For the second time in two weeks, we saw Navy sailors on two big ships in one day. Actually, one hour. The USS Philippine Sea exited Yorktown Naval Weapons Station and was followed a half-hour later by the USS Mason entering the river toward NWS. Cindy Jarboe and Frank Wood got to show their Middle East friends a view of American Naval power.
Sure enough, after the Philippine Sea cleared the Coleman Bridge, it got jammed at the closing. It took ten minutes or so to fix it. By then, in the distance we could see the two ships passing in the York Channel. Very impressive.
In each case, I radioed the bridge of the Navy ship of my intentions, namely to stay on the north side of the York River to given them plenty of leeway. They acknowledged and appreciated the call.
Safer Sailing
Among three couples in the afternoon, Ariel & Rhemi Huckabay had recently moved to Alexandria VA, where he works as a contractor in cybersecurity. I was curious if we should pay ransom to a cyber attacker.
“It depends,” he said. “If you know that it’s coming from Iran, Russia or North Korea, then no — because it’s illegal. Otherwise, yes if the consequence of the attack and the fine is going to be worse if you don’t. If it prevents you from going out of business and you can pay it, then yes.
“Small companies are more vulnerable because they generally don’t have good cybersecurity. They don’t change their passwords, or they don’t use difficult passwords, for example. Or they don’t have two-step verification processes like big companies.”
But won’t they attack again if we pay? “Oddly no, because they want to be taken seriously. They have employees and a business to run, albeit illegal.” So, there’s honor among thieves? “Yes!”
That seemed depressing, but suddenly a pod of dolphins surfaced to change the subject. We sailed on blissfully.
Sailing Metaphors
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Navigating within oneself: Sailing represents creating conditions that stimulate cooperation, meditation, creativity, and integration between intuitive and logical functions.
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Adjusting the sails: Just as in life, we cannot control external factors, but we can adapt and persevere.
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Being aware and mindful: Sailing requires paying attention to trim, handling, changing wind, and sea, similar to being mindful in life.
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Resilience and adaptability: Dealing with the uncertainties of life, like the constantly changing wind, requires resilience and adaptability.
Women enjoy sailing today more than ever, and particularly a romantic cruise. Couples get to enjoy a romantic getaway as they sit up on the bow for privacy, and Let’s Go Sail provides professional photos for free.
First-time or skilled mariners are welcome to sail a modern-32-foot sailboat in a unique setting of wildlife and Fall foliage or Spring bloom. It makes for an extraordinary anniversary idea.
Mooring Tilted
One of the moorings off the coast of Yorktown is tilting sideways, such that the cross for bowlines is inaccessible. That will make it hard to snare the line onto the cross, which is already hard enough if not dangerous. I reported it to Riverwalk Landing. The photo shows a cormorant resting on the cross. The ball may be taking on water, much like R-24 earlier this month. There’s always something.
Three days later, I reported it by radio to Riverwalk Landing. I explained how the cross is tilted so far over as to allow loon to stand on it. The dockmaster replied, “Yeah, must have a heavy leg. Actually, they’re getting ready to take out all the moorings,” presumably for failure to use. Now that’s news.
Small Sailor
Gerry and Allison Mulvey of Williamsburg and San Antonio TX returned for their third annual sail. Winds were light, so we motored upriver to NWS to see two Navy warships unloading weapons.
Gerry now refers to Deadline as “my other sailboat” since he regularly operates a remote-controlled version.
“They cost up to $600 and they work great,” he said. “Well,” Allie cautioned, “the one I gave you was$150.”
Gerry: “It comes in a box and takes two weeks to assemble because there are so many parts. It operates on four Double A batteries, and I have a charging device that can remotely tell when it’s running low and needs to charge.
“It’s 3 feet long with a 2-foot keel. The remote operates the sails and the rudder, but no engine. Our sailing club in Ford’s Colony has 12 members, and we use the pond that you see when driving into the place.”
It goes without saying that Gerry is an adroit helmsman, so as the winds picked up we tacked downriver and flew the spinnaker to return. It was glorious, everyone agreed.
Riverwalk Landing
All summer long, a large work barge has come and gone to repair the docks at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown, some 30 years old. It’s an imposing sight and makes landing a boat there precarious. They have to dock inside the pier inside of outside, including the tourist ship Alliance II.
Navy Sailors II
Just a few days after coming into NWS, the USS Carney shipped out to sea on a warm summer morning.
Dr. Mo Morgan and his wife Danielle got to see the action up front, on the bow, to celebrate her birthday. Once again, the Coleman Bridge got stuck upon closure. But this time it was only for a few minutes instead of ten. That story is still a mystery.
