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CHESAPEAKE & MID-ATLANTIC JULY 2008 GEM OF ANNAPOLIS: THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY

By Stephen Blakely

Of all the places to explore by boat on the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis is one of the must-see ports of call. And the real gem of Annapolis is the U.S. Naval Academy, where the Navy trains its officer corps. For this sailor’s taste, the academy and its campus — known as “the Yard” — is the main reason to visit Annapolis. The town’s City Dock commercial wa- terfront is chockablock with tourists, traffic and tawdry chain stores, but the Naval Academy is a place apart: Spa- cious and beautifully landscaped, rich in history, home to an active, rigorous, storied university that dates to 1845. The 338-acre campus and its buildings and monuments, harking back to our nation’s early days, make it a living mu- seum, especially with the uniformed The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis is a unique destination for the cruising boater, full of sights, sounds and plenty of color. Mids walking to class or being marched Midshipmen train on one of the academy’s new Navy 44 sloops, while a company of plebes are drilled in marching. about in drills. Lawrence, captain of the USS Chesa- America during the Revolutionary War, Among the notable monuments in What to see peake, killed trying to break the British Jones died in Paris and was buried the Yard are the iron mast of the battle- One million visitors come through blockade off Boston). there in an unmarked coffin before his ship Maine, bent by the explosion that the academy’s gates each year. Popular Hard to miss is the architectural cen- body was eventually exhumed and sank it in Havana Harbor in 1898 (the spots include , one of the terpiece of the campus — the Navy brought back to America for interment spark that touched off the Spanish- world’s largest dormitories and the ad- Chapel. This is always an extremely in the academy chapel. Although the American War), and the Techumseh ministrative center of the academy, busy place after graduation: Midshipmen Navy says his body was positively iden- Statue in front of Bancroft Hall, a parts of which are open to the public. are required to be single and, as soon as tified, some historical research says bronze replica of the figurehead of Be sure to see Memorial Hall, which they graduate, many of the newly mint- there is legitimate doubt Jones’ body is ship-of-the-line USS Delaware. has several rolls of honor and the ed officers line up to get married in the actually the one in the crypt. The Army figures prominently in this Navy’s most famous battle ensign, the chapel in full dress uniform. The Naval Academy Museum in Navy stronghold. The Japanese bell in “Don’t Give Up the Ship” flag flown by In a vault beneath the sanctuary is the Prebel Hall, which has lots of academy front of Bancroft Hall is rung each time Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry at the tomb of John Paul Jones (“I have only lore, intricate model ships and memora- Navy beats Army in their storied foot- 1813 Battle of Lake Erie (it bears the begun to fight!”), the country’s first bilia of U.S. naval history, is currently ball rivalry. “Go Navy, Beat Army!” is a dying command of Capt. James naval hero. A Scotsman who fought for closed for renovations through 2008. continued on Page 8

CALENDAR: 7 LOCAL NOTICES: 11 C.G. RESPONSE: 13 Party at the docks New boats splashed Back on the water Great ship goes down Nordic Tugs dealers, including Several new and varied power- The weather gods smiled on a The 1912 wreck of the Titanic re- 2 one in Annapolis, are hosting the 10 boats have hit dealerships, in- 14 fleet of nearly 150 racing sail- 16 mains a nautical icon of tragedy. first annual National Nordic Tug Fest in cluding vessels from Sabre Yachts, Jef- boats on 70-degree water for three A new book raises intriguing theories

USNA July with sea trials and special events. ferson Yachts, Cobalt and Striper. days of Charleston Race Week in April. about what sent the ship to the bottom.

Soundings July 2008 www.soundingsonline.com Home Waters 1 MA MA

moral character, and pass physical fitness and vision tests. Since 1903, each U.S. senator or congressman can make two appointments to the academy per year, and currently each member of Congress and the vice president can have up to five appointees at the Naval Academy at any one time. Lawmakers generally nom- inate 10 candidates per vacancy, which the academy admits by competitive pro- cess; if a member of Congress makes a “principal” (personal) appointment, the candidate need only be qualified. A certain number of spaces are re- served each year for children of mili- tary members killed in action, 100 per- cent combat disabled or active duty Since Midshipmen cannot be married, many flock to the Navy Chapel for marriage ceremonies immediately after graduation. Navy or Marine enlistees. Children of Medal of Honor recipients need only MARINE REWARD qualify to be admitted. TRANSMISSIONS Rowing Skiff, “NIFTY” (11’ 6”) Tours We’re fast. We’re fair. We’re pros. Various special tours are available by Fiberglass Figure Head (3’ x 2’) reservation ($8.50 per adult, $7.50 per Taken on or about April 5th, 2008, senior, $6.50 per child), such as a Histor- Keep your boat running ical Tour, Tour & Tea (at the Officers’ dependably. Whether we supply from Sayreville, New Jersey. a new transmission or rebuild and Faculty Club), a Military Reunion your existing gear, count on us tour for veterans, an African-American for technical expertise and Tour, the Jewish Chapel and Levy Cen- professional service. ter Tour, a Navy Boot Camp for first- through fifth-graders, and an Educational • Hundreds of new transmissions in stock Tour for fourth- through 12th-graders. • Thousands of parts and accessories • Next day shipping • Expert service and technical advice • Transmission rebuilding A reputation built on 85 years of dedicated service. $15,000 Reward Powertrain division of Mack Boring & Parts Company Leading to the safe return, arrest, and conviction of the person(s) responsible. All information will be kept confidential Headquarters: Union, NJ 07083 • Branches in MA, NC and IL 800-709-0673 Call: (732) 238-7740 www.marinetransmission.com Email: [email protected]

Joe Molinaro’s

EastCoast bowthrusters Boat building, repair and installations since 1970

Plebes work to reach the top of the OBILE OW HRUSTER greased to replace M B T the plebe “Dixie cup” sailor hat with a INSTALLATION

Midshipman’s hat. HYDRAULIC WATERCRAFT LIFTS MAINE TO CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. The academy typically is open to pedestrians through the Main Gate from PERSONAL, PROFESIONAL SERVICE 6 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Vetus/Side Power Thruster Thursday (and until 2 a.m. Friday and Sat- urday), with photo ID. Cars are not per- Boat Size Vetus Model # Installed Price mitted without a Navy parking pass. Be- 21’-27’ Bow 35 (77/lbf) $5,900 cause of special events or other security 28’-34’ Bow 55 (121/lbf) $6,700 issues, be sure to contact the academy’s 35’-39’ Bow 75 (165/lbf) $8,000 40’-45’ Bow 95 (219/lbf) $9,500 public affairs office before your visit to 46’-50’ Bow 125 (275/lbf) $10,500 make sure they are open: (410) 293-2291 51’-60’ Bow 160 (352/lbf) $12,500 or -1523, e-mail [email protected], Web site 61’-70’ Bow 220 (485/lbf) $17,500 www.usna.edu/PAO/ Want to see some action? The full Dealer Inquiries Welcome Make Boating More Fun! Brigade of Midshipmen holds a Give Your Dinghy a Lift. lunchtime formation about 12:10 p.m. Visit us online at weekdays, weather permitting, in www.eastcoastbowthruster.com Tecumseh Court in front of Bancroft Contact us for a quote and to schedule installation at North & Mid Atlantic Distributors Hall, as they are marched in to eat. Also, 845-583-5410 • cell: 845-551-1975 Installers for Sealift

USNA continued on Page 12

Soundings July 2008 www.soundingsonline.com Home Waters 9 MA MA Getting there by boat is easy

Pick up the Red “2” nun bell buoy at the mouth of the the head of Ego Alley. If you don’t, call VHF channel 68 Severn River and proceed about three miles on a head- for a water taxi to get into town ($2-$4 per person, de- ing of about 227 degrees magnetic to the Green “5” can pending on location). buoy between Eastport and Greenbury Point. You will Once on land (City Dock), walk two blocks north on Ran- see the broad green copper dome of the Naval Academy dall Street to the Main Gate of the academy. You will need Chapel ahead (the smaller, white-and-black wood dome a photo ID to get through the security checkpoint, which farther to the left is the Maryland Capitol building). About puts you at the Visitors Center. This provides a good his- a mile farther on, 305 degrees magnetic, is the mouth of torical overview of the academy and, not coincidentally, a Spa Creek; to the left you will see a field of white moor- gift shop with many buying opportunities for Navy trinkets. ing balls floating in the water off famed Ego Alley and The academy is usually open seven days a week, but City Dock, which are rented out by the city (contact the there are security restrictions and special events, so • Annapolis water tax: www.watermarkcruises.com/water Annapolis Harbormaster). check before you go. taxi.htm Since these mooring balls are practically impossible • Naval Academy Visitors Center: www.usna.edu/NAF to get on weekends, most boaters anchor in the triangu- Links: PRODV/VC/ lar-shaped “Naval Anchorage” off the academy’s east • Annapolis Harbormaster: www.ci.annapolis.md.us/ • Naval Academy security restrictions: www.usna.edu/ bulkhead. If you have a dinghy, the dinghy dock is at info.asp?page=1320 SecuInfoPers/index.htm

ACADEMY from Page 1 each May and the ultimate final exam for greasy monument so a classmate can each year, and its numerous events plebes who have survived their grueling reach the top and replace the Dixie cup pretty much take over Annapolis, cul- school mantra. And varsity letter win- first year. More than 200 pounds of lard hat with a ’s hat. The grunt- minating in the full-dress graduation ners whose team beats Army are award- are slathered on the 21-foot-high Hern- ing, sweating, slippery pile of bodies ceremony held at Navy-Marine Corps ed a special gold star to affix near the don Monument, with a plebe’s “Dixie often collapses, but a plebe always reach- Memorial Stadium. The high point — a “N” on their blue cardigans. cup” sailor hat carefully placed on top. es the top, no matter how long it takes. spectacular air show performed over The Santee Basin and Robert Crown To mark their departure from the bot- On rare occasions, a tradition will end the stadium by the Blue Angels, the Sailing Center, located on the northeast- of the academy ladder, the class — such as the private Naval Academy Navy’s precision flying squadron — is ern corner of the Yard, is where the must form a human pyramid around the Dairy Farm, which was discontinued a also extremely popular with boaters, as academy keeps its fleet of boats for decade ago. Congress authorized the dark blue jets and their heart-stop- teaching Midshipmen how to sail. The the farm after an epidemic of ty- ping acrobatics are easily visible from academy has extremely active intercolle- phoid fever (traced to tainted any anchorage in Annapolis harbor. giate and offshore sailing programs, and milk) swept through the acade- recently spent about $17 million to re- my in 1910, and it lasted 90 years About the Academy place its aging fleet of Navy 44 yawls (de- before falling demand and pri- The academy is one of four for train- signed by Bill Luders) with brand-new vate-sector prices made the oper- ing U.S. military officers. (The Army’s is Navy 44 sloops (designed by McCurdy & ation obsolete. Anne Arundel at West Point, N.Y.; the Air Force Rhodes), all with gleaming dark-blue County now holds a 30-year lease Academy is in Colorado Springs, Col.; hulls. Recent news reports indicate the on the land, with Maryland Sun- and the Coast Guard Academy is in offshore program is facing deep budget rise Farm as the tenant and oper- New London, Conn.) Among its rivals, cuts, which may force some of the boats ator. The facility, 15 miles north- the Naval Academy is known derisively to the mothballs and many of its sailors west of Annapolis in Gambrills, as “Canoe U,” “the Boat School,” and into other training programs. Md., is open to the public. “Shipwreck .” The academy’s mas- A unique academy tradition is the A vault beneath the Navy Chapel contains the Commissioning Week is typi- cot, Bill the Goat, is a symbol dating to Herndon Climb, a right of passage held tomb of John Paul Jones. cally held in mid- to late-May 1893 (the original goat, El Cid, was deemed to have helped Navy to a 6-4 victory over Army that year), and has been a frequent target of Army pranksters from West Point. More than 10,000 students and enlist- ed personnel apply to the academy each year, of which about 1,200 are admitted. The entire student body, known as the Brigade of Midshipmen, totals about 4,200 men and women. The 600-plus faculty members are roughly split be- tween civilians and military officers. Upon graduating from the four-year uni- versity, Midshipmen have a five-year commitment as a Navy or Marine Corps officer. If they choose to join the Navy, they are commissioned as ensigns, while those entering the Marine Corps are given the rank of second lieutenant. The academy’s graduates include 4,000 admirals and generals, one president (possibly two, if U.S. senator and former Navy fighter pilot John McCain wins elec- tion in 2008), 19 members of Congress, five governors, 73 Medal of Honor recipi- ents and two Nobel Prize winners. Getting in To be admitted, Naval Academy candi- dates must be between 17 and 23 years

old, single with no children, of good (FROM TOP) GARMIN; USNA

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Life at the academy is far from easy, from a plebe buzz cut to grueling daily training exercises.

ACADEMY from Page 9 U.S. Naval Academy: www.usna. edu/ Life in “The Yard” is rigorous visitors may watch the brigade’s formal Naval Academy Museum: www. dress parades on , held on usna.edu/Museum/ If you are among the 10 percent of ap- responsible for leadership of the Brigade. various occasions in the spring, summer : www.usna. plicants who get into the U.S. Naval The term “Midshipman” stems from and fall. Most athletic events are open edu/Chaplains/ Academy, you enter as a plebe — as in the 17th century, designating young to the public free of charge, and the Visiting the USNA: www.usna. plebian, Latin for the lowest of Roman boys or cadets appointed by or appren- academy also hosts concerts and plays, edu/visit.htm society. In this case, it means the abso- ticed to the captain and stationed amid- some free. Check the academy’s Web USNA Public Affairs: www.usna. lute bottom rung of the academy ladder. ships to second the orders of officers site (www.usna.edu) and public affairs edu/PAO/ On Induction Day, after the family and help with whatever needed to be office (below) for listings. n Robert Crown Sailing Center: www. goodbyes are said, the plebes are pro- done. In the early days of the Navy, Mid- usna.edu/SailingTeam/faq/rcc.html cessed, hair shorn off, uniforms and gear shipmen were trained aboard ship until Steve Blakely sails his 26-foot Island To apply to the USNA: www.usna. issued, upperclassmen begin the loud, they were commissioned as ensigns. Packet, Bearboat, out of Galesville, edu/Admissions/ long and excruciating drill of strict mili- Academy sports teams are referred to as Md., about 15 miles south of the Maryland Sunrise Farm (former tary discipline: How to properly wear the “the Midshipmen” or “the Mids.” The Naval Academy. He also writes a sail- USNA Dairy Farm): www.mdsunrise “Dixie cup” sailor’s hat (plebes don’t get term “middie” is considered derogatory. ing blog at www.travelbeat.net/sailing farm.com/ to wear a real upperclassman’s hat yet), Students at the academy can select how to salute, stand in formation and one of 43 majors within 13 fields of march, how to (and not to) pass inspec- study, and graduate with a Bachelor of tion, how to answer to your superiors. Science degree. Upon graduation, they The Naval Academy does not believe in can choose from various service options, summer vacation, beyond a two-week ranging from aviation, nuclear ships, break. Basic military training begins with special operations, Navy SEALs, surface “,” starting around July 1. warfare or submarines. It’s an unforgettably punishing experience, The Navy pays for the tuition, room and even for those in good shape: Up at 5:30 board, and medical care of Midshipmen. a.m. for calisthenics, marching, weapons Monthly pay for the students is $764, from handling, maneuvers and exhausting ob- which laundry, barber, cobbler, activities stacle courses on land, in water and mud, fees, yearbook and other service charges on ropes. This is during the hottest months are deducted, leaving net cash pay of of the year on the Chesapeake Bay. $75–$100 per month in the first year, grow- 23 Classic The second summer is spent aboard ing to $400 per month in the fourth year. various ships to learn and experience Not all who enter the Naval Academy how Navy vessels actually work; this pe- graduate. Midshipmen who resign or are riod includes either a three-week coastal expelled in their first two years incur no or offshore cruise aboard a Navy 44 sail- military service obligation, but those who boat or aboard a Yard Patrol craft travel- are separated (voluntarily or involuntarily) ing on the East Coast. The third summer after that time are required to serve on ac- is spent visiting both Navy and Marine tive duty in an enlisted status, usually for Patriot Corps bases. In their fourth and last sum- two to four years. To avoid service, sepa- mer, Mids join an operational unit of the rated former Midshipmen can repay the Navy or Marine Corps for several weeks. government for their educational expens- The 4,200-member Brigade of Midship- es — a bill often more than $200,000. men is organized into two regiments, six Congress authorized the admission of battalions and 30 companies. The com- women to all of the service academies in pany is considered the most important to 1976, and the integration of women into the small-unit experience of building mu- the Naval Academy has not been easy. tual trust, reliance and teamwork. All Gender tensions were inflamed in 1979, Midshipmen live in Bancroft Hall and eat, when current U.S. Sen. James Webb (D- sleep, study, drill, play and compete as Va.), an academy graduate (1968), deco- part of their company. rated ex-Marine and prolific writer, pub- Students do not use academic titles lished a controversial essay titled (freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior), “Women Can’t Fight,” opposing the inte- Atlantic Outboard, Westbrook, CT 860-399-6773 • atlanticoutboard.com but are referred to by military rank, the gration of women at the academy. Webb Ocean House Marina, Charlestown, RI 401-364-6040 • oceanhousemarina.com lowest being Fourth Class (the plebes). recanted his essay during his 2006 cam- Goldsborough’s Marine, Crisfield, MD 410-968-0852 • crisfield.com/gold Third Class are known as “youngsters.” paign for the Senate after it became a Wefing’s Marine, Eastpoint, FL 850-670-8100 • wefings.com Second Class Mids are responsible for political issue and several female acade- supervising and training the plebes (re- my graduates publicly criticized him. Millway Marina, Barnstable, MA 508-362-4904 • millwaymarina.com porting directly to First Class Midship- Currently, women comprise about 19 Gowen Marine, Portland, ME 800-564-6936 • gowenmarine.com men). The First Class (or “Firsties”) enjoy percent of entering plebes and about 17 Pirie Marine Inc, Ellsworth, ME 207-664-0500 • piriemarine.com far more relaxed rules, but still must meet percent of each graduating class. academic and athletic standards and are — Stephen Blakely USNA

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