Warning From Topper Shutt: Ocean Temp Is Cooler Than On Thanksgiving

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 The Washington Examiner.

Shutt's "Chilly water" message warning of hypothermia appears in the Weather News You Can Use column. Sadly, WashingtonExaminer.com 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.

Remember, full credit goes to Channel-9 weatherman Topper Shutt.

"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.

"The water temperature on Thanksgiving Day is typically 64 degrees. On Memorial Day, it's only about 61 degrees.

"The ocean is still recovering from winter and hasn't received the added boost from the Gulf Stream. The atmosphere is vertically mixed, but the ocean is horizontally mixed.

"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.

"Although the sun might not feel that hot, late May sun is equivalent to July sun, so remember to apply sunscreen."

Photo credit: Ocean City surf, Anthony Brown, 2011

Be Careful On The Potomac

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Natural Resources Police say they plan to patrol aggressively on waterways across the state this holiday weekend.

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.

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.

NRP says last year its officers responded to more than 323 boating accidents that led to 13 deaths.
~ Associated Press Story taken from here.

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.

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.

Mark Gleason, who patrols the C & O Canal on bicycle for the US Park Service, says the Potomac is very deceptive.

In some places, the power of the Potomac is obvious. But in others--a deadly hazard lurks beneath the tranquil surface.

"Most of the accidents people here are when they step in and the water is much faster underneath and it sweeps them away."

~ Read more at MyFoxDC.com here.

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 most awesome natural sight in the DC Metro area. 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 Virginia shore is simply spectacular.

The Maryland side is accessible through the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park. Access to the Virginia side is through Great Falls Park. Both are National Park Service facilities.

Don't Go Into The Water

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.

Flooding Potomac presents hazards for area boaters according to an online story by WTOP.

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).

A similar story on www.nbcwashington.com 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.

The National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning 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.

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!

If you have first-hand knowledge of conditions along our waterways, leave a comment.

This story originally posted to the private Potomac River Power Squadron group page on SailAngle.com.

Photo Credit: natasialester 16 found on Photobucket.com

Eye in the Sky: What NASA sees when it looks at the Chesapeake Bay

Here is a link to a National Aeronautical and Space Administration video describing how the agency monitors water quality in the Bay. Requires RealPlayer.

http://www.nasa.gov/mp4/223743main_ChesBayVid_320x240.mp4

Hat tip to Outdoors Girl Candus Thomson of the The Baltimore SUN for pointing me there (though she didn't make it easy).

Did you hear the one about the fish just jumped into the boat?

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.

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.

See the Coast Guard's web page on life vest selection, care and use here.

Wave Running

Riding out the waves can be a fun part of boating...if you know what you are doing.

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.

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.

Want to know more about boating skills? Talk to your local Power Squadron about Seamanship.

I Must Go Down To The Sea, But Not With The Ship

"I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by...,"

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?

Those of us who can, boat. Those who cannot, cruise.

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?

We should change our snooty attitude.

An August 2008 story in the Daily Telegraph (UK) reports that the P&O cruise ship Pacific Sun was caught in a violent storm 400 miles off New Zealand. According to the story:

"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.

"They said huge waves caught it side-on as it manoeuvred, causing the ship to pitch violently."

It's a networked world. So naturally, the event was caught on video.

Now, that's an adventure.

The Pacific Sun is a 47,000 ton vessel. She is described in Wikipedia as a medium-sized ship accommodating up to 1,900 passengers.

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 gunkholes just for this purpose.) It's a good idea to get those life vests on.

Time to dig out those old Power Squadron books, or the Chapman, at least.

Did you know that Charles F. Chapman, the original author of Chapman Piloting and Seamanship was a founding member of United States Power Squadrons?

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?

That would be the same FDR who encouraged Roger B. Upton to take his boating safety movement "national." That movement morphed into United States Power Squadrons.

Did you know that Chapman 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?

So which group is more important? Unless that blue light is flashing, I mean?

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John Masefield's I Must Go Down To The Sea is an anthem for boaters, sailors and mariners everywhere. Here's the full work:

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.