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Jim:
<BR> If I can give any help in the DC area, let me know.
I have a crash pad in Alexandria (looong walk from the waterfront but across
the street from a Metro stop) and I am very familiar with the River from
Mt. Vernon to DC. I was 1st mate for a while on the Spirit of Washington
and I still operate vessels for the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.
<P> I would not worry over much about the WW Bridge.
An Alberg would have no trouble clearing the bridge at any state of tide.
I take a taller-masted 42-footer through there all the time. If some large
vessel is going through I would wait for it.
<P> You are right about the tidal current but purely
from a speed-over-the-bottom point of view. I have not seen any current
that would bother an Alberg in maneuvering. Going up the river one could
stay in the current when it is with you and try to avoid it when it's opposing
- stay to the inside of bends when the current is opposing for example,
though the most I have ever seen is 1 1/2 knots.
<BR> The Alexandria Seaport Foundation has a pier at
the foot of Prince St. If not in use you could land there or at the seawall
there. ASF has a Maritime Heritage Center afloat at the foot of Cameron
St. (by the torpedo factory arts center). Be careful of submerged pilings
between the ASF pier and the <I>Dandy's</I> pier. There is a 6 kt speed
limit going past Alexandria which helps with larger vessels that can throw
up quite a wake.
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- Gordon White
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