"Racing" the "IKE"

[Dan_Y]

Didn't know where else to post this. I'm always struck by the awesomeness of aircraft carriers and couldn't help sharing this. It's safe to say that by the time you see one off your stern you will be passed in a few minutes. We just made it into the marina entrance. That at least saved the escort boats the trouble of a close pass inspection of us as it's difficult to maintain the 500 yard required clearance prior to marina entrance. That happened to us this past December when another carrier was outbound and we had just left the marina entrance. Probably didn't help that the admiral and I were wearing ski masks to help stay warm!

Here is where we were beating the "IKE"...NOT!

AWESOME!

 

[Benny17441]

Had a submarine surface fairly close to us one time in the Tongue of the Ocean, it was mind boggling.

 

[kimelmore]

Haze Grey and underway. Carriers will do 45+ knots easy. Of course not in confined waters. Looks like you had an awesome view.

 

[kimelmore]

You could always feel the excitement on the ship when entering Hampton Roads area. HOME!!!!!

 

[Dan_Y]

Yes! It's great to give a big waive at the men and women on deck. On days with lots of recreational boats around, 16 lights up with people thanking the sailors for their service. It's really great.

 

[PaulK]

We see submarines off New London, CT sometimes. They cruise by at 30 knots with their deck awash, waves bashing the conning tower like it was a lighthouse.

 

[kimelmore]

I spent a long year once a long time ago working on the USS Ohio at Electric Boat. Awesome machines.

 

[Mikem]

served on Independence, America, Eisenhower and Nimitz. Commanded a squadron on Ike and was ship's navigator on Nimitz. Went to the gulf and back in 91 ( from Bremerton). Check out Nimitz high speed turn on google. We tested the steering gear after some work in the yards. At 35 degrees left rudder at flank speed we had a 14 degree stbd heel and at 35 degrees right rudder it was 11 degrees. Our turning diameter was 1200 yards. Not bad for a ship with an LOA of 1115'. Won't comment on flank speed.

 

[Ron20324]

Sometimes there is a sub moored off Annapolis- usually for the homecome football game. They're a bit touchy if you get too close- even if your course is just skirting their perimeter. At a dinner party a Russian fellow said he had served on a Russian sub. Another guest said they should have brought the sub up the Cesapeake Bay. In his Ruskie accent, he said "V'd haff to run on the surface", to which I said, "Some folks will do anything for a Maryland crabcake".

 

[pateco]

I love seeing the big boats. Its even more fun when your the one doing the racing.

When I was at Annapolis, I got the opportunity to go on a ride-along on a Pegasus Class hydrofoil on the Chesapeake bay. It was a Saturday, and we were just going to do a short out and back to experience the boat. We were doing about 35 knots, and about 10 minutes into the trip these two cigarette style off shore boats pulled along side, and started gunning their motors like they wanted to race. Captain started to laugh, Accelerated up to about 3/4 throttle, and we started doing circles around them while they were running full out. I don't know what top speed on the Pegasus class was, but Jane's stated 85 knots published.