This Weekend on the Charles

 OK  sports fans, we have some high school racing on Saturday.

 

SATURDAY

We'll miss the CRLS/Milton races that were cancelled.

 

9:30am - 10:00am, High Schoo Racing on the Powerhouse (Weeks to the Powder Magazine at Magazine Beach),

Belmont Hill JV v. Brookline

 

10:00AM - 11:00AM, High Schoo Racing on the Powerhouse (Weeks to the Powder Magazine at Magazine Beach),

 Winsor v. Lincoln, girls fours

 

2:30PM  - 3:30PM, High Schoo Racing on the Powerhouse (Weeks to the Powder Magazine at Magazine Beach),

BB&N/Brooks/Thayer  

 

EARTHFEST

Please also be reminded that Earthfest is happening at the Hatch Shell on SATURDAY, and while we haven't heard of any boating or mooring restrictions, you may want to give the area a very wide berth given the very likley high security.  If you are heading by there for a workout, I'd stay a bit more out from shore than usual (taking care to NOT cross the center of the river, of course) and keep your eyes open for police boats who may not be looking at you.  Better yet, stay upstream of the Mass Ave Bridge.  if you plan to moor your boat and enjoy the show, look out for folks telling you what to do.  I don't know that they will be there, just guessing that they might be.

 

And finally - these alerts pretty much just call attention to the weekend events.  If you are posting events during the week, you really need to give folks a heads up that it is happening.  Do not think that everyone checks the calendar every day.  They don't.  Posting on the calendar isn't permission, its notification.  But you should ALWAYS work with your partners in CRAB and let them know if things are changing because we all want to avoid conflicts.  That goes for weekend events too.

 

and finally, the ever evolving CRAB fine print and legalese....

 

CRAB is not the boss of you.  We cannot tell you what to do.  We offer information that we believe to be true in a good faith effort to improve awareness, communication and boating safety.  And we do this because we believe that the boaters of the Charles River want a safe boating environment for all.  This is not an official document from CRAB, it is informational only.

This Weekend on the Charles

Quiet Weekend on the Charles, however, we hear rumors that a barge has appeard at the Mass Ave (formally, Harvard) Bridge. We're looking into that and will let you know when we know more, but in the meantime, use caution and watch for stray barges.

 

 

SATURDAY

 

10AM - Noon:  Highschool Racing in the Powerhouse (Weeks to the Powder Magazine at Magazine Beach).

BB&N v. Southfield and Lincoln

 

3:00PM to 4:30PM  Highschool Racing in the Powerhouse (Weeks to the Powder Magazine at Magazine Beach).

Belmont Hill v. Brooks and Groten

 

Construction News

Anderson Bridge

The Boston shore arch remains closed for bridge work. 

 

The Center Arch should:

• be used by rowers for DOWNSTREAM traffic only. 
• be used by Powerboaters for BIDIRECTIONAL traffic
• be used cautiously by all, keeping an eye open for other boating traffic and making sure you don't wander into oncoming traffic

The Cambridge Shore Arch should:

be used by rowers for UPSTREAM traffic only, using caution to avoid booms on the shore and oncoming traffic toward the middle. NOT be used by powerboaters

 

BU/Grand Junction Railroad Bridge

A memo from the DCR:

       Following up on the 16apr2013 meeting to discuss MBTA/SPS work on the Grand Junction Railroad Bridge over the Charles River, please be advised of the following:

•      Beginning Fri03may2013 barges will occupy both span 2 (second from Cambridge-side) and span 6 (closest to the Boston-side).  The barge will be moved from span 6 during non-work hours (10pm-6am).
•      Span 2 occupancy is scheduled to end by Wed08may2013, after which only span 6 will be occupied.

Span 2 is where the barge currently is (30 April 2013). Span 6 is the arch with the boardwalk in it. Span 6 has the highest clearance of all the arches at the RR bridge. It is used by taller boats which do not fit under the other arches. Yacht clubs and tall boat owners, notify your members and operators that this arch will be blocked from 6AM to 10PM while it is under construction. The goal of staring this arch now is to ensure it will be open sooner. I will get an estimated finish date for arch 6.

Note that the barge will be moved to and from the work arch each day. Therefore expect around 6am and 10 pm there may be a slow moving floating piece of steel crossing the river at the bridge. It may be hard to see if you are approaching it from the other side of the bridge. It may be connected via a rope to a tug. It may throw a big wake while it is moving.  As always look multiple times and take it easy when approaching the bridge. Ill try to get some details as to how it will be moved, where it will be stored etc.

 

Longfellow Bridge

Has barges moving in several arches.  Extreme caution should be used at all times and rowers should turn above this bridge if possible and avoid it all together.

 

CRAB fine print and legalese.... CRAB is not the boss of you.  We cannot tell you what to do.  We offer information that we believe to be true in a good faith effort to improve awareness, communication and boating safety.  And we do this because we believe that the boaters of the Charles River want a safe boating environment for all.