Construction crews continue to transform Stuart's old Southpoint Anchorage waterfront into the Sunset Bay Marina and Anchorage. And the mooring field, which long has been home to traveling and wintering sailors, is expected to reopen by Jan. 15. The mooring field closed in May to make way for a major face-lift on the 1.9-acre marina site.

Construction began May 1 on the new marina, which will be dredged
to eight feet to accommodate larger vessels. The finished marina will
hold 198 boats on fixed and floating piers, expand the existing
harbor master house and include shops as well as a 220-seat restaurant.

Buzz Billue, Stuart's harbor master for more than eight years, said sailors
are already asking when they can begin using the mooring balls that
construction officials say will be re- certified during the week of Jan. 5.