[Povertybay] Tall Ships info

[Robert Miller]

Subject: Tall Ships info

Boating rules set for Tall Ships festival - Coast Guard sets boundaries
for a safe maritime event - The Peninsula Gateway (WA)


While the tall ships take to the waters of Puget Sound on their way to
Tacoma for the Tall Ships festival on July 3, many boaters will want to
get close to them in order to view the vessels under sail.

But to ensure safety, the U.S. Coast Guard has issued boating
regulations that will be in effect during the maritime event. The
regulations will apply to the Foss Waterway, Commencement Bay along
Ruston Way and Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon Island.

Generally, from June 30 to July 7, there will be a 50-yard moving safety
zone around every tall ship while it's underway in Puget Sound. No
unauthorized vessels may enter that safety zone.

At all times while the tall ships are sailing in Commencement Bay, they
will be escorted by volunteer security boats.

The 50-yard safety zone will continue each day during the sailing
adventures and while the boats are moored in the Foss Waterway.

Marina tenants will still be allowed to depart or return to their slips
as long as they adhere to the safety zone.

Periodically, festival security boats may stop boat traffic in the Foss
Waterway while one of the tall ships maneuver into its berth, but the
interruptions aren't anticipated to last very long.

In addition, specific regulations will affect certain areas during the
event:

Quartermaster Harbor, Vashon Island: A safety zone will be enforced from
7 a.m. to about 6 p.m. July 3 as the tall ships prepare to depart for
the Parade of Sail. No boats will be allowed to transit Quartermaster
Harbor during that time without permission from the U.S. Coast Guard's
Captain of the Port, Puget Sound.

The safety zone begins at a line crossing the harbor entrance at
Manzanita Point near the red navigation aid No. 2 and extends to the
north end of the harbor.

Boats attempting to enter the harbor during that time will be turned
away.

Ruston Way: A safety zone along Ruston Way will be enforced from 7 a.m.
to about 6 p.m. July 3 during the Parade of Sail, which extends from the
Tacoma Yacht Club southeast for 4 nautical miles along Ruston Way to the
entrance of the Foss Waterway and out 400 yards from shore.

During that time, no unauthorized boats of any size or propulsion will
be allowed to enter, be underway, be anchored, or be tied to any log
boom or buoy within the safety zone.

A boat may remain tied to a permanent moorage or dock within the zone,
but it may not depart that moorage while the safety zone is in effect.

Boaters who plan to tie to a log boom or anchor in the vicinity of the
Freedom Fair air show and fireworks display on July 4 should be aware of
the new safety regulations that are in effect on July 3.

For more information about boating regulations, call Bob Watson, Tall
Ships Tacoma director of Public Safety, at 253-272-5650.