FLOAT PLAN FOR 15 JUNE 2024 TRUMP BOAT PARADE
Location and Directions:
1. The starting point of our boat parade will be off the NE corner of Craney Island,
about 0.8 NM west of buoy “Red 12”. The approximate coordinates are
36°55.98’ N, 76°21.33’ W. Water depth in this area is about 15 ft at low tide. We
will monitor VHF Channels 16 and 72 during the rendezvous.
2. If you are coming in via the James River from the west, cross the M&M, turn right
just before buoy Green 9, and head SE (120°M) down the small boat channel
marked with Yellow buoys. You can avoid a lot of crab pots by staying in this
channel until you approach the Norfolk shipping channel.
3. If you are coming in from the north or south, the muster point is across the
channel from the north end of Norfolk International Terminal.
4. Southern Comfort, a 58 ft Hatteras Yachtfish, will lead the parade. We will depart
Craney Island at 1:30 pm with two prolonged blasts from SOCO’s horns. Single
file (or something close) may make for a more impressive flotilla. Also, we don’t
want to interfere with any northbound boat traffic on the Elizabeth River.
5. Our parade route will be around Lambert’s Point (coal terminal), east toward the
Naval hospital and Tidewater Yacht Marina, past Waterside Marina, Town Point
Park and Nauticus, and points west. When you make the U-turn from Tidewater
Yacht to Waterside, please keep some distance from the shipyard and watch for
Elizabeth River ferry crossings. There will be at least two boats flying yellow
flags floating around the area where we will make our u-turn. Please go around
(outside) these boats so that we can attempt to maintain an orderly, safe turn.
6. We will run SLOW, only about 6 kts speed, from Craney Island to just west of Red
34, then slow to No Wake Zone speed for the rest of the route. We learned from
our first parade that faster speeds produce way too much chop for all of us. If
you are a sailboat or other vessel that cannot meet the 6-6 ½ knot speed, you
may want to consider going up the river early, hanging out near the mouth of the
Western Branch or at Hospital Point, and then merging into the parade as it
approaches.
7. If you care to make a 2nd run past these Portsmouth/Norfolk sites, you can
probably cross back over to the south side of the River after you pass the NOAA
ships on the Norfolk side of the water.
Other Comments:
We suspect that there could be some anti-Trumpers come out to harass us or otherwise
disrupt our boat parade. If this happens, just keep on smiling and laughing and being
respectful of the boating regulations! But, if you do encounter any vessel that is
intentionally interfering with the parade such as cutting across the flotilla (as we saw in
the last parade) or otherwise creating an unsafe condition, please call the Coast Guard
immediately on VHF Channel 16.
It is very important that all participants pay close attention to all navigation rules and to
ensure that we do not impede commercial shipping traffic and the Elizabeth River Ferry
crossings.
We are expecting an awesome show of hundreds of boats!!
Location and Directions:
1. The starting point of our boat parade will be off the NE corner of Craney Island,
about 0.8 NM west of buoy “Red 12”. The approximate coordinates are
36°55.98’ N, 76°21.33’ W. Water depth in this area is about 15 ft at low tide. We
will monitor VHF Channels 16 and 72 during the rendezvous.
2. If you are coming in via the James River from the west, cross the M&M, turn right
just before buoy Green 9, and head SE (120°M) down the small boat channel
marked with Yellow buoys. You can avoid a lot of crab pots by staying in this
channel until you approach the Norfolk shipping channel.
3. If you are coming in from the north or south, the muster point is across the
channel from the north end of Norfolk International Terminal.
4. Southern Comfort, a 58 ft Hatteras Yachtfish, will lead the parade. We will depart
Craney Island at 1:30 pm with two prolonged blasts from SOCO’s horns. Single
file (or something close) may make for a more impressive flotilla. Also, we don’t
want to interfere with any northbound boat traffic on the Elizabeth River.
5. Our parade route will be around Lambert’s Point (coal terminal), east toward the
Naval hospital and Tidewater Yacht Marina, past Waterside Marina, Town Point
Park and Nauticus, and points west. When you make the U-turn from Tidewater
Yacht to Waterside, please keep some distance from the shipyard and watch for
Elizabeth River ferry crossings. There will be at least two boats flying yellow
flags floating around the area where we will make our u-turn. Please go around
(outside) these boats so that we can attempt to maintain an orderly, safe turn.
6. We will run SLOW, only about 6 kts speed, from Craney Island to just west of Red
34, then slow to No Wake Zone speed for the rest of the route. We learned from
our first parade that faster speeds produce way too much chop for all of us. If
you are a sailboat or other vessel that cannot meet the 6-6 ½ knot speed, you
may want to consider going up the river early, hanging out near the mouth of the
Western Branch or at Hospital Point, and then merging into the parade as it
approaches.
7. If you care to make a 2nd run past these Portsmouth/Norfolk sites, you can
probably cross back over to the south side of the River after you pass the NOAA
ships on the Norfolk side of the water.
Other Comments:
We suspect that there could be some anti-Trumpers come out to harass us or otherwise
disrupt our boat parade. If this happens, just keep on smiling and laughing and being
respectful of the boating regulations! But, if you do encounter any vessel that is
intentionally interfering with the parade such as cutting across the flotilla (as we saw in
the last parade) or otherwise creating an unsafe condition, please call the Coast Guard
immediately on VHF Channel 16.
It is very important that all participants pay close attention to all navigation rules and to
ensure that we do not impede commercial shipping traffic and the Elizabeth River Ferry
crossings.
We are expecting an awesome show of hundreds of boats!!