Evening star., 1940-06-14
Anchorages Provided
For Pleasure Craft
OF Three Classes
Boot Owners Assigned
Berths Must Register
Prior to July |
By MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
The Districts harbormaster, Po-
lice 1t. William H Carlin, looked
over pile of papers on his desk
at the harbor precinct and admitted
the growing duties due to the new
harbor regulations for the District
was anything but play for his ma
rine gendarmes.
A condition fast approaching land
office proportions has turned the
normally peaceful confines of the
Maine avenue station house into a
minor bedlam.
Immediate reason for all the &C
tivity is rush of Washington
yachtsmen desirious of getting
choice anchorage in one of the Dis
trict six mooring areas. In addi-
ton, all Washington boat owners
holding regularly assigned berths
have only until July l to register
with the harbormaster.
Many Registering Early.
Although yachtSmen have year
in which to register for moorings-
the deadline is June 2, 194l, one
year from the day the harbor regu-
lations went into effect-many are
descending on the station in order
to be assured of choice spots.
1t. Carlin, defending his posi-
ton against scattered complaints of
veteran holders of moorings, COM
mented: IT'S first come, first served
with us. We can't hold off an ap-
plicant just because some yachts
man has had mooring for long
period"
The biggest beat of any precinct
In town is the area the boys at the
harbor have to administer.
It sprawls from the Three Sis
ters Island on the upper Potomac
to Oxon Run opposite Alexandria.
In between are four additional
mooring areas. One in Washing
ton Channel-the most populated
ranges from the foot of Thirteenth
street to the foot of K street SW.
Another is on the Virginia shore of
the Potomac at the Airport Basin.
The remaining two are located on
AnacoStia River, one between the
Anacostia Bridge and the new
Sousa Bridge and another just south
Of the Benning Bridge.
Regulations Are Specific.
Under the new plan all mooring
areas will be characterized by three
distinct lines. Boats over 46 feet in
length will be assigned the outer
lane of any area. Yachts rating
between 46 and 26 feet will take up
positions in a center lane, while
anything under 26 feet will moor
adjacent to seaWalls or shoreline.
Each mooring will be identified by
a number and complete records of
each leasee will be kept in precinct
files. Information requested by the
harbormaster includes boats name,
owners name and address, boats
number and length, type of boat and
its beam and the yacht club affilia-
ton.
Reminding yachtsmen they must
supply their own moorings, which
should meet certain specifications
outlined in the regulations, 1t.
Carlin stated he was doing every
thing possible to assist boat owners
in readiustments.
To aid in pulling up old moorings
and placing new, 1t. Carlin has pro-
cured a United States Engineers
derrick
Weights for Anchors.
Regulations governing moorings
specify minimum weight of anchors
shall be 100 pounds for boats not
exceeding 26 feet, ITS pounds for
boats not exceeding 46 feet and $50
pounds for yachts over 46 feet. Says
the rules. "Mooring huoys shall be
of substantial construction and Of
adequate displacement to support
the mooring chain
In all it is estimated between 300
and $50 potential moorings are
available in the Districts six areas.
1t. Carlin believes the mooring
rush would be even more pro-
nounced were it not for the berths
now available in the completed por-
tions of yacht basins l and 2 OF
Washington Channel.
AS for the need of additional per-
sonnel at the harbor station, 1t.
Carlin says he could stand at least
another clerk Maybe the harbor-
master will have need of a secretary
before long. He's not sure.