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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Sat Aug 28 1999 - 23:37:43 EDT
On August 23rd Bandersnatch was anchored in the Shrewsbury River behind Sandy
Hook, New Jersey, well east of a line between green markers 9 and 11 and well
out of the channel. The sunset was spectacular as we were enjoying a
"sundowner" on the poop deck with a guest aboard.
About 8:05, when dusk was well established, I noticed a 20 foot center-consol
boat moving slowly down my port side with his all-around white light out. I
waved the boat over and when it drew near I noticed it was a State Police
boat. I told the officer that his all-around white light was extinguished.
His response was to state that he didn't need an all-around white light, and
added that it was an anchor light. I pointed out that all motor driven
vessels are required to show an all-around white light and that he was
showing the lights of a sailboat. His response was to angrily demand that I
move my vessel immediately because I was not in an "Authorized Anchorage". I
asked him for his name. He showed me his name badge and told me his name was
"Duffy". I told Mr. Duffy that I had never heard of this anchorage
regulation before and asked if it was a local law. He said it was a state
law. I said that I was in communication with thousands of other cruising
yachts and they would be very interested in this if they wanted to visit New
Jersey so I wanted to know exactly what law this was. Mr. Duffy then stated
that it was a federal law. He repeated that I must move my boat to Horseshoe
Cove, the nearest "Authorized Anchorage". He asked if I had a chart aboard
and that "Authorized Anchorages" are shown on charts. He demanded to see the
ship's papers. At just this time a boat traveling up the river on plane
caught his attention and Mr. Duffy left to give chase. I fetched the ships
papers, the chart, and a clipboard with a yellow pad upon which I noted the
details of our conversation.
Throughout our conversation I had spoken calmly and politely, while Mr. Duffy
was actually pink with rage.
I particularly did not anchor in Horseshoe Cove (inside Sandy Hook) because
it has a long exposure to the west across Raritan Bay and since there was a
strong west wind we would be exposed to weather and off a lee shore.
Mr. Duffy not only lied about the "Authorized Anchorage" being the only place
my vessel was allowed to anchor, his illegal and vengeful demand that I move
my vessel at night in shallow, unfamiliar waters would have exposed my
vessel, her crew, and our guest (especially when ferrying him ashore in the
dinghy across Raritan Bay) to unnecessary hazard.
When Mr. Duffy returned about 20 minutes later he had a much calmer attitude
and his all-around white light was turned on. I presumed his lust for power
was satisfied for the moment by his feeding on the other boat. (The river at
this point is about at least a half mile wide. There are "slow speed"
markers in the channel, but many boats do not use the channel. There is much
traffic here, most of it commercial clammers in 20-30 foot open boats. At
least 80% of the boats pass at full cruising speed and we could never figure
out just what the real deal was about boat speed.) Mr. Duffy told me he
could not find the "Authorized Anchorage" on the chart in Horseshoe Cove. He
asked how long we would be anchored here and I told him three days. He
considered that for a moment and then said nobody ever anchored here, except
for some Canadians, but it would be OK for me to stay. He added that my
anchor light on the bow cannot be seen from astern, so it would be better to
have the anchor light on the cabin top. I agreed and said I would move it,
but for tonight I would turn on my stern light and he agreed with this. I
thanked him for his concern and he left.
It was very obvious to everyone on board that Mr. Duffy's demand that we move
the boat from a sheltered river anchorage out into Raritan Bay in the dark,
to an exposed and uncomfortable anchorage for the remainder of our stay, was
simply petty revenge for my calling his attention to the dangerous and
illegal lack of the required all-around light on his patrol boat.
This attack is typical of my experience with cops on the water. In
contemplative moments I tell myself that the bad ones are simply the most
visible, and the good ones are only seen when they are most needed. But as
the weight of my negative experience with water cops accumulates, it becomes
more and more difficult to see anyone in uniform on the water as anything but
enemy.
Norm
S/V Bandersnatch
Moored 79th St Marina, NYC
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