Liberty is being free from the things we don't like in order to be slaves of the things we do like.--Ernest Benn

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Contending with the United States Navy

Whenever the USS Ronald Reagan visits port, I am inconvenienced. The remote on my driveway gate is neutralized. It's part of the defensive shell erected around the carrier. Friday night we were particularly inconvenienced. Reassured by a call to the Harbor Patrol, Trophy Wife reassured me that that problem had been fixed. We went out to dinner without a house key to the front door. The remote closed the gate behind us as we left the drive way. So, no problem. Right? Of course there was a problem: it wouldn't open on our return. Neighbors were out so we had to call a locksmith. There are several lessons herein.
And whenever the Reagan calls in recent years there seems to be a race on that weekend. There wasn't one scheduled this year, so one was put together.

Around noon today, 17 boats started in 15 knots on a 4.6nm windward-leeward course. Each yacht had one or more Reagan personnel aboard as guest crews. Das Boot drafted two delightful young midshipmen (midshipwomen actually) and we put them to work: Mary trimmed our spinnaker for two runs & Christine drove the boat for the last quarter of a mile over the finish line. A good time was had by all.

Hopefully that aircraft carrier will leave tomorrow and I can open my gate again.

6 comments:

  1. That Reagan has a lot to answer for.

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    1. I could expand on Him, but I'll just express relief that She left about an hour or two ago.

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  2. What lessons were gleaned from the racing?

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    1. To watch out for that dark blue Harbor-30. He fouled us twice. The first time after we had just hoisted on our first run (we were on starboard). The 2nd time on the 2nd beat. Again, a starboard-port situation. But this time it was aggrieviously. I had to alter course & toss the red flag. He acknowledged and, though he continued to sail the course, eventually by-passed the finish line. In those conditions . . . . I don't know who he is. I'll have to wave & acknowledge him the next time I see him on the water.

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  3. What lessons were learned from the brouhaha with the gate remote control?

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    1. The big lesson is not to believe anything harbor office/patrol tells you, especially when you phone them. The lady was probably just telling Trophy Wife anything, just to get her off the phone so she could return to her email.

      I hate phones. Never use my cell unless I'm texting. Being legally deaf will do that to you.

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