GL: Stops on the Potomic

[Jim Healy]

In Washington, DC, we stayed on the Washington Channel.  There is a large
anchorage on the end nearest the reflecting pool that carries 10 - 20 ft
throughout, and there are 3 marinas.  Holding seemed good; we didn't anchor,
but in the two weeks we were there, none of the anchored boats had trouble,
and we did have thunderstorms every few days during that season.  The
Marinas are Gangplank, Capital Yacht Club, and the Washington Marina.  To
get to the Washington Marina, you have to be able to clear a fixed bridge.
Check the charts for vert clearance; I don't recall, but I could have done
it.  Most trawlers will clear, most sails will not.  Maybe 28 ft???  The
marinas are all located "next door to each other," on Water St., which
parallels Maine Ave.  But, their foot entrances are at least 1/2 mile apart,
so if you stay at Gangplank, it's a real hike to get off your dock and over
to the restaurants and back.  There is grocery shopping about 1/2 to 3/4
mile off, on Maine, which should only be done during mid-day daylight hours
(neighborhood is dicey).  If you want to stay at a marina, make reservations
someplace before you get to DC; it is not a transient friendly venue as
there is a lot of local pressure for slips, and a lot of long term live
aboards.  The marinas all put you in season rental slip space if/as season
slip holders are away.  We stayed at the Capital Yacht Club.  The dockmaster
is Kelvin Lee.  Ask for Kelvin by name when you call for reservations.

Anchoring out in Washington Channel is free.  There are no mooring balls.
You're on you own anchor.  In late June and early July, there was plenty of
room to anchor out.  If you anchor out, you can use the dinghy dock and
facilities of the Capital Yacht Club for $10 per day, a good deal.  That
includes showers, laundry and trash, as well as the social room.  From CYC,
there is a bus route called the Washington "Circulator" that will take you
to the Metro at L'Enfant Plaza or to the Washington Mall by the Smithsonian
Air and Space Museum on Independence Ave.  The Circulator costs $1.00/ride.
There is a good Chinese Restaurant above the CYC, and a good fresh fish
place next door to the CYC property, and a high end Phillips restaurant
right on the promenade.  It's about 1/2 mile walk to the Holocaust Museum,
and about a mile walk to the reflecting pool, Lincoln Monument, FDR
Monument, Jefferson Monument, etc.

The City of Alexandria has a marina too, but it's several miles away, across
the Potomac, just north of the new Wilson Bridge.  The bridge is now open to
traffic, and the predecessor is gone.  Some cruisers do stay there, and use
the DC Metro system to get into DC.  We preferred to be closer.  Watch the
Alexandria refund policy, clearly spelled out on their web site.  National
Harbor has a marina, too.  It's even harder to get into DC from there.  It's
south of the Wilson Bridge on the east shore.  You have to take their water
shuttle across to Alexandria, and then take the metro into DC.

Hope this helps.  You can get further information from Skipper Bob and from
the Waterway Guide, Chesapeake Bay edition (formerly Mid-Atlantic Edition).

Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary,
currently at Washington (free) Waterfront, Washington, NC

-----Original Message-----
From: TWINS [mailto:vquince at comcast.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 6:25 AM
To: Jim Healy
Subject: Re: Stops on the Potomic

Can you describe the DC waterfront...was it free?

Thanks, Jim

On Oct 21, 10:23 am, Jim Healy <gilwellb... at gmail.com> wrote:
> Freddy Olverson's on the Yeocomico is a very nice stop, with low fuel
> prices, but rural.  You'd have to have a car or plan to eat aboard.
>
> Colonial Beach below the Rt. 50 bridge has already been mentiond.
>
> We stayed at Hope Springs Marina in Aquia Creek, above the Rt 50
> Bridge about 10 miles.  The marina was very nice and very welcoming!
> You'd have to clear a 26' fixed bridge.  The creek is shallow, but
> carries at least 5 ft.  The locals say wind can blow water out of the
> creek, so be mindful of the weather.
>
> The dockmaster at Washington Yacht Club is Kelvin Lee.  If you call
> for reservations, it will help to ask for him by name.  This is the
> place to stay if you can get in.
>
> Peg and Jim Healy, aboard Sanctuary,
> currently at Washington (feee) Waterfront, Washington, NC