/?fbclid=IwcGRvZgVmZGlkFlDGG-lH7tYYMt4TDQ7b-kb9_cK9AwpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeyh5kD7lISI6TJqFQOrz-h8IlAgM2Ea9qPfQVqaXtEGlLTjPHR2ZqhEmMdpU_aem_Ub83sUcxO2qCoCbprsygAg #:~:text=By%20Sam%20Walker,2025.%20%5BGoogle%20Maps%5D

By Sam Walker Samwalkerobxnews.com A maritime development team is exploring electric passenger ferry service between Buxton and Ocracoke. PamliEcoConnect is proposing service involving Ocracoke and Buxton and three mainland communities: Vandemere in Pamlico County, along with Engelhard and Belhaven....

08/08/2026

I picked up the marker we used to drop the Jordan entrance. Osprey nest on Leech Island and Rats sailing

07/30/2026

Below is a story about a former River Rat who kept a boat there until Irene hit.

07/30/2026

https://islandfreepress.org/hatteras-island-features/04192018-juvenilebullsharkpopulationgrowinginwesternregionsofpamlicosound/

The juvenile bull shark population is on the rise in the western regions of the Pamlico Sound, per a recent study that utilized combined data and studies from the N.C. […]