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My Inaugeration Non-Sailing Day

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/21/2013 : 13:02:43

I was on my boat Saturday, Sunday and today. Saturday and Sunday the temps were in the 50s with Sunday the warmer of the two. Though, there were two sailboats out sailing on Saturday (one was taking down his sails), I decided to not go out since there were gusts to 20mph. Normally, that is not a concern in the summer months but given the 3-day weekend and with water temps cold, the wind would really make it feel cold, so I opted out for another day and just tinkered around on my boat. Sunday, the gusts increased to about 30mph, so I decided to clean & wax my cockpit area. Tha brings us to today !

Weather was pretty good for today ! I headed into DC around 1030am and temps were about 40-42F and were not going to get much warmer as a cold front was moving in and temps were expected to head down starting after 2pm or so. But things were lookin good ! winds were about 10mph and no gusts, I was dressed warm and no traffic - Everyone must have already been in DC for the Inaugeration events. Lot's of police barricades and police cars but my way to the marina was a "breeze" !

I'm all set up. Start the outboard and pull away from the finger slip. As I head out, I see a Coast Guard boat tied up at the fuel dock. My thought was that there was no fuel service today as the marina had a posting that they would be closed today - That is, their office and fuel dock but bathrooms, etc were available to the boat owners. As I pull out adjacent to the fuel dock and just starting to make my turn for open water, the Coast Guard guys hail me and indicate the waterways are closed today due to the Inaugeration !! What a bummer ! I head back in and tie up. As I start putting things away, I see some guys with the red stripe jackets trying to gain access to my main dock. So, I go down to help them out - Open the combination locked gate. Turns out that they want to see my driver's licesne and boat certificate but they explain there was no violation, no warning to be issued, just that they have to ID all that are trying to gain access to the waterways today. So, while they were recording the info we talked a bit about Honda Outboards and maintenance free batteries. They gave me a receipt of the recorded info but told me I could just throw it out since they are only doing an identification check.

So....I missed an opportunity for a sail this weekend....but at least my cockpit looks pretty good for mid-winter !!

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - OLarryR on 01/21/2013 13:05:51

binky
Navigator

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USA
115 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 14:15:51

So much for Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. At least your boat is looking good. I ran into the same problem this weekend, the wind..not the gestapo asking for ID. We had a west wind blowing good on Sunday...I went down to do some repairs/cleaning and the wind was blowing hard enough, that while standing on the dock, I did not feel comfortable going down on the finger pier, let alone trying to get on the boat. I packed up and went to Harbor Freight and Boaters Warehouse. I managed to spend a whopping $4 on some heat shrink...proud of myself for not spending a ton of money. Winter weather here next week...maybe the following week will be more promising.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 14:45:50

Larry, so how far were you from the inauguration site? Not sure how I would feel about being approached however. I do see they were taking precautions. But at least you did accomplish something and any time on the boat is better than not. Right?
I have done same many a time. Even just sat and read a book, which is the only time I do. The day I took the picture below of the Admiral was one of those days. Very relaxing and peaceful. And that is whats its all about. At least until some power boater fires up the diesel engines!

Steve A

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 15:14:01

I only made it as far as getting out of the marina about enough to then make a 360 degree turn and head back in. The fuel dock is on the endge of exiting the marina and that is where they were.

I am adjacent to the Washington Channel which is ~15+ blocks away from center of the action in the mall area. I am not sure how far the waterways were off limits on the Potomac north of me but they indicated it was off limits to just south of Natl Reagan Airport...so about 1/2-1 mile south of me on the Potomac.

My run-ins with the USCG have been good experiences and they are always around my area with helicoptors and their boats. Same goes for the DC Harbor Police. I have only been boarded by the USCG one time and that was years ago - It was a day when coming back, there was hardly any wind and I guess it was at least interesting. My boat checked out fine and they were very friendly. Then about 10 minutes later they came up my stern again, hailing me indicating they were going to board me. I was just about going to say something when they indicated, they were only kidding. They thought they left their training looseleaf in my cabin...which they did. Once they retrieved it...They joked they would be back in 10 minutes to board me again. I told them they better hurry back because I would be in the marina by then !

Edited by - OLarryR on 01/21/2013 15:15:20

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 17:02:12

In this day and age precautions are to be expected but another side of me wonders if they thought you were going to do something and then make a speedy getaway at 4mph.

Edited by - on

Peregrine
Admiral

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830 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 18:15:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 In this day and age precautions are to be expected but another side of me wonders if they thought you were going to do something and then make a speedy getaway at 4mph.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hey!
The C-25 is capable 6+!!

Edited by - on

Arlington
Navigator

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USA
196 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 20:12:08

We had a great sail on Saturday afternoon, practicing man overboard with my 12 year old 1st Mate at the helm, he got the dummy every time, did well. Then the Club had races on Sunday afternoon we had about nine boats on the lake. Warm days in January are often few and far between.

Today, we got to see the inauguration on TV, then we just stopped and 'looked' at the boat. I guess I am fortunate to be in TX, away from DC...I'm glad the President doesn't sail, we would probably never be able to get out on the water.
Doug

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 20:48:19

You know...they did ask me if I had any weapons onboard. I told them "no" but then added, "Well...I have a boat hook !".

In my neck of the woods, the security checks I would think all would know that it is expected and actually one should thank them for carrying it out.

Hoping next week the weather is okay to get out.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 01/21/2013 : 20:50:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OLarryR
 ...Hoping next week the weather is okay to get out.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yeah, just hope the Prez doesn't have dinner at National Harbor.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2013 : 04:38:24

I do not recall any other day that the waterways have been closed. It's not the best area for sailing but there are a lot of sailboats on the upper Potomac especially with the Washington Sailing Marina located on the Virginia side south of the airport. Some days, it is interesting. Such as the Memorial day weekend when Rolling Thunder takes place. You can see all those hogs lined up at the staging areas ready to roll thru DC. But I miss being able to go swimming off the boat. While some do go in for a dunk, the Potomac close to DC is not the best, health-wise. You never know if you may pick up the flesh-eating bacteria. If I sail way down the Potomac, then the waters are decent where other tributaries mix in. But that would have to be an overnighter. Other-wise, the Chesapeake is the place to be. It is a trade-off, though. Being on the Chesapeake would limit me to mostly maintenance and sailing on weekends only vs 10 minutes away by car (or 25 minutes away by riverwalk) from work which makes any day a potential boat day.

Edited by - on

shnool
Former Capri-25 Tech Editor

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USA
1032 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2013 : 04:50:57

Hey it's a wonder they didn't detain you with that boat hook comment... I mean they are detaining 5 year olds with bubble guns up our way... and although escaping at 6mph might sound dumb, most people don't understand sailboats have hull speeds.
http://wnep.com/2013/01/18/hello-kitty-bubble-gun-controversy/

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2013 : 07:57:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by shnool
 Hey it's a wonder they didn't detain you with that boat hook comment... I mean they are detaining 5 year olds with bubble guns up our way... and although escaping at 6mph might sound dumb, most people don't understand sailboats have hull speeds.
http://wnep.com/2013/01/18/hello-kitty-bubble-gun-controversy/
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I'd advise caution in your use of the pronoun "they." You're lumping our homeland security people in with a clueless school principal.

As a school board member in Pennsylvania, this kind of stuff is an embarrassment to all of us. What were they thinking? Maybe we have reached the point where referring to "shooting" anyone is not appropriate, no matter how innocuous the toy, but to me it's something that you just point out to the kid, not issue a multi-day suspension.

As for Larry's boat hook comment, it seems to me from my observations in airports and elsewhere that our homeland security people are trying to come across as "kinder and gentler." Joking about a true weapon is still off-limits, but a boat hook reference should be safe, unless the Coastie is displaying very unfriendly body language.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2013 : 09:12:47

My experiences with the USCG has been that they are very professional, very courteous.

Actually, I do have a super soaker or something similar onboard. It is the kind that you stick it in the water and pull up on the hnadle. It will shoot about 40 feet or so. I bought it waiting for the right moment to use it. There is a small double decker sightseeing boat in our area called the "Capt Tilp". If I sail down toward Alexandria, I oftentimes come across this boat. If the conditions are right, he maneuvers over to slow moving craft and prompts all onboard to say "Ahoy, we are the Potomac Pirates !". I'm waiting for the opportunity to give him a broadside ! Not duirectly at them to get to squirt them onboard but just to share in the fun. They all seem to have a good time on that boat but it does get a bit wearing on me to have them come over and recite their pirate line. I do not want to get too carried awy with this but it has entered my mind to also get a pirate flag and hat.

Edited by - OLarryR on 01/22/2013 16:12:54

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2013 : 09:17:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OLarryR
 ...But I miss being able to go swimming off the boat. While some do go in for a dunk, the Potomac close to DC is not the best, health-wise. You never know if you may pick up the flesh-eating bacteria. If I sail way down the Potomac, then the waters are decent where other tributaries mix in. But that would have to be an overnighter. Other-wise, the Chesapeake is the place to be. It is a trade-off, though. Being on the Chesapeake would limit me to mostly maintenance and sailing on weekends only vs 10 minutes away by car (or 25 minutes away by riverwalk) from work which makes any day a potential boat day.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I hadn't thought of the flesh-eating bacteria issue. Ouch! Here on the Delaware, the oil spills and chemical effluents help keep the flesh-eating bacteria in check lol (oops, not a laughing matter!)

Maybe I've mentioned this before, but a few years ago I explained to my father why I'm keeping my boat on the Delaware, and he said "that's the exact same reason we kept our boat on the Potomac when you were a kid," and it's the same reasoning you explained here. He didn't want to spend all his time fighting traffic to the Chesapeake. We had a powerboat, so going downriver to cleaner waters was a little faster. He joined Landmark Yacht Club, which had nice property and a dock on Aquia Creek, so we'd cruise down there every weekend. The water was clean enough to swim down there. Up in Piscataway Creek, swimming was unheard of - even a little splash of water would send my mother into a panic.

The other thing I remember is that we would never take our boat outside of the channel for fear that we'd destroy our boat's 18 inch 4-blade prop on a submerged piling or tree. There seems to be a lot of submerged stuff on the Potomac, which we fortunately don't have to contend with on the 40' deep Delaware. But you've got better scenery than we do - that's one thing I really remember from growing up there.

I hope I can wrangle an invite out of you to get a look at the area sometime this season. Not sure I'm up to 40 degree temps, though. lol

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2013 : 16:18:35

Rick,

Sure anytime you want to hook up for a ride, I am usualy available. John P is out of the Magothy River just north of Annapolis and we have sailed on each other's boat a couple of seasons ago.

I can't remember the exact name of the water gun. I will have to take a look. It's not a super soaker which you pump up for pressure. This one is a one shot deal to get the farthest squirt. You suck the water in thru the nozzle and then push it out as fast as you can with the handle. It's supposed to shoot about 50'...and I would say that is fairly close the few times I have taken practice shots.

Edited by - on

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