Monday, November 22, 2010

No it's not broken down.



 I've loaded a video of a tow on Facebook: Tow in progress Sorry this is on Facebook but I didn't want to upload it twice. Next time I'll load to Youtube.



 These photos ought to provide enough insight regarding navigation on the New River. Here we see a generic Mega Yacht being towed up the New River. When they pass by us they are quite close at perhaps 10 yards or so. And they are moving right along with a tow on the bow and one on the stern. Note the stern tow is facing away and being pulled backwards. 
 When traveling up the river everyone is obliged to be listening on VHF Channel 9, since the tow operators will announce their position and what they are up to. It's good to know about these movements because it is very narrow on the New River in many sections. And that is why the mega yachts have tows to get them up and down the river.  
 But it doesn't have to be a mega yacht to fill up the New River in a hurry. There's always the African, oops, Jungle Queen going up and down the river with tours. Last year we had the distinct pleasure of meeting up with this boat at the weary hour of 5 AM. We were departing for the Bahamas early in the morning so we could make Lucaya before sunset. Just as I managed to leave the other side and get Freedom swung perpendicular to the current, here comes the Queen (no saving graces were said or heard) around this corner. It stopped maybe 10 yards off our port side and then started to dart back and forth as though he was in a hurry to keep going. But the bridge wasn't open so we danced a bit with the Queen until she decided I needed some room to finish the turn and get out of her way.
 And that we did

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