tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27145395070951862402024-02-19T13:12:29.639-05:00Boating FeverAn informal blog of Potomac River Power Squadron, a unit of United States Power SquadronsMaster4Casterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814978565888344818noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-49320281971296558952013-03-23T16:19:00.000-04:002013-03-24T01:22:43.187-04:00The Bay Starts Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.mdkidspage.org/images/baybridgepc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://www.mdkidspage.org/images/baybridgepc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am not a tree-hugger, especially when it comes to silly and unjustifiable laws like the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/02/montgomery-county-bag-tax_n_1179799.html" target="_blank">Montgomery County (MD) bag tax</a>. In eleven years living in this county, I never allowed one of those plastic grocery bags to hit the street. Instead, I recycled them as small trash bags, which freed me of the need to buy such bags.<br />
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Now I recycle grocery bags for use as grocery carriers because I refuse to pay five cents to use a new one. But now I buy small trash bags. Thus, my use of plastic has gone up thanks to the well-intended yet idiotic bag tax.. Since I'm inconvenienced to solve a problem I did not cause, I'm now less inclined to support environmental causes than before.<br />
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Sometimes those conservative Republicans have a point, but I digress. While I am not a tree-hugger, I am a boat lover. I do pay attention to clean water issues.<br />
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While walking Joe the Wonder Dog along Sligo Creek I found this interesting flyer on the topic by <a href="http://www.fosc.org/fosc.htm" target="_blank">The Friends of Sligo Creek</a>. I did not see the text posted on their site or anywhere else. It's a message worth reading, so here it is on Boating Fever.<br />
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"The Bay Starts Here ... says a sticker on one of the toilet tanks at the <a href="http://www.montgomeryparks.org/nature_centers/brookside/" target="_blank">Brookside Nature Center</a> in Wheaton -- telling one part of the story.<br />
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"Most of the water coming to the faucets and toilets of the Sligo Creek watershed is taken from the Potomac River above Great Falls, then processed and piped to our homes; about 10% comes from the Patuxent River to our east.<br />
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<a href="http://www.catsofaustralia.com/images/cat_toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.catsofaustralia.com/images/cat_toilet.jpg" /></a></div>
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"Everything that goes down the kitchen sink or toilet flows -- following gravity -- to lateral pipes under the street in front of the house and then through trunk mains laid within the streambed of Sligo Creek. Leaks in these pipes mean raw sewage contaminating our creek.<br />
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"Sligo wastewater is piped on southward through Prince Georges County, joining other watersheds' waste, and then through a 23-foot diameter pipe underneath the <a href="http://boatingfever.blogspot.com/2012/04/chesapeake-bay-magazine-features-story.htm" target="_blank">Anacostia River</a>, ending at Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant in southeast Washington. The filtered and treated liquid of Sligo Creek is returned there to the <a href="http://news.discovery.com/earth/potomac-river-and-chesapeake-recovering-study-says.htm" target="_blank">Potomac River</a>. <i>Then </i>it flows to the Bay."<br />
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The flyer goes on to tell of a meeting about the Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC), the water and sewer authority, that is running a project to repair the sewer lines under Sligo Creek.<br />
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<a href="http://www.hurricaneplumbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Denver-Sewer-Repair-Layout.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.hurricaneplumbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Denver-Sewer-Repair-Layout.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Maybe this is of interest only to me. But, it's worth knowing that <strike>clean </strike>treated water comes out the other end of the pipe to waters where we boat.Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-11353340972323682292013-02-20T17:38:00.001-05:002013-02-20T17:38:40.780-05:00Potomac River Squadron's next safe boating class to begin March 11, 2013 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezvZI5VnpsIUVw1oVgw2YzWvJJfLTKorHNW2-Wv4cPkZztXpJ470zNC7DNWpXHvai9iv4__yAvK-73d5IvvxIQaiCevBDKQNyVs75bpQcz86l7eufr4_i2rGhuKxMTOkrScA9o9_Mh5U/s1600/ABC+Flyer+MAR+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezvZI5VnpsIUVw1oVgw2YzWvJJfLTKorHNW2-Wv4cPkZztXpJ470zNC7DNWpXHvai9iv4__yAvK-73d5IvvxIQaiCevBDKQNyVs75bpQcz86l7eufr4_i2rGhuKxMTOkrScA9o9_Mh5U/s640/ABC+Flyer+MAR+2013.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<br />Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-4509296125574695392013-02-08T14:23:00.000-05:002013-02-10T13:08:46.931-05:00If hypothermia leaves you cold, then read this....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.kayakquixotica.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/frozen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://www.kayakquixotica.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/frozen1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you're like me, and I know I am, I shudder at the thought of freezing to death.<br />
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Bad pun aside, the human body operates best when its internal temperature ranges between 98 and 100-degrees F. The body starts to lose function when its internal temperature falls below 96-degrees F. Hypothermia is a bitch.<br />
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News of the blizzard expected to hit the northeast U.S. this afternoon brought hypothermia warnings to the fore. Hypothermia is easily avoided for most. Avoid the cold. Dress warmly in layers. Pay your heating bill. Be alert for signs of hypothermia.<br />
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Wikipedia -- you can always trust Wikipedia -- lists <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothermia" target="_blank">mild, moderate and severe hypothermia symptoms</a>. At its mildest, hypothermia can cause involuntary shivers and mental confusion. At worst, hypothermia causes loss of muscle coordination, decreases in heart and breathing rate, blood pressure and can cause <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001423/" target="_blank">hypoglycemia</a>.<br />
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The Power Squadrons is a boating civic & safety group. We are concerned with captains and crew who fall from the boat into cold water. <a href="http://www.theensign.org/uspscompass/compassarchive/compassv1n1/hypothermia.htm" target="_blank">This 2007 story</a> at The Ensign is a dandy piece on <b><a href="http://www.theensign.org/uspscompass/compassarchive/compassv1n1/hypothermia.htm" target="_blank">hypothermia safety for boaters</a></b>. It includes a chart that show survival times based on water temperature. If you fall into 32.5-degree water, you've got 15 to 45 minutes to get the heck out.<br />
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A second chart lists survival rates in 50-degree water with and without flotation devices. A life vest keeps you warmer as well as afloat. That's why the Coast Guard has become a doggone pest about wearing one all the time.<br />
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By the way, boaters, alcohol won't keep you warm in cold water. Instead, it speeds up hypothermia's effect. Save the drinkin' for the dock party.<br />
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Hypothermia is best avoided. If you must run the risk on land or on the water, be ready. <br />
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<i>Image found on <a href="http://www.kayakquixotica.com/2011/05/06/hypothermia-sure-if-you-survive-that-long/">kayakquixotica.com</a>, which also pointed me to this 10-minute NASBLA video on surviving hypothermia in the water.</i><br />
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<i><br /></i><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J1xohI3B4Uc" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<b>NEWS:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_22533080/coroner-soquel-woman-died-drowning-hypothermia-san-lorenzo" target="_blank">Coroner: Woman suffers hypothermia, drowns after swimming in 45-degree water</a>.<br />
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<br />Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-75406296917092635112013-01-30T15:03:00.000-05:002013-02-08T13:21:54.598-05:00The Power Squadrons is going socialThough United States Power Squadrons members are of all ages, it's most active volunteer leaders are, um, "seasoned." That can mean that <strike>we </strike>they are slow to adapt to trends and culture shifts. Power Squadrons* members are especially slow to adapt to all things Internet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb3oukU9rAcvq0zKaFq1hJ2hnxbEuau99jZtY3GKB3LBpZknioOGEK1OMhzu2A1BzFlNCUI9JWyBrvV0qpUhB5q1Ph4OrxMhHllfO5ArBQD14_WKVsgTyNTqg26AkR_N8ND9KFR1f9vw/s1600/time+to+retire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrb3oukU9rAcvq0zKaFq1hJ2hnxbEuau99jZtY3GKB3LBpZknioOGEK1OMhzu2A1BzFlNCUI9JWyBrvV0qpUhB5q1Ph4OrxMhHllfO5ArBQD14_WKVsgTyNTqg26AkR_N8ND9KFR1f9vw/s320/time+to+retire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Members I speak with -- nearly all are, or near retired -- are casual users of email and downright distrustful of social media. We always laugh when I tell them their grandchildren will force them to Facebook, Twitter and texting. Young people will listen to music on their handhelds, but will not answer a phone call. Granny, meanwhile, believes one-on-one contact is the only authentic form of communication.<br />
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The Power Squadrons was wildly successful with authentic communication in the mid-20th Century. Today, that's a tough way to reach potential members who haven't the time for after-hours meetings and sit down classes. Face time will always be important to the Power Squadrons, especially for events like dock parties. That one-on-one stuff has faded as the best channel to reach the demographic critical to the Power Squadrons' future -- the 40-somethings new to boating.<br />
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<a href="http://scm-l3.technorati.com/12/01/15/60155/Social-Media-Collage.jpg?t=20120115135657" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://scm-l3.technorati.com/12/01/15/60155/Social-Media-Collage.jpg?t=20120115135657" /></a></div>
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Power Squadrons is no longer fighting the tide. Now they are on <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uspowersquadrons" target="_blank">Facebook</a></b>, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/boatingisfun" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </b>and <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/uspowersquadrons" target="_blank">YouTube</a></b>, with links to all three from the <b><a href="http://www.usps.org/" target="_blank">Power Squadron's home page</a></b>. <br />
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But members have to "get it" that Facebook and Twitter ( and Google+) are <i>conversational</i>. One visits them to say something, not just to soak updates. Soaking is for Web sites. Social Media is for everybody, <i>EVERYBODY</i>, to start conversation. I'm skeptical, yet hopeful, that Power Squadrons members will share.<br />
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Social media draws an audience because everyone shares something -- anything -- from comments to a post, to links to a story, or reaction to unfounded rumors that old people (yes, I said it) frown upon. I find that unfounded rumors draw bigger audiences (It's called trolling for hits), and that reaction to the reactions lead to the most vibrant conversation, if not to the truth itself.<br />
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Social media just does not work if the site moderator is the only contributor.<br />
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In time, Power Squadrons will reach more potential members through Facebook and Twitter than face-to-face. Since YouTube is more visual, that channel makes the most compelling case for what we do. In fact, Boating Fever will link some of those video's here in the future.<br />
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I worked for a high tech company for 20 years, so have always been comfortable with the potential of this stuff. Threats to privacy are real, but nowhere near what old folks make it out to be. That's why I am comfortable pointing you to links to my personal <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/anthony.g.brown" target="_blank">Facebook profile</a></b>, my <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RedskinsHogHeaven" target="_blank">Facebook Hog Heaven</a></b> page covering the Washington Redskins and to my <b><a href="https://twitter.com/SkinsHogHeaven" target="_blank">Twitter page</a></b> that also covers the Redskins. Feel free to "friend" my profile page, "like" my Hog Heaven page, and "follow" my Twitter page.<br />
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The more you use social media, the more you learn to protect yourself. The first step is always to set your privacy settings to your comfort level. Your grandchildren can show you how to do that.<br />
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<i>* United States Power Squadrons and Power Squadrons is always shown as a plural even when used in the singular. It's the Power Squadrons recognition of the 400 or so individual squadrons that make up the organization. Local squadrons are always shown in the singular when referring to a single squadron. </i><br />
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<i>Used in sentences:</i><br />
<i>The Power Squadrons is the largest non-profit volunteer boating safety civic group.</i><br />
<i>Power Squadrons is no longer fighting the tide on social media.</i><br />
<i>Boating is fun. Power Squadrons shows you how. </i>Master4Casterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814978565888344818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-56492447566943229592012-04-19T15:41:00.000-04:002013-01-30T18:18:30.048-05:00History of Potomac River Squadron now online<div id="__ss_11956358" style="width: 425px;">
<strong style="display: block; margin: 12px 0 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/dyskokyd/founders-day-2012" target="_blank" title="Founder’s day 2012">Founder’s Day 2012</a></strong> <iframe frameborder="0" height="355" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/11956358" width="425"></iframe> <br />
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View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/thecroaker/death-by-powerpoint" target="_blank">PowerPoint</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/dyskokyd" target="_blank">Potomac River Power Squadron</a> <br />
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This is a brief history of Potomac River Power Squadron, a unit of United States Power Squadrons, that I presented at the squadron's 97th Founder's Day & Change of Watch Ceremony.<br />
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Potomac River's history is United States Power Squadrons' history. Potomac River is the oldest Power Squadron in continuous operation. Potomac River's early leaders, especially Dr. A.B. Bennett, SN, were significant early leaders of the Power Squadrons movement. (By the way, Power Squadrons" is always expressed as a plural.)<br />
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Slideshare.net hosts the presentation. It's on the free account so there is advertising and clutter if you go directly to Slideshare.<br />
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If you are like me and I know I am, you enjoy histories. If so, check out the links to these well-written histories:<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.nvsps.org/history/History_USPS.pdf" target="_blank">Northern Virginia Sail and Power Squadron</a></b>,<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.cycchesapeake.com/Docs-Downloads/CYCHistoricalDocumentFull.pdf" target="_blank">Corinthian Yacht Club (Washington, D.C.) A Historical Review</a></b>.<br />
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Northern Virginia is a descendant of Potomac River Squadron, which was itself formed by members of the Corinthian and Capital Yacht Clubs.<br />
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Enjoy.</div>
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Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-49415026316298305322012-04-01T09:44:00.007-04:002012-04-01T21:05:26.424-04:00Chesapeake Bay Magazine features story on the Anacostia River, birthplace of the Potomac River Power Squadron.<a href="http://www.chesapeakeboating.net/images/anacostia-212-pic2.jpg" style="font-weight: normal; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 199px;" src="http://www.chesapeakeboating.net/images/anacostia-212-pic2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%;">When was the last time the Anacostia River got any good press? </span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I'm a native Washingtonian and I can't recall any. Even the positive story in <i>Chesapeake Bay Magazine</i>, that I am about to refer to you, goes by the headline <a href="http://www.chesapeakeboating.net/Media/Feature-Stories/The-Bad-and-the-Beautiful.aspx" style="font-style: normal; ">The Bad and the Beautiful</a>. The subhead tells the full story, however. "Washington's hard-luck Anacostia River may be the city's ace in the hole." (February 2012 issue, pp 22- 27, continued on pp 48-49)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">The Anacostia is still muddy, still polluted, still infested with litter and I wouldn't eat anything caught in those waters, but the river is about to get the mother of all </span>face lifts along with the nearby Washington Channel.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>The projects are already underway, kicked off by the District of Columbia's heavy and much fought-over investment National's Park, the baseball stadium. </span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>The magazine story touches on that, goes into the District's Southwest waterfront project for the nearby Washington channel and has waxes eloquent about features about the river of interest to small craft boaters. Yes, Anacostia still features wildlife areas. The Kenilworth Gardens, contains the sole remaining marsh that was the dominant feature of the area when George Washington picked the place as the nation's capital.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>The area is important to the Potomac River Power Squadron. It was born there in 1915 when Dr. A.B. Bennett, then cruise captain of the Corinthian Yacht Club, convinced members of his club and the nearby Capital Yacht Club to join the power squadron movement. </span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>The Corinthian was based on St. James Creek on the Anacostia. The have since moved downriver, but Capital Yacht Club remains on the Washington Channel. News accounts of the day reported squadron on-water activity from the channel to Occoquan Bay.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>Potomac River Squadron is one of many sponsors of the <a href="http://www.anacostiaws.org/earthday2012">Anacostia River Cleanup Day</a> held annually on Arbor Day. Past Commander Howard Gasaway, Sr., P, is the spark plug behind both the squadron's participation and the clean-up day itself. </span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>Read the feature story on the magazine's web site, <a href="http://www.chesapeakeboating.net/Media/Feature-Stories/The-Bad-and-the-Beautiful.aspx">www.cheasapeakeboating.net</a>. Click <b><a href="http://www.chesapeakeboating.net/Media/Feature-Stories/The-Bad-and-the-Beautiful.aspx">here</a>.</b></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>Long articles are hard on eyes, especially old ones, when read online. So look for the February 2012 edition of <i>Chesapeake Bay Magazine</i>, if you can find it. </span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>For a brief history of Potomac River Power Squadron, check out the <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/dyskokyd/founders-day-2012">Founders Day</a> presentation posted on SlideShare <b><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/dyskokyd/founders-day-2012">here</a></b>.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div><span><b>Other Anacostia links:</b></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>washingtonpost.com - <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/anacostia-river-from-then-till-now/2011/08/08/gIQARrdT7K_story.html">Anacostia River from then till now</a>.</span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><span>Anacostia Watershed Society web site - </span><a href="http://www.anacostiaws.org/" style="font-size: 100%; ">http://www.anacostiaws.org/</a></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources - <a href="http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/anacostia/">The Anacostia: River of Recovery</a></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">.pdf document - <a href="http://www.cycchesapeake.com/Docs-Downloads/CYCHistoricalDocumentFull.pdf">History of the Corinthian Yacht Club</a>.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Web site - <a href="http://www.capitalyachtclub.com/history/history.aspx">History of the Capital Yacht Club</a>.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Web site - <a href="http://districtyachtclub.org/history_of_district_yacht_club.htm">History of the District Yacht Club</a>.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Web site - <a href="http://www.seafarersyachtclub.org/2aboutus.html">History of the Seafarer's Yacht Club</a>.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "> </div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-48518032067827622172011-10-13T16:01:00.003-04:002011-10-13T16:06:16.737-04:00BoatUS Mourns the Passing of President Nancy Michelman<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; " ><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.25 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); zoom: 1; text-align: justify; ">ALEXANDRIA, Va., October 10, 2011 – Boat Owners Association of The United States (<a href="http://www.boatus.com/" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.25 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline; ">BoatUS</a>) is deeply saddened to announce the passing of President and Publisher Nancy Michelman, who died on Friday after a year-long battle with cancer. A selfless leader with an infectious laugh and the gift of inspiring others to get together and do their best, Nancy’s courageous fight was marked by her optimism and energy.</p><p style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font: normal normal normal 1em/1.25 Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); zoom: 1; text-align: justify; ">Michelman was a self-described “Jersey Girl” who began sailing at summer camp in Maine as a child, and grew up with a love of boating. In 1989, as a rising star with the American Automobile Association (AAA), BoatUS Founder Richard Schwartz was impressed with her energy and intelligence. He hired her immediately to run the BoatUS membership department, manage partner relationships and grow benefits and services.</p><div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="color: black; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="color: black; ">Read the rest of the story <b><a href="http://www.boatus.com/pressroom/release.asp?id=724">here</a></b>.</span></div></span>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-86273488497332904992011-10-13T13:59:00.011-04:002011-10-13T16:23:54.903-04:00New Century Demands New Solutions for the Marine Industry and the Power Squadrons<a href="http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo185/doodlebean3306/web%20page/AnnapolisPowerboatShow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 550px; height: 412px;" src="http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo185/doodlebean3306/web%20page/AnnapolisPowerboatShow.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="color: black; ">Tradeonlytoday.com</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"> published an opinion piece, <a href="http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/516669-opinion-marketing-insight-boat-rentals-are-a-viable-option"><span style="color:blue">Boat rentals are a viable option</span></a> to boat ownership. <i>Trade Only Today</i> covers the marine industry and the story was interesting for the story it tells of the plunge in new boat sales <i>since 1988</i>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">Here are excerpts you need to read:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222"></span></p><blockquote style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">"Although the world, and especially commerce, has undergone a wholesale transformation since 1988, how the recreational boating industry markets its products remains little changed and the engine that drives the entire industry — new-boat sales — has dropped into a black hole. From 1988 to 2010 annual sales of new outboards have plummeted from 355,000 to 112,000, inboards from 20,900 to 7,300, sterndrives from 148,000 to 18,700 and sailboats from 14,500 to 4,300.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">"Although all sorts of studies have been commissioned in recent years by and for the marine industry, common sense tells me three things: First, new boats have become just too expensive to be sold at the rate they once were; second, it’s increasingly hard to justify putting a boatload of money into a fixed asset that sits at a dock and may only be used a few times a month; and third, folks just don’t have the time to devote to one recreation anymore, especially if their children would rather spend their time on Facebook than fishing or facing into the wind offshore.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">"It’s an article of faith in our industry that boating can’t be compared with other industries. That said, a look at other industries is instructive. Before the Great Recession as much as 25 percent of all new cars were leased, with the luxury BMW brand at the top of the list, leasing 85.7 percent of its 7 Series automobiles. To strengthen its share of this market, BMW earlier this year launched a $100 million fund — BMW i Ventures — to invest in companies that will, among other things, develop alternatives to traditional car ownership."</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">Michael Sciulla, vice president of the Marine Marketers of America, wrote the opinion piece. He gently scores his industry for its sense of uniqueness that inhibits open-mindedness to new business solutions. That is only human nature. Every industry says "we're different" and are blind to successful new concepts developed by other businesses to solve similar problems.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">The economy that sustained marine industry growth in the 1970s and '80s is never coming back, says Sciulla (Tell me about it!). The auto, travel and vacation property industry found ways to cope by parsing ownership into slices of use for a fraction of the cost. Full ownership of luxury items are a barrier to next gen customer whose lifestyle leads them away from the hobby.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">New boat sales sputter as the engine of the industry. Rentals, boat clubs, fractional shares, syndication are solutions. Groupon and Living Social are new marketing channels. Sciulla wants the industry to wake up to this before it sinks.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">Read the full opinion piece <b><a href="http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/home/516669-opinion-marketing-insight-boat-rentals-are-a-viable-option">here</a></b>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#222222">Charting <span> </span>a new course for boat membership groups</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">The Power Squadrons faces similar issues. Membership waxes and wanes with the industry. But, the nation's oldest non-profit boating safety, education and social membership group may be slow to adapt to next gen members. Power Squadrons membership at fewer than 45,000 pales in comparison to BoatUS with over 500,000 members. (By the way, the correct term is always "Power Squadrons" plural.)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">The United States Power Squadrons™ and BoatUS are allied organizations. Every active boating Power Squadrons member I know is also a member of BoatUS. BoatUS is an association not unlike AAA. Like AAA, most boaters join BoatUS for the towing service, the on water equivalent of road service. The touch point of BoatUS members to the association is a PC screen, or these days one of those handheld thingies.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">The Power Squadrons is a face-to-face membership group, with face-to-face being both and attractant and an inhibitor. I look at power Squadron members and see that we are all (ahem) "seasoned," at or near the end of our employment life. Squadron and national leaders have a vague sense that we may be missing the next generation members because their lifestyle allows less time for meetings. BoatUS may be on to something with that.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">The Power Squadrons is adapting, if slowly. The Governing Board approved selling its excellent education texts direct. Boating courses and memberships are offered online. It has simplified its membership tiers and the confusing dues structure that came with it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">But the Power Squadrons is still all volunteer all the time. That lowers cost, but restricts some of its capabilities. A visit to the <a href="http://usps.org/">national</a> and <a href="http://www.usps.org/localusps/potomac/">local</a> web pages illustrate the point. They are functional, but are not as slick as <a href="http://www.boatus.com/">BoatUS</a>, <a href="http://midatlantic.aaa.com/">AAA</a> or your college alumni association web pages.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">The Power Squadrons has a private area on the SailAngle social media site to facilitate internal communication—that current members resist using (Get over it, people!). There is no national United States Power Squadrons outreach on SailAngle or Facebook to reach 21<sup>st</sup> Century boaters, the only way to reach <i>and</i> maintain an ongoing relationship with that demographic. <span> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#222222">The Power Squadrons excels at keeping hands-on navigation skills alive for recreational captains at a fraction of the cost of commercial schools. That is a family jewel and must remain so. (A person who completes all of the Power Squadrons' core courses can navigate anywhere in the world with the proper charts and a sextant.) On most other things, we could use a few new ideas to expand our reach beyond face-to-face. Before we sink.</span></p>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-46273095851956821412011-10-05T20:07:00.007-04:002011-10-13T13:59:19.547-04:00Daniel Snyder Buys A Boat<a href="http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k609/dyskokyd/dan_snyder_paid_around_million_for_a_foot_yacht.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 606px; height: 404px;" src="http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k609/dyskokyd/dan_snyder_paid_around_million_for_a_foot_yacht.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span">Jeesh! Billionaire Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder buys a 224-foot boat and the Redskins community has conniptions. You'd think he was financing the purchase from Redskins ticket sales or taking money out of our pockets. (Um, let me think about that.)</span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Chris Chase's story <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Dan-Snyder-paid-around-70-million-for-a-224-foo?urn=nfl-wp8713">Dan Snyder paid around $70 million for a 224-ft yacht</a> appeared today in Yahoo! Sports.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">After the obligatory Snyder-bash opening relating the price to the Redskins payroll, the story goes on ~</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>"The Washington Post's Reliable Source reports that <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/dan-snyder-buys-224-foot-super-yacht/2011/10/04/gIQAjSG1LL_blog.html" style="color: rgb(0, 105, 170); text-decoration: none; ">Snyder's recent purchase</a>, the Lady Anne, is one of the 100 biggest yachts in the world. Snyder bought the yacht with a group of investors for around the same price that he'll spend on two-thirds of his Redskins payroll for the year."</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I 'm not immune to criticizing Snyder when he deserves it, which has been often. But why unload on him for buying something he can well afford? Especially when the cheapest way to own a boat is to use it as a business. An owner could be losing up to half-million dollars of tax benefits by not using their boat as a business asset says the folks at the <a href="http://www.bayacht.com/invest.htm">Bay Yacht Agency</a>. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Rental boat clubs offer memberships that gains use, but not ownership, of a variety of recreational boats. Captains are spared the time and labor of boat maintenance--the biggest advantage in my mind. Clubs and fractional shares of vessels is the topic of a Q&A discussion on a BoatUS forum found <b><a href="http://my.boatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=54816&PN=2">here</a></b>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Snyder's vessel named Lady Anne was berthed in the Mediterranean was used for charter and lease services. The story did not say if Snyder planned to move the boat to U.S. waters, but if you see Lady Anne in the Bay, stand up and sing Hail To The Redskins. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">To read the full story, click <b><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Dan-Snyder-paid-around-70-million-for-a-224-foo?urn=nfl-wp8713">here</a></b>.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>What should you do when you buy a new boat? Why, take a Power Squadron safety course, of course.</i></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Nice boat, Dan. See you at the dock party.</span></div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-19869755694376601772011-09-24T15:51:00.003-04:002011-09-24T16:02:12.311-04:00The Great Boatlift of 911 Was Largest In World History<object width="420" height="243"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/MDOrzF7B2Kg?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/MDOrzF7B2Kg?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="243" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Tom Hanks narrates the epic story of the 9/11 boatlift that evacuated half a million people from the stricken piers and seawalls of Lower Manhattan. Produced and directed by Eddie Rosenstein. Eyepop Productions, Inc.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The self-organized water evacuation by commercial, merchant marine and private boat captains of nearly 500,000 souls in nine hours was the greatest such event in history. The military evacuation of Dunkirk in World War II removed 339,000 British and French soldiers over nine <i>days</i>.<br /><br />BOATLIFT was executive produced by Stephen Flynn and Sean Burke and premiered on September 8th at the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Summit: Remembrance/Renewal/Resilience in Washington. The Summit kicked off a national movement to foster community and national resilience in the face of future crises. See www.road2resilience.org to become a part of the campaign to build a more resilient world. The film was made with the generous support by philanthropist Adrienne Arsht, Chairman Emerita, TotalBank (www.arsht.com)</span></div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-22697999551436165422011-09-24T15:25:00.004-04:002011-09-24T15:35:07.010-04:00<a href="http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k609/dyskokyd/uscgannapolis.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 364px;" src="http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k609/dyskokyd/uscgannapolis.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The Coast Guard Station Annapolis, in Bay Ridge, earlier this year took delivery of a new Response Boat to allow it to better patrol Greater Annapolis waters and the Chesapeake Bay.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">"Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, improving the safety of major waterways and large ports has been a priority of the Department of Homeland Security. And the bay leads directly into the Port of Baltimore.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">"The new $2 million, 41-foot boat will improve the Coast Guard’s performance and ability to respond to incidents. The new boat has significantly faster speeds—maximum of 42.5 knots—and a longer range at about 250 nautical miles, according to a release."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.714em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.429em; ">This story from the <a href="http://greaterannapolis.patch.com/">Greater Annapolis PATCH</a> in September 2011.</p></span>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-62825711559781052732011-09-24T14:16:00.005-04:002011-09-24T15:39:35.299-04:00Every Sailor Needs a Pair of Balls!As a power boater, that's what I've always thought about sailors. Then, Ken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hesterberg</span>, commodore of the Chesapeake Cruisers Association sent me the link to the video shown below. The video answers the question at the top of all of our minds:<div><br /></div><div>How does a sailboat with an 80-ft. mast pass under a 65-ft. bridge? It takes big balls, of course.</div><div><br /></div><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGAzt-8minI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>You won't find this technique in your edition of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapman_Piloting">Chapman Piloting</a> or in the <a href="http://www.usps.org/eddept/sa/main.htm">Power Squadron's Sail</a> course.</div><div><br /></div><div>What is more amazing is that this captain single-handed the maneuver.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>"I can do that, but I don't wanna." ~Bart Simpson</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I took the summer off to do summer stuff, but will update the site over the next few days with posts I've been saving up. Have fun and be safe on the water. On land, too. </div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-55899013185167044532011-07-23T09:30:00.002-04:002011-07-23T09:34:12.816-04:00A Blatant Appeal to Get Involved to Save The Bay<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/o7kB7-UN7m4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Brought to you by the <a href="http://www.cbf.org/">Chesapeake Bay Foundation</a></div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-74917105216839953572011-06-11T09:47:00.004-04:002011-06-11T10:04:41.661-04:00All About The Chesapeake Bay in Six Minutes<iframe width="560" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_H0nrhM21cw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><div></div><div><br /></div><div>For a boater in the Washington-Baltimore metro area, nothing beats the pull of "The Bay." The Chesapeake offers fishing, cruising, sailing and those succulent blue crabs. One of our senior members in the Potomac River Power Squadron told me he found to Bay to be superior by far to the Florida coast for cruising. </div><div><br /></div><div>This video describes the Bay and its conditions. My only beef is that they made the water look a lot clearer than it really is.</div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-1984553152065691432011-06-09T15:12:00.007-04:002011-06-10T13:51:48.215-04:00Boating and Tennis Love 4U--Water Taxi Service to DC's Pro Tennis Stadium<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; ">"As you well know, Washington Kastles season is fast approaching, and D.C.’s pro tennis team (and most recent champions) (who are very aggressive at reaching out to local bloggers) have a new venue this time around.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; ">"Kastles Stadium at The Wharf is in Southwest, and the team is set to announce that there will be limited boat parking at <a href="http://www.gangplank.com/">Gangplank Marina</a>.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; ">"This makes The Kastle the first tennis facility in the U.S. with boat-up parking, and the first pro sports venue in D.C. with boat-up parking. And it’s free for season-ticket holders, which might cause a gagging reflex in other local ownership suites."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; ">Read the rest of this story on Dan Steinberg's <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/kastles-introduce-boat-up-parking/2011/06/09/AGdZ9SNH_blog.html">DC Sports Bog</a></b> (<i>Washington POST</i> site. May require registration)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; ">Speaking of the POST, a story up today reports the start of a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/will-dc-area-residents-commute-by-water/2011/06/03/AGNQeFNH_story.html">water taxi service from the South West waterfront to Georgetown</a>. The service by <a href="http://www.americanrivertaxi.com/tag/dc-water-taxi">American River Taxi</a> is intended for commuters looking for alternatives to driving, biking (in this heat) or the Metro.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; ">American River Taxi offers a service transporting baseball fans from Georgetown to Nationals Park. Commuter service is an expansion that may, or may not, catch on. The fare is $8.00 one-way for the 30 minute trip.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; "><a href="http://www.potomacriverboatco.com/national-harbor.php">The Potomac Riverboat Company</a> offers a water taxi service from the National Harbor in Prince Georges County to Old Town Alexandria that makes for a cool outing. The one-way trip is 20 minutes and costs $8.00 for adults.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; ">I hope these services catch on. The District of Columbia ceased to be a boating mecca long ago. Yes, there are boaters here, but a boating supplies retailer or boat dealer is not to be found within city limits.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5r948vXBxURRZ7s1xH4iG2gIYnneVk4MQw5UVJ8gyawij4XKIJCnO6qhWQi1iMNhrjT_9eLcUz-VCRv1PxCTgCw1NBnO4v7PFsTbXXjTsx2UscAsIt8NnMyQj-3XpjwyNa5cKNk1-LdU/s320/new+members+prps+1963.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 259px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616311317425556658" /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; "><i>Photo: New members of <a href="http://www.uspsdc.org/">Potomac River Power Squadron</a>, a unit of <a href="http://usps.org/">United States Power Squadrons</a>(r), after passing the basic boating class in 1963. From the files of Potomac River Power Squadron.</i></p></span>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-61573725164885858762011-05-30T13:27:00.006-04:002011-05-30T14:11:47.820-04:00Warning From Topper Shutt: Ocean Temp Is Cooler Than On Thanksgiving<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXpmfB4IT-mgJzJ1UHTlmXJq1sJSohJB7yjfK1clzEwB6UOTyAPtXg58fwjqKjoap9hBEyilHR5PXoqRm6ETzG2xsjn7T8MaYyzF_ZOD-ucUU2m38M5bQN3sUBidXV84FT-P5-XIselc/s1600/Spr+Conf+2011_030.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXpmfB4IT-mgJzJ1UHTlmXJq1sJSohJB7yjfK1clzEwB6UOTyAPtXg58fwjqKjoap9hBEyilHR5PXoqRm6ETzG2xsjn7T8MaYyzF_ZOD-ucUU2m38M5bQN3sUBidXV84FT-P5-XIselc/s320/Spr+Conf+2011_030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612563340102587170" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Some of the best boating news over the Memorial Day weekend (Thank you, veterans) has been penned by DC area weathermen dutifully repeating warnings issued by the National Weather Service. WUSA-TV 9 meteorologist Topper Shutt is the latest contributor with his piece in the Sunday, May 29, 2011 edition of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">The Washington Examiner</i>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Shutt's <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">"Chilly water"</b> message warning of <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothermia/DS00333">hypothermia appears</a> in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Weather News You Can Use</i> column. Sadly, <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/">WashingtonExaminer.com</a> did not post an active link to the story, so as a public service, I'm posting the entire piece here. This will assure two or three more people, mostly relatives, get this information.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Remember, full credit goes to Channel-9 weatherman Topper Shutt. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Many people flock to the shore for Memorial Day weekend. If I suggested you go to the beach on Thanksgiving, you would think I was crazy. However, the ocean is actually warmer on Thanksgiving Day than on Memorial Day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">"The water temperature on Thanksgiving Day is typically 64 degrees. On Memorial Day, it's only about 61 degrees.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">"The ocean is still recovering from winter and hasn't received the added boost from the <a href="http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/gulfstream.htm">Gulf Stream</a>. The atmosphere is vertically mixed, but the ocean is horizontally mixed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">"If you get into the water this weekend, don't stay in long. It is possible to get hypothermia in water that is about 50 to 60 degrees. Hypothermia can set in between one and two hours. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Although the sun might not feel that hot, late May sun is equivalent to July sun, so remember to apply sunscreen."</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Photo credit: Ocean City surf, Anthony Brown, 2011</span></i></p>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-43370917096007427412011-05-29T15:18:00.004-04:002011-05-29T16:07:49.156-04:00Be Careful On The Potomac<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4us2g8RkhZiDlxxajPv8PaXOpeOKKsUMMEy1OFb8Bz9mc4Gqf-tYtuqtjBUsSJBPktXG_zQ-pbM-PTEyHgDajOED-XZJ3V3teFdJZhBpJKHhy-Q9QFJ-pPHL3EYi6QMCG2jblAO6Thz0/s1600/upper+potomac.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4us2g8RkhZiDlxxajPv8PaXOpeOKKsUMMEy1OFb8Bz9mc4Gqf-tYtuqtjBUsSJBPktXG_zQ-pbM-PTEyHgDajOED-XZJ3V3teFdJZhBpJKHhy-Q9QFJ-pPHL3EYi6QMCG2jblAO6Thz0/s320/upper+potomac.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612223348056226130" /></a><br /><p><span class="Apple-style-span">ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Natural Resources Police say they plan to patrol aggressively on waterways across the state this holiday weekend.</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span">Natural Resources Police say officers will target boaters driving in a reckless or negligent manner or under the influence of alcohol. And they will also be making sure boaters have required safety equipment.</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span">Authorities also are advising boaters to keep a cautious eye on the upper Potomac River, where recent rains had pushed the river to hazardous levels. NRP says an advisory for the upper Potomac has expired, but any significant additional rainfall could cause hazardous conditions again.</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span">NRP says last year its officers responded to more than 323 boating accidents that led to 13 deaths.<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>~ <i>Associated Press</i> Story taken from <b><a href="http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/6d5669953bfe4ed9bdd466536332c72c/MD--Safe-Boating/">here</a></b>.</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Montgomery County Fire and EMS crews will be handing out hundreds of these fliers in Great Falls Park reminding people that you cannot swim, wade, or drink alcohol there.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Because as enticing as the Potomac is this time of year, it is always dangerous. Crews pulled a 12 year old boy who was swimming near White's Ferry after he became fatigued and couldn't make it on his own.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Mark Gleason, who patrols the C & O Canal on bicycle for the US Park Service, says the Potomac is very deceptive.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">In some places, the power of the Potomac is obvious. But in others--a deadly hazard lurks beneath the tranquil surface.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">"Most of the accidents people here are when they step in and the water is much faster underneath and it sweeps them away."</span></p><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>~ Read more at MyFoxDC.com <b><a href="http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/new-warnings-about-the-danger-of-the-potomac#ixzz1NlrfbByR">here</a></b>.</span></span><p></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">All this talk about the swollen waters of the Potomac is a reminder that it's the best time to see the river's Great Falls, the <a href="http://dc.about.com/od/restaurant1/a/GreatFallsPark.htm">most awesome natural sight in the DC Metro area</a>. The Falls' Maryland shore offers more access points for an up-close, intimate view of the river and the C & O Canal. The view from the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm">Virginia shore</a> is simply spectacular. </span></span></div><br /><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/video/great%20falls/Kasaka/MVI_0200.mp4?o=1" target="_blank"><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvidmg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv355%2FKasaka%2FMVI_0200.mp4"></embed></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><br /></span></span></div><div>The Maryland side is accessible through the <a href="http://dc.about.com/cs/restaurant1/a/Canalsites.htm">Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park</a>. Access to the Virginia side is through <a href="http://dc.about.com/od/restaurant1/a/GreatFallsPark.htm">Great Falls Park</a>. Both are <a href="http://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm">National Park Service</a> facilities.</div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-28007890595674188882011-05-20T16:54:00.006-04:002011-05-29T16:11:44.421-04:00Don't Go Into The Water<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrSt4_0QAINYXO81m4pCfX665CpkCiEGOpi-UlY5rYUFeUuQ3-TQyQWiuwce4ZmtzJB0xcj1K-cWiXLbpbolghUEYwtKWu3RV2qQKsLivQiimgC34ScsqLkJYZlU21Sj81PYkbTUiX9o/s1600/natasialester16+-+Copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrSt4_0QAINYXO81m4pCfX665CpkCiEGOpi-UlY5rYUFeUuQ3-TQyQWiuwce4ZmtzJB0xcj1K-cWiXLbpbolghUEYwtKWu3RV2qQKsLivQiimgC34ScsqLkJYZlU21Sj81PYkbTUiX9o/s320/natasialester16+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608913135848090434" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(1, 63, 125); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">All the news focuses attention to the Mississippi River flood and the unfortunate circumstance of the people there. We have our own problems with the waters around D.C.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(1, 63, 125); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(1, 63, 125); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; clear: both; "><a title="Avoid boating on the Potomac this weekend" href="http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2390312" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; ">Flooding Potomac presents hazards for area boaters</a> according to an online story by WTOP.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; clear: both; ">Heavy rains in the area has the Potomac River cresting its banks and creating navigational hazards for all boaters. The D.C. Harbor Police advises all boaters to stay off the Potomac through the weekend (20-22 May 2011).</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; clear: both; ">A similar story on <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Worst-of-Potomac-River-Flooding-Probably-Over-122303829.html" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; ">www.nbcwashington.com</a> says the worst of the flooding is probably over, but advises boaters to stay off the Potomac this weekend. That story gave high tide (11:15 AM and 11:56 PM at Key Bridge) on Friday, 20 May, as a time for special caution for boaters and anyone along the waterfront.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; clear: both; ">The National Weather Service issued a <a href="http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=MD20110520184800FloodWarning20110521024200MD.LWXFLSLWX.a8c9a907302e6e0cf8cf1345fae731fd" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: underline; ">Flood <strong>Warning</strong></a> for the Potomac River at Point Of Rocks affecting Frederick (MD) and Loudoun (VA) Counties and at Little Falls affecting Montgomery (MD) and Fairfax (VA) Counties. The warning is in effect until this evening. The warning was issued at 4:24 PM today.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; clear: both; ">A warning means that flooding is actually occurring. Take extreme caution when driving through flood areas. A vehicle can be swept away in as little as two feet of flowing water. Cars are not boats!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; clear: both; ">If you have first-hand knowledge of conditions along our waterways, leave a comment.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; clear: both; ">This story originally posted to the private Potomac River Power Squadron group page on SailAngle.com.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; clear: both; "><b>Photo Credit: natasialester 16</b> found on <a href="http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu40/natasialester16/100_1093.jpg">Photobucket.com</a></p></span>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-64666330795052283552011-05-06T12:36:00.005-04:002011-05-06T13:00:59.233-04:00Eye in the Sky: What NASA sees when it looks at the Chesapeake Bay<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm5z9vbG2Zr1VFpvkPHH2fPkVkVwzfpqJM5aFTe-vKQcZaG08UnfFh3bOIFbcYQZTW1GprDZvucwRFVzvqMZ5NSaby54VZ6UvgL45d9Vsp0TS1KeUEgmytG4hrZqy6_JlSaxItlIqimY/s1600/Chesapeake_AMO2003024_lrg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm5z9vbG2Zr1VFpvkPHH2fPkVkVwzfpqJM5aFTe-vKQcZaG08UnfFh3bOIFbcYQZTW1GprDZvucwRFVzvqMZ5NSaby54VZ6UvgL45d9Vsp0TS1KeUEgmytG4hrZqy6_JlSaxItlIqimY/s320/Chesapeake_AMO2003024_lrg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603649113702051938" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k609/dyskokyd/Chesapeake_AMO2003024_lrg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">Here is a </span></a><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mp4/223743main_ChesBayVid_320x240.mp4">link</a> to a National Aeronautical and Space Administration video describing how the agency monitors water quality in the Bay. Requires RealPlayer.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mp4/223743main_ChesBayVid_320x240.mp4">http://www.nasa.gov/mp4/223743main_ChesBayVid_320x240.mp4</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Hat tip to <a href="http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/outdoors/blog/2011/05/heres_mud_in_your_eye.html">Outdoors Girl</a> Candus Thomson of the <i>The Baltimore SUN</i> for pointing me there (though she didn't make it easy). </div></div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-1940991345204355352011-04-24T13:39:00.007-04:002011-04-24T14:05:30.388-04:00Did you hear the one about the fish just jumped into the boat?<object height="349" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/x3Bf0WhvsNk?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/x3Bf0WhvsNk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="349"></embed></object><br /><br />Just like those old fish stories, these carp just jumped into the boat. Carp do that when startled. You would think they'd be used to motor boats on a well travelled river like the Wabash.<br /><br />Oh yeah. There's a safety message here. Note that these boaters are wearing life vests. Good idea on a small boat. Especially when a 20-pound flying fish can knock you out.<br /><br />See the Coast Guard's web page on life vest selection, care and use <strong><a href="http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/pfdselection.asp#recreational">here</a></strong>.Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-74527635009427479852011-03-13T15:03:00.002-04:002011-03-13T19:14:32.735-04:00Wave Running<object height="390" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/jAyw8a2Xlps?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/jAyw8a2Xlps?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="390"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Riding out the waves can be a fun part of boating...if you know what you are doing.<br />
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This skipper took the first wave bow-on. That's good, but he did not, or could not, maintain his position, so the second wave hit him abeam. That's not good. The skipper rights the boat to face the bow to the third wave. That's good, but it's a bigger wave. like Gilligan, the tiny ship--and the passenger--was tossed.<br />
<br />
Even on recreational boats, if the helmsman is also the owner and, therefore, captain, he is responsible for passenger safety and for every action of the crew. If I were captain of this vessel, I would not maintain station in a boat that small with oncoming waves that big. And everyone on board, including me, would be wearing life vests.<br />
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Want to know more about boating skills? Talk to your local <a href="http://www.uspsdc.org/">Power Squadron</a> about <b><a href="http://www.usps.org/national/eddept/s/main.htm">Seamanship.</a></b>Master4Casterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814978565888344818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-40997916532670819112010-10-06T17:21:00.008-04:002010-10-06T18:44:42.385-04:00I Must Go Down To The Sea, But Not With The Ship<div><i>"I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,</i></div><div><i>And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by...,"</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ah, the sea. Is there a mariner anywhere who can resist its alluring call? Isn't it a joy to just pick up and go?</div><div><br /></div><div>Those of us who can, boat. Those who cannot, cruise.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've never done a cruise ship. If I want to stay in a hotel, I prefer it to be on land. When I want to go to sea, I want the motion of the ocean and the spray on my face. I want to feel like I'm on a boat. Do you feel the same?</div><div><br /></div><div>We should change our snooty attitude. </div><div><br /></div><div>An August 2008 story in the <i>Daily Telegraph</i> (UK) reports that the P&O cruise ship <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/2484612/Passengers-hurt-as-storm-rocks-New-Zealand-cruise-ship.html">Pacific Sun was caught in a violent storm</a> 400 miles off New Zealand. According to the story:</div><div><br /></div><div>"Some passengers told how they were flung across the ship, along with crockery and 'anything not nailed down,' when the ship tried to turn to face its bow into the storm.</div><div><br /></div><div>"They said huge waves caught it side-on as it manoeuvred, causing the ship to pitch violently."</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a networked world. So naturally, the event was caught on video.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/njt8Ae7Dqhc?fs=1&hl=en_US&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/njt8Ae7Dqhc?fs=1&hl=en_US&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now, <i>that's </i>an adventure.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Pacific Sun is a 47,000 ton vessel. She is described in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Sun_(ship)">Wikipedia</a> as a medium-sized ship accommodating up to 1,900 passengers.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've forgotten what I remember about bad weather cruising. I do remember to slow down when conditions worsen. If you can't make safe harbor, turn the bow into the weather and ride it out. (You should have checked the chart before leaving port for safe <a href="http://www.yourdictionary.com/gunkhole">gunkholes</a> just for this purpose.) It's a good idea to get those life vests on. </div><div><br /></div><div>Time to dig out those old<a href="http://www.usps.org/"> Power Squadron</a> books, or the <i><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=S4FwbS8StvEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=chapman+piloting+%26+seamanship+66th+edition&source=bl&ots=y6IdRSf87g&sig=ezSdiFafrd7M1-jyUuce5Hgsbns&hl=en&ei=DfCsTLe3GMWAlAfUo_CYCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=false">Chapman</a></i>, at least.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did you know that Charles F. Chapman, the original author of <i>Chapman Piloting and Seamanship</i> was a founding member of United States Power Squadrons? </div><div><br /></div><div>Did you know that Chapman wrote the book in 1916 at the instigation of the assistant secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, as a training manual for Navy Reservists? </div><div><br /></div><div>That would be the same FDR who encouraged Roger B. Upton to take his boating safety movement "national." That movement morphed into <a href="http://www.usps.org/national/historian/uspshistory.html">United States Power Squadrons</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Did you know that <i>Chapman </i>has a 12 page description of United States Power Squadrons and Canadian Power Squadrons? And that those groups are described before the U.S. Coast Guard? </div><div><br /></div><div>So which group is more important? Unless that blue light is flashing, I mean?</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; ">ZT6ADABF9B63</span><br />_________________________</div><div><br /></div><div>John Masefield's <i>I Must Go Down To The Sea</i> is an anthem for boaters, sailors and mariners everywhere. Here's the full work:</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.</span></div></div><div></div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-25339885520105997552010-09-30T19:37:00.007-04:002011-06-11T03:30:29.279-04:00You have to weather the stormAh, to be a man. To master the sea. To feel the spray on your face. To weather the storm. It sounds so romantic until, you know, you're <i>caught </i>in<i> </i>it.<br />
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Boat long enough and you'll eventually run aground, they say. Cruise the Chesapeake long enough and you'll get caught in a squall.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLstpUIvIz_c6R0ijLw0fkfet9JvhoywUeM0JMkvBo0NoqNOci73F9WVN9VGh4hyO1P9z9UviCJsIQVz-ED_yNk0bANtetY1tRUTzUB0IY_gH9FKkMFnKl-AlVe3YAPCK9S9u8kH-1Qxo/s1600/170+montauk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLstpUIvIz_c6R0ijLw0fkfet9JvhoywUeM0JMkvBo0NoqNOci73F9WVN9VGh4hyO1P9z9UviCJsIQVz-ED_yNk0bANtetY1tRUTzUB0IY_gH9FKkMFnKl-AlVe3YAPCK9S9u8kH-1Qxo/s200/170+montauk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Today's <i><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/29/AR2010092907463.html">Washington Post</a></i> tells the story of Steve Murfin who was caught in a violent storm last August. Murfin was tooling around the Eastern Bay just off St. Michael's (If you don't know where that is, you're just not a Bay boater) in his <a href="http://www.whaler.com/Page.aspx/pageId/29592/pmid/204634/170-Montauk.aspx">17-foot Boston Whaler</a>.<br />
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Murfin had been tracking the approach of a storm. He decided to head to home port about 90 minutes before the weather was predicted to hit. Then, two bad things happened. First he couldn't start his engine. Second, the squall hit at just that moment. Like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfR7qxtgCgY">Gilligan</a>, Murfin's tiny ship was tossed.<br />
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A Good Samaritan on board the vessel <i>Her Baby</i> arrived and gave Murfin a tow through the worst of the storm. The Post's description of that adventure is as stirring as any you'll find in classic sea yarns.<br />
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<i>Her Baby</i> towed Murfin safely to his dock on the Wye River. She departed without Murfin so much as knowing her captain's name. Just another example of good boaters being good boaters. <br />
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Captains are expected to help other boaters in distress, if it is within their capability to do so and when such help does not constitute a danger to themselves. This is especially true in the case of accident.<br />
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The <i>Boat Handling S102</i> manual (2002) of the <a href="http://www.usps.org/">Power Squadron's</a> Seamanship Course has these legal tips for captains offering Good Samaritan tows:<br />
<ol><li> The skipper (of the towing boat) must have the proper equipment and be mentally prepared.</li>
<li>Insurance coverage may change if you tow someone. Don't wait until you are faced with a towing situation to look into this. Check your insurance policy <i>now</i>--and every time it is renewed.</li>
<li>Before towing, make sure actions are appropriate, reasonable and properly documented because they are subject to review in the event of mishap, damage, or injury. Keep a detailed log of every action taken.</li>
<li>Under no circumstances should the owner of the boat doing the towing accept anything of value from the owner or crew of the boat to be towed. Such acceptance is regarded as being engaged in the business of commercial towing.</li>
<li>The towing boat skipper should make clear that it is his /her intention to help a fellow boater. The owner of the towed boat must make clear that the assistance provided does not constitute a salvage operation. Crews should remain on their respective boats. If the crew from the towing boat boards the boat to be towed, there is possibly the implication that the skipper of the boat to be towed has surrendered command. The towing skipper should use lines from the boat to be towed.</li>
</ol>If the above gives a captain pause, the federal government provides legal cover for Good Samaritan under the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (FBSA/71). It's summarized in the 64th Edition of <i>Chapman Piloting and Seamanship</i> as follows:<i> </i><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><i></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Any person who gratuitously and in good faith renders assistance at the scene of an accident or other boating casualty without the objection of any person being assisted cannot be held liable for any civil damages as a result of rendering assistance, or for any act or omission in providing or arranging salvage, towage, medical treatment, or other assistance when he acts as an ordinary, reasonably prudent person would have under the same or similar circumstances.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When you have to weather the storm, it's good to have help.<br />
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<i>Postscript: When the words "federal" and "boating" appear in the same sentence, it applies to navigable waters. To me, that means water under the control of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and patrolled by the U.S. Coast Guard. States have Good Samaritan laws, but each have their own local twist. Federal or State, Good Samaritans are not expected to, and should not, attempt something beyond their ability. Standing by until the authorities arrive is also a Good Samaritan act.</i></div><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo Credit: www.whaler.com</span></i>Master4Casterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814978565888344818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-69265948209769550042010-09-30T18:00:00.001-04:002010-09-30T19:38:58.861-04:00Oh, to be on a boat!<object height="270" width="440"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dZ2TACX6kic?fs=1&hl=en_US&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dZ2TACX6kic?fs=1&hl=en_US&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="660" height="405"></embed></object><br />
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What do you do when you want to be on your boat, but cant? Why, you look at videos of other people's cruises on boats.<br />
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Thanks to Philiwily, you can find one on YouTube. Phili took a series of time-lapsed photos of his cruise on a <a href="http://www.nordhavn.com/64/overview.php4">Nordhaven 64</a> from Baltimore to <a href="http://www.falmouthmass.us/depart.php?depkey=harbor">Falmouth (Cape Cod) Harbor</a> by way of the <a href="http://www.nap.usace.army.mil/sb/c&d.htm">Chesapeake & Delaware Canal</a>.<br />
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Judging from my (very) modest familiarity of the chart of the Patapsco River and the dead calm of the water, Philiwily departed Baltimore just past O-dark-thirty and passed under the Key Bridge in early daylight.<br />
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Wish I was there. And I can be, every time I look at this video.<br />
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Hat tip to <a href="http://www.mby.com/">www.mby.com</a> for pointing me to this video.Master4Casterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814978565888344818noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2714539507095186240.post-71493603000778443712010-09-14T11:38:00.006-04:002010-09-30T20:00:15.887-04:00The Potomac Is A Nest Of Snake...Heads<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8tmWLMHKJn1Peavx_FKeSxppIOzK52l-3uzwg_cCai0UGoUOkq_shaLsT5Qv2KUirZWavC-4gVsI1owkqw_Ym2zid7cr4wFd1BqRF4GrP64Vg3soCyaVXP3W2oxucrko2qhzStp8aY8/s1600/2325508525_a436a2510f.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516799690367768722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8tmWLMHKJn1Peavx_FKeSxppIOzK52l-3uzwg_cCai0UGoUOkq_shaLsT5Qv2KUirZWavC-4gVsI1owkqw_Ym2zid7cr4wFd1BqRF4GrP64Vg3soCyaVXP3W2oxucrko2qhzStp8aY8/s320/2325508525_a436a2510f.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
A story in today's <i>Virginia Pilot</i> says that the invasive snakehead fish, like politicians, are here to stay in the Potomac Area. <br />
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</div><div>Whether fish or politician, is that a bad thing? The Frankenfish won't eat you. The ecological doom predicted for our home waters aren't panning out.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Says <i>The Pilot:</i></div><div><br />
</div><div>"Yes, they are aggressive and fearsome predators that gobble their prey whole. But so far, they have not ravaged the Potomac's prized largemouth bass population. Nor any other fish, bird or amphibian on which they feed.</div><div><br />
</div><div>"They appear to be coexisting."</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>The Virginia Pilot</i> covers the Hampton Roads area. Its story described the expansion of the specie from D.C. waters south to the tidal Potomac. Snakes in the Bay is only a matter of time. Queue up <i>Jaws</i> for the snakeheads vs. bull sharks movie that's sure to follow.</div><div><br />
</div><div>But snakehead fry have been observed in the Anacostia River and are expected to migrate above Great Falls to the headwaters of the Potomac.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Which leads to three questions.</div><div><ol><li>Do they eat mosquitoes?</li>
<li>Will they eat my boat?</li>
<li>Could it be a sport fish?</li>
</ol>Science is silent on the first question and there are no reports of the second. That last question has some encouraging answers.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The Northern Snakehead can grow to three feet long and weigh to 15 pounds. A thick coat of slime protects their bodies from the elements, a characteristic they share with eels along with the shape of their bodies. They put up a fight and, like eels, are said to be good to eat, if Americans can get past their squeamishness to try.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The fish favors shallow water, especially flats with aquatic grass that gives them shelter. Some sportsmen have hunted them with bow and arrows. Word is, <a href="http://www.southernmarylandfishing.com/news/177/REPORT-Afternoon-Pond-Fishing-Yields-Panfish-Bass-and-Snakehead.html">they make a good catch</a>.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Cooking recipes tend to be Asian, reflecting the fish's origin, although a writer for <i>The Las Vegas Weekly</i> said that snakehead <a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/13728/">tastes like chicken</a> when grilled. The fish is popular in Singapore cooked with green apples and ginger.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Both Maryland and Virginia have kill on sight orders for snakehead. <a href="http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2010/051910a.asp">Maryland</a> asks anglers to report any fish caught outside the tidal Potomac to 410-260-8287. <a href="http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/snakehead-faq.asp">Virginia</a> asks all anglers to report all snakehead catches, where ever caught, to its hotline at 804-367-2925.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Tastes like chicken, eh?</div><div><br />
</div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo Credit:</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(cc) P3109470 from </span></i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pump937/with/2325508525/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mohd Fahmi's photostream</span></i></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> on flickr.com</span></i> </div>Tony Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15051490390628177702noreply@blogger.com0