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The Great State of Maine Air Show was one for the books. However, the seamanship of most of the boaters traveling up Ewing Narrows devolved into wave chaos after Saturday’s show.
The arriving boaters paid attention to the rules — no wake — for the most part. However, when the show was over, the majority of boaters sped down the narrows with impunity, creating a maelstrom of waves, disrupting docks and residents. My neighbor abandoned his dock after a few minutes.
A lobsterman in a small boat heading north was getting hammered by broadside waves that could have capsized his boat. An airboat that had followed the rules going out — I assume clamming — had to accelerate through the waves as he crossed from the eastern shore to the beach on the west side where he had launched his boat. Once he made it across, he slowed his motor down.
But the majority of boaters, perhaps lubricated from the festivities, were making their way down the narrows throwing up large wakes in their path. At one point, a whitecap hit our dock, soaking my 5-year-old grandson and almost knocking him into the water. Fortunately, he was wearing his life jacket and did not fall overboard.
There were boaters who followed the requested speed. One was speeding, and as I gave him a signal to slow down, he obliged until he was at the Mountain Road bridge. Others were oblivious to safe boating, rocking and rolling side to side. Fortunately, there were no incidents.
Thank you to the boaters who practiced safe and appropriate boating. Perhaps we need to deputize a few safe boaters to enforce safe boating in congested waters.
On Sunday, the harbormaster was on scene and visible until the narrows emptied out. Thanks to the harbormaster for a job well done!
George Cookman, Ewing Narrows
