100 fathom line

We measured it close to 100' at the pier.  

Submarine Lil only sold beer from the trunk of her car at the head of the pier.  In that she was the Piermaster, she wouldn't let booze be sold.  On the three boats that I went to St Croix on, none of them allowed crew to drink booze on the pier.

I do remember a big old Navy Auxiliary mooring across the pier from Pargo maru on day.  They sent some LCDR over to coordinate Shore Patrol Responsibilities - I had the Duty.  A tale for another day.  lol 

Flapper wrote: I have fond memories of the Frederickstadt Pier. I remember the water clarity there as the best I've ever seen in all the seas i've ever sailed. The water depth along that pier was 60 feet or so and you could make out the labels on beer cans on the bottom. That was in early December of 1970 aboard Seahorse on her post-commissioning shakedown cruise.

Yeah, at 60 feet we could use the SPM to make a landing.  I'd line upon a car at the head of the pier.  Lower the SPM. And drive right in.  A "One Bell Landing."

"All Stop." The throttleman likely didn't catch on... "How'd Mr. Sheldon do that?"

Operating in and out of New London, we used to submerge/surface after crossing the 100 Fathom Curve outbound/inbound. This was due south of Montauk Point on the eastern end of Long Island. Good hour and a half from SUBASE.  Friday afternoons were a real race with all of the Diesel Boats and the slower Nukes.  Additionally, the shallow Diesels could cut the corner at Race Rock.

We'd all meet up at the O' Club for Happy Hour until they'd try to throw us out at 1800 to get into the Uniform of The Day.  Fat Chance!  Can't remember which diesel boat, but the Wardroom all had Business Cards that read, "Our XO can lick your XO."

The shortest distance from the pier to the 100 Fathom curve that I recall was in Frederiksted on the west coast of St Croix, USVI.  It was maybe 3 or 4 boat lengths from the end of the pier to the hundred fathom curve.  (On daily ops we'd rig for dive while alongside the pier and before setting the Maneuvering Watch and upon surfacing we'd be in a total panic getting topside rigged for entering port.)

It was all worth it to buy beer at the head of the pier from "Submarine Lil," the piermaster.

Non duty section sitting on the pier next to the boat drinking a beer  was a novelty to me.


Edited by SaltiDawg - 21 Apr 2016 at 5:20pm

Classic "ping".