The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing future “clean boating” requirements for all recreational boats in the next few months, and they need to hear from you. They are hosting “listening sessions” in Annapolis on two different Friday nights, March 18 and April 29.

Where
Doubletree Hotel, 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401
(This is right off Route 50 with lots of free parking.)

When
March 18th, 7 pm
April 29th, 7 pm

A specific list of the proposed requirements is not yet available. We do know that sewage will not be discussed or covered – it’s part of a different law. It appears that EPA is looking at several broad categories of vessel discharges (including the use of antifouling paints and zincs, grey water (from showers and sinks), bilge water (with concern about oil and grease, which is already illegal to discharge), the use of cleaning products, disposal of garbage and fishing waste, and the transport of invasive species.

Links of Interest:

Info on Act: http://boatinglaw.com/maritimearticles/aboutcba.html

Clean Boating Act: http://boatinglaw.com/publications/cba.pdf

Proposed Rules: http://boatinglaw.com/publications/proposedrulesmarch2011.pdf

Spring has nearly sprung and the time has come for you to ask yourself, where am I boating this year? Of course there are many opportunities to get out on Chesapeake Bay.

You could of course go out and buy a boat, or you could join one of the boat clubs in the area. Or you could save some money and join either Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) or Annapolis Community Boating. Not only will you save some dough, you will get the added benefit of helping your neighbors, both able-bodied and physically challenged enjoy boating on Chesapeake Bay at a reasonable cost. Just how reasonable is it to join either CRAB or ACB?

Local boating clubs include Freedom Boat Club, Care Free Boat Club, and the Downtown Sailing Center. Membership in these clubs run anywhere from $275/year for use of only certain boats to $7,383.00 plus tax for the first year in Freedom Boat Club. ACB & CRAB memberships top out for an individual/family at just $350.00 per season.

Compare this with a community pool membership of between $315.00 for an in community membership to as much as $610.00 per year. Most swim clubs also have the initial cost of a refundable bond. Remember when you belong to a pool all you can do is lay around in chaise lounges but if you join CRAB or ACB, you‘ll be out boating on beautiful Chesapeake Bay or one of its tributaries.

Annapolis and Anne Arundel County are blessed to have two nonprofit organizations sharing the same mission—overcoming obstacles to give everyone a chance to enjoy boats and boating. Both groups believe that with hundreds of miles of shoreline along the nation’s largest and most productive estuary, no one in this area should go without experiencing time on the water.

Now, Annapolis Community Boating (ACB) and Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) have agreed to forge a vigorous partnership this spring, with plans to merge.

In the two years since it was formed, ACB has introduced more than 1,000 people of all ages to boats and boating, most at free or low-cost, one-day events or week-long camps. In its 20-year history, CRAB has specialized in taking disabled people sailing and has touched the lives of thousands. Both organizations have built fleets of boats to serve their needs and today oversee more than 50 boats ranging from kayaks and canoes to motorboats and sailboats.

CRAB founder Don Backe is also an original member of ACB’s Board of Directors. He supports the merger as a way to continue and expand his organization’s mission by using ACB’s diverse fleet and extensive network of licensed instructors. ACB President Lorie Stout said merging will help solidify the fund-raising base for both groups, thus expanding boating opportunities to the greater Anne Arundel Co. area.

The name CRAB will be adopted for the new entity, reflecting the commitment to continue serving the disabled community. The obvious fit of the two missions fulfills CRAB’s unstated goal — to integrate with all boaters. CRAB’s fleet of larger boats completes the large number of small craft which ACB has amassed. CRAB’s predominantly adult clients and ACB’s youth emphasis further bolsters the strength of what will become known as CRAB — accessible to all

The two groups will cosponsor the Spring Sails Event party, a fund-raiser scheduled for May 7 at Port Annapolis, and will share keelboat training events for residents of all ages and abilities while ACB will run two weeks of adaptive summer camps for disabled youngsters at Mayo Beach. Merger negotiations will continue through the summer.

Said Backe, “This merger will reflect our continued commitment to bringing people out on the water in boats, to providing introduction and training for the skills required to safely operate small craft on the Chesapeake Bay.”

Follow this link to an article in the Capital newspaper on Feb 2, 2011 about the CRAB and Annapolis Community Boating merger.

Some new sailors think that in order to go sailing, you need to buy all new gear. As is the case for many outdoor sports such as golf or skiing, the people who get into the sport and stay in for many years may have closets full of gear for all weather conditions. The good news is that you don’t need brand new gear to start sailing. You may already have what you need in your closet.

Most people who want to get into sailing already like outdoor sports. New sailors are often already skiers, runners, hikers, campers, waterskiers, anglers, or paddlers. There’s something about the water and the desire to “feel” it that draws us all in. The conditions we should expect on the water aren’t so different than those on land, except for the fact that you might get wet, even on a sunny day.

Hikers, cyclists, and runners tend to dress in high tech layers. This is exactly what sailors do, and we often wear the same brands. Under Armour and Patagonia are “high profile” brands, but there are other (sometimes more cost-effective) brands that work just fine and can be found in regular sporting goods stores. A short sleeve T-shirt, a long-sleeved T-shirt, a fleece vest and/or a long-sleeved fleece, nylon shorts or pants, and a rain jacket may already be in your backpack. The missing link may be waterproof pants. If you get into sailing, these will be a necessity—but to start, you may consider just borrowing some or buying cheap hiking pants, as sailing “bibs” or “salopettes” start at $150.

Although many sailors do wear them, you don’t need to buy boat shoes to go on sailboats. One definite “no-no” of sailing is wearing black-soled shoes that may scuff a white deck. However, there are other shoes besides deck shoes that do the trick. Teva and Keen sandals have non-scuffing bottoms. So do high top “Chuck Taylors” and neoprene booties many kayakers and paddlers wear. Before sailing on any boat, it may be a good idea to ask about footwear, but you may already have something functional for your first few sailing excursions. If it’s chilly, wear high tech or wool socks instead of cotton ones.

Necessities: hats with straps (to keep them from blowing off in the wind), sunblock, and sunglasses. It’s also helpful, however not always a must, to have sailing gloves, which can be bought for under $20 at a marine supply store.

The keys to dressing comfortably for sailing are to remember three rules: one, you may get wet, so be prepared. Two, sun reflecting on the water is strong, so protect your skin and eyes. Three, it can feel 15 degrees colder on the water; always bring layers.

Fashion is not nearly as important as getting out on the water. Don’t let gear fear get in the way. Go sailing while the season lasts!

      If you’re wondering what the heck Annapolis Community Boating is, well, in some ways so are we. It’s a fledgling organization; all we know for sure is we have good people and good intentions. Our aim is to make it easy and affordable for people in Anne Arundel County to get into boats and boating.

     Who are we? The board includes some well-known local people: America’s Cup sailor and TV commentator Gary Jobson; ocean racer Jim Muldoon of Donnybrook fame; former Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Susan Dierdorff Taylor; marine lawyer Todd Lochner; Washington Post boating writer Angus Phillips; Lee Tawney of the National Sailing Hall of Fame; Don Backe, founder of Chesapeake Regional Accessible Boating (CRAB).

     We share a love of boats and the Chesapeake and want as many county people as possible to experience it. To that end, in our first full season we’re running free boating sessions at City Dock on Sundays from April to June; we’re producing a video and lecture to take to schools and clubs, we’re running week-long, on-the-water introductory sessions for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Annapolis, the YWCA and school groups, and we’re looking for boats and a place by the water to call our own.

     Our goal is to create a program like the Downtown Sailing Club’s in Baltimore, where local folks who don’t own boats and don’t belong to yacht clubs can join up and inexpensively enjoy boats and boating.

    We’re always looking for ideas, sponsors, donors and volunteers, and we’re always looking for people and groups to take out on the water. If you have an interest, e-mail us at info@annapolisboating.org.

    Fair winds. We’ll see you on the water.

    ****

   Annapolis Family Boatbuilding will be building six small sailboats over the July 4 weekend at the old Trumpy Yard, 222 Severn Ave. in Annapolis. Families or groups interested in buying a kit, then building a Bevins Skiff can check the website www.Annapolisfamilyboatbuilding.org or call 410-626-1413.

    ***

    Annapolis sailor Terry Hutchinson was named U.S. Sailing’s Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in a ceremony in New York last month. A video of the proceedings is online at the National Sailing Hall of Fame’s website, www.nshof.org.