Space Shuttle Viewing-An Inconsiderate Boater

Two launches ago, I jumped into the car at the last moment and drove for 3 1/2 hours and pulled off the highway three minutes before the launch. As soon as we got off I-95 there appeared to be hundreds of folk standing watching the skies so I too pulled over at an old gas station.

We jumped out of the car, 2 young kids and my better half with me telling everybody to get the cameras, I felt like a Ja---ese tourist with a video camera, a digital camera and an iphone plus the "flip" camera.

My wife shouts whoa there it is, where, I shout, she shouts back there, where, there and then after shouting for 20 or 30 seconds, why I have no idea as there was no noise from the shuttle I finally see it way up in the air and then it disappeared into the clouds reappearing 10 seconds later for about 5 more seconds before disappearing for good.

Got back into the car and drove another 3 1/2 hours so about 7 hours driving in total for about 30 seconds of total viewing. There was no sound, no vibration and no smell.

Back on the highway I asked my son what was the best part and he replied going to the bathroom after that long drive up there.

I was at Space View Park, where this was shot. There were several thousand people located along the shoreline of and beyond the park. Even so, the boater had basically an infinite number of places to position his boat and have a good view, if not a perfect one, and not block that of hundreds of others. The geometry would be clearer to you if you had been there. The offense, if any, is he had the mobility to do just that, but opted to do what he did. The people on the shore had no options. I don't think anyone is questioning his "right" to the waterway, just his lack of consideration for so many others, especially given the nature of the historic event. Simple courtesy. JMO.

Pascal (cool screen name BTW),
it wasn't a matter of a feeling of "entitlement" from camping out for 3 days, it was just simple courtesy (or lack thereof). I assume you would not cut into the front of a long ticket line, hold up a massive sign blocking the view of others at a concert, etc. It's really the same thing. He certainly had the "right" to choose any anchorage he pleased, but he chose, at the last minute, to block the view of many hundreds of others, when he could have very easily done differently and still clearly observed the launch pad. Every other boating spectator did exactly that.

Thank you!
Will be playing it shortly

as for the boat, I bet it was anchored by an in-experienced owner, who was probably just relieved to be "able" to get the vessel near to the launch. It looks like he has just dropped the "pin" and drifted without control. No planned anchoring here.

To HighChaparral and DustMote4B...

You've shown class in your approach to this situation and we all respect your complaint. You gents are welcome here. We can only hope that word of this makes its way back to the owner of this 76' Lazzara. You might be surprised, YF has tentacles. There's a good chance that someone at his marina, or on his docks, follows YF.

On behalf of a group of seriously responsible boat owners and captains, we regret this took place. It might be the first time is history that a delayed shuttle launch was a good thing.

Thank you very much. I am a boat owner as well, albeit not a "yacht class" vessel. My experience is that most responsible vessel operators, regardless of size, are very conscientious people. Unfortunately, as in all walks of life, some are not so much. Hopefully, if this thread does make it to the 76' Lazzara owner/operator, he will become a little more aware.

I was kind of playing devil's advocate in my first post wondering why someone would anchor blocking people's view if there was room to anchor elsewhere. If there is something that I absolutely hate is inconsiderate boaters... like those who anchor on top of your anchor where there is plenty of room elsewhere, loud music, buzzing jetskis, and the idiots who think their wake doens't exist.

often, in an crowded anchorage when i have to anchor close to other boats that are unlikely to run their air at night, I try to pick a side so my genset exhaust doesn't affect them... it takes very little effort to be considerate...

and dont' get me started on AH sportfish Jjckeys who think they own the waters and don't have to slow down for others...

PS
my imagination is pretty limited... so that's not a screen name, jsut my first name

If you are anchoring in a common anchorage, that is on the chart or in the cruising guides you have no business complaining about someone running their generator. As most all yachts run their generator, and have to for the systems on the boat. How loud is a generator anyways? I can guarantee people can hear your halyard slapping the mast and wind generator for miles.

Norseman, you're talking about an act of sabatoge and vandalism against someone doing what they are legally permitted to do. You'd be lucky to get arrested. I'd put a flare in your sheets and probably in your shorts. Annoying neighbors are common anywhere. Your only option is to move if what they are doing is legal. Personally, I hate being near snailboats because of the constant clanging and their laundry lines. Cutting their halyards is not an option, even if it may be a dream.

The cord-cutting comments in this thread were simply a dose of droll. Can we not vent among ourselves without being held liable for every comment?

In boating or ANY walk of life, you see the occasional Jack @$$. This thread and this pic are proof...

The last several posts in this thread are bring moved to a new thread titled "Running Generators at Anchor". This is the 2nd time this thread has derailed and frankly, it's starting to look like a train crash. This thread is being locked.