Cruising to Washington DC: Staying on Sailboat in Washington Channel

Posted on October 22, 2016 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Sailings, USA East Coast

"I keep six honest serving men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who." (Rudyard Kipling, English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist; December 1865 – January 1936)

Photo from Newseum Wall: “I keep six honest serving men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who.” (Rudyard Kipling, English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist; December 1865 – January 1936)

(September 23 to October 11, 2016): Cruising on the Potomac River was extremely smooth and very tranquil. We day sailed/motored about 100 nautical miles from Chesapeake Bay to Washington DC. On the way, we dropped the anchor at three different locations to rest for a night: Saint Mary’s City in Maryland, Port Tobacco River/Popes Creek, and Gunston Cove (not far from Mount Vernon). Mount Vernon is accessible by a boat or a dinghy but we didn’t know this at that time. Later, we rode bikes to Mount Vernon. (About a 40 mile roundtrip bike ride from DC)

Approaching Alexandria, Virginia, we found various numbers for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge vertical clearance. We looked for the correct information and finally, by talking to Coast Guard on the VHF radio, we verified we are fine passing under the bridge. At the time when we passed under the bridge, I saw the vertical clearance number showing ’76 feet’ on the pile. From here, we saw many airplanes and helicopters flying real close above us.

One of Front Page Newspaper Displays at Newseum, after Hurricane Matthew, USA

One of Front Page Newspaper Displays at Newseum, after Hurricane Matthew, October 2016, USA

After passing the Ronald Reagan Washington DC Airport, we went to Washington Channel and called ‘DC Harbor’ on the VHF. There was plenty of space at the anchorage. After providing the information to the DC Harbor patrol, we took the dinghy to the Capital Yacht Club (CYC) and paid for a transient membership. (US$16/night from Check-in to Check-out Date) CYC facility was excellent. We enjoyed the interaction and conversation with the CYC members. One day, a CYC member gave us a ride to Annapolis Sailboat Show and we spent whole day at the show.

Air France Concorde inside the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum near Dulles Airport, USA

There are many places to visit in DC. Most of them are free. We stayed in DC almost three weeks but we didn’t see all the places we planned to see. Among all, my favorites are the Library of Congress and ‘Newseum’ (Entrance Fee: US$21.95+tax). The Newseum promotes, explains and defends free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of RELIGION, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of SPEECH, or of the PRESS; or the right of the people peaceably to ASSEMBLE, and to PETITION the Government for a redress of grievances. (The FIRST AMENDMENT to the Constitution of the United States.)” John’s favorite places were both Smithsonian Air & Space Museums: one in National Mall and the other bigger one, “Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center” near Dulles Washington DC Airport. In ‘Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center’, we saw an Air France Concorde, the actual Space Shuttle Discovery, and a model of the Mars Pathfinder Lander inside the hanger.

We rode our bikes everywhere in DC. Bike riding was much better in DC than in NYC. The public transportation in DC is very convenient. I also saw many people using the Capital Bikeshare company’s rental bike. They are all over. I didn’t check the price of Bikeshare. The best thing of BikeShare is not having to worry about bike thieves.