Boating and Tennis Love 4U--Water Taxi Service to DC's Pro Tennis Stadium

"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.

"Kastles Stadium at The Wharf is in Southwest, and the team is set to announce that there will be limited boat parking at Gangplank Marina.

"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."

Read the rest of this story on Dan Steinberg's DC Sports Bog (Washington POST site. May require registration)

Speaking of the POST, a story up today reports the start of a water taxi service from the South West waterfront to Georgetown. The service by American River Taxi is intended for commuters looking for alternatives to driving, biking (in this heat) or the Metro.

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.

The Potomac Riverboat Company 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.

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.

Photo: New members of Potomac River Power Squadron, a unit of United States Power Squadrons(r), after passing the basic boating class in 1963. From the files of Potomac River Power Squadron.

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.