BEYOND THE HORIZON

May 2025

BEYOND THE HORIZON

May 2025

GRAY FLEET

            1968 was a traumatic year of national and international upheaval displayed by student anti-war sit-ins, the gunning down of four students at Kent State, the veritable unseating of a President, the Tet invasion in Viet Nam, the murder of Robert Kennedy, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, jr., and the election of Richard Nixon. Almost forgotten in the turbulence of that historic year is the loss of four submarines from the U.S., Russia, Israel, and France.

            The USS SCORPION (SSN-589), a SKIPJACK-class attack submarine, was 252’ long and carried 99 officers and men who managed the 6-21’ torpedo tubes and the Westinghouse S5W nuclear reactor. Under command of Commander Francis Slattery, the SCOPION was off the Azores when she sent her last communication. Her wreckage was discovered 450 miles SW of the Azores; but, the cause of her demise remains unknown. She was lost on 22 May 1968.

            THE USS SCORPION

The Soviet K-129, a diesel-powered ballistic missile submarine, was deployed in February, 1968 and was missioned to patrol an area 1500 miles northwest of Hawaii when she disappeared with 98 officers and men. The story of Howard Hughes and the Navy trying to retrieve the wreck with the GLOMAR EXPLORERhas been repeatedly written.

K-129

            Israel’s INS DAKAR was the former HMS TOTEM before being sold by the British. Her captain, LCDR Ya’acov Ra’anan, took her through the Straits of Gibraltar on a homeward-bound voyage to Haifa. He was moving faster than expected, so he radioed an intent to arrive earlier than expected. On 25 January 1968 she sent her last coded message. Her wreckage was found at 9,800 feet near Crete. Her crew of 69 going down with her. Her loss remains a mystery; however, an emergency bouy washed ashore at Gaza many months later. 

INS DAKAR

            The French, the progenitor of the Viet Nam War, lost MINERVE in January, 1968. Like the others, the cause of her destruction remains unknown but many in the submarine community believe it was mechanical failure. She was not found until 50 years later at a depth of 7,000 feet off the shore at Toulon. Interestingly, the French lost another submarine two years later when EURYDICE disappeared. 

MINERVE

            The USS IOWA (SSN-797) was commissioned on 5 April 2025 at the Sub Base New London, CT, by Sponsor Mrs. Christie Vilsack, wife of Tom Vilsack who was the longtime Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Navy, John Phelan. As was mentioned at the ceremony, it was a true Navy day: gray, windy, cold, and rainy. I was shivering but not as badly as the poor Captain in front of me in full dress uniform with medals but no overcoat. The crew brought IOWA to life but they too were in dress blues with no jackets. It was cold. 

            The Commissioning Committee warranted a Bravo Zulu for the celebration which featured an Iowa State Fair fest complete with Corn Dogs and Pork Chops on a Stick that were to die for. Knowing submarine fare, the crew will not be eating so well while on mission. 

            Governor Kim Reynolds, with whom I politically disagree, was exceptionally cordial and visited with me for 15-20 minutes before giving her excellent and well-received speech at the commissioning. Admiral Dayrl Caudle, Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces, was the primary speaker. Whole handfuls of admirals were in attendance. My friend, Captain Ian Thornhill, got a good bicep workout with all the saluting he did with the scores of enlisted personnel in attendance in addition to the IOWA crew.   

Adm. Dayrl Caudle

Other platform guests at the commissioning ceremony included Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, U.S. Submarine Force commander; the CEO of General Dynamics Corp.’s Electric Boat shipyard, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut. The master of ceremonies was Lt. Cmdr. Scott Carper, executive officer of the USS Iowa.

Capt. Jason Grizzle, commodore of Iowa’s parent Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 4, likened the success of the crew to the “hard work and dedication that directly mirror people from the Hawkeye State. Iowa’s motto states that ‘our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain,’” Grizzle explained. “This crew lives by that creed, evidenced today by this fine ship – built, manned, and prepared – in record time, ready to get out to sea where she belongs.”

            The Coast Guard’s 47’ Motor Lifeboat is a stunning boat that rebounds from capsizing, turning turtle, or pitchpoling. Driven by a pair of Cummins QSC bhp at 2,800 rpm, the boat displaces 40,000 pounds, with her 48’ length (so, why not call it a 48’ Motor Lifeboat?), 15’ beam, and a draft of 4.5’. This savior requires a specialist at the helm of which the Coast Guard has only 200. Crew comfort is a factor. She has sound-deadening insulation and impacting seats. Try some YOUTUBE videos of the 47’ Motor Lifeboat.

INLAND WATERWAYS

            The President ordered the Department of Homeland Security to suspend all advisory committees for at least 45 days while they  assess their  match with Mr. Trump’s goals. This mandate stopped the Inland Waterways User Board. The Secretary of Homeland Security terminated all volunteer members who get travel expenses paid by the federal government. This act also stopped all Coast Guard committees that advising on licensure, training, inspection, and piloting.

            Homeland Security Security, Kristi Noem, former Governor of South Dakota where natural disasters never occur and most of the population live in Sioux Falls or Rapid City, stated she wants FEMA eliminated. After last month’s article on the re-building problems in Florida, permits for repair, rebuilding, razing, and clearance of waterways and land is at a standstill. In Florida, you need a permit to breathe, but cities are not granting permits awaiting money from the state, and the state is waiting for money from FEMA, and FEMA is not allocating money for anything while it fights for existence. California and Southern-state forest fires, hurricanes, and flooding be damned.

            The President’s advisors desired to eliminate 36 navigational aids on the Missouri River. The Coast Guard, wisely, rescinded the Aids to Navigation (ATON) after Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) had a fit. Anshu Singh, director of the Iowa Ports Association stated “ Navigation on the Missouri River  is an integral part of moving our imports, manufactured products, goods domestically and worldwide.” A special assistant delivered the news directly to Sen. Grassley (the senior Senator in Congress).

            Meanwhile, South Sioux City, NB was approved as an Inland Port Authority. Don’t confuse South Sioux City, NB with North Sioux City, SD or Sioux City, IA. Worse, Carter Lake, Iowa is surrounded by Omaha, NB. To get to the Omaha airport from downtown Omaha, you must transit Carter Lake, Iowa. The Missouri River was the border between Nebraska and Iowa, however, the river changed course many years ago, and stranding Carter Lake on the wrong side. Gas prices, taxes, permits may be different on one side of the road versus the other!

BOAT NEWS

            MAREX 440 Gourmet Cruiser was unleashed this year with options of Inboard, IPS Drive, or Stern Drive. At 13.3m long and 4.26m wide. This boat can handle 4 feet of water even though she weighs 13 tons. Her various drives push her at 35+ knots. She comes with a 4x100Ah battery pack for the house, and a 4x100Ah for the engines. She is yours for a mere $1.4 million. 

MAREX 440

            The sleek Grady-White FREEDOM 345 provides the smooth ride customary for the brand. Stretch her length to 33.5 feet with an 11.7’ beam and you can motor in less than 3 feet of water with either a dual or triple Yamaha 350hp outboards to a speed of 56 mph. This boat is yours for trivial $800,000.

            Flux Marine’s electric motor literally started in Ben Sorkin’s garage with his desire to build an affordable, safe, and dependable motor. The resultant machine is a hefty 325 pounds that require a trio of 400-volt 28kWh batteries that each tip the scales at 325 pounds. The motor is totally encased and requires neither maintenance nor winterizing. The interesting aspect of the motor is that the prop is driven by a 4” belt. The BOATING magazine experts pushed her to 31 mph but she will only endure for 31 hours at that rpm. At a meager 6 knots she can travel 100 miles. The 150 hp electric will sock you for $83,000.

            Fleet Admiral Unnaslahti (aka Mrs. Marianne Regan, who definitely commands this port) fears sailboats because of a 2-degree heel which causes her to light candles, rotate rosaries, read from Talmud, and rub Buddha’s belly; therefore, I bought a stable, slow pontoon on which she can share the joys of the waters. Afterall, she did grow-up on a lake in Finland and ate fish at every meal until she was 18. GREYBRIAR is a lovely 16’ Sun Tracker with a monster 20hp motor.  She has been aboard once in two years.

            BOAT MAGAZINE ran a special edition on pontoons that raised my eyebrows a tad, being a skipper who runs at a speedy 4 knots while listening to Eric Chance Stone on the stereo. I am going nowhere, so being fast is irrelevant. 

            The pulchritude of a  lovely 24’ BENNINGTON is eye-catching as she runs past at 33 mph guzzling 1.8 nm per gallon at a measly 18 gallons per hour. Options include faux-leather seats ($2,500), and anchor locker ($2,870), and a ski pylon ($1,350). The boat, Yamaha 200 motor, and trailer is a paltry $126,537.

BENNINGTON 24 MSB

The beautiful SYLVAN M-5 CLZ DC ( who comes up with these names?) is a must for small lakes and little rivers. You can zip at a healthy 54.3 miles per hour at 1.4 miles per gallon that mandates a 60-gallon tank. Of course, the seats are carbon-fiber, it turns on a dime, has color changing lighting, and has a teak deck in a weave pattern. It is yours for $238,000. The rationale for the cost and the speed is undetermined; however, some people’s ego’s demand public attention on land or sea or foam.

ENVIRONMENT

Another 400-cow dairy lot run-off killed over 126,000 fish along a 10-mile stretch of a small creek near Decorah, IA. The farmer could be dunned $31,000 for replenishment of the fish and a $10,000 fine. This is small stuff compared to the 40,000 killed fish from last fall or the 750,000 fish killed in the massive kill on the East Nishnabotna River in Western Iowa last year. The Iowa legislature refuses to do much to put some strict mandates regarding excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or requirements for manure runoffs. 

The State of Wisconsin and the Federal Government are locking horns over protection of wetlands. Researchers maintain that wetlands prevent about $23 billion annually in flood damage by soaking up water like a sponge; however, farmers and developers want wetlands removed for development and additional cropland. 

In 2016, over 10-inches fell in a day in Northern Wisconsin, destroying roads and highways, bridges, and structures. The wetlands along the rivers had been systematically destroyed, and with no barriers, the flood waters just spent a wide path of destruction. The Wisconsin legislature then decided to restore wetlands. 

Rural Iowa has opposed wetlands for decades despite data, research, and history. In 2008, the Cedar River received significant rainwater and suffered the worst flood in Cedar Rapids’ history: 32-feet above flood stage. All buildings and homes for 10 blocks on either side of the river were under water. 5,000 houses were destroyed. The entirety of downtown was a story and a half underwater, and the current along the towering business buildings made boat rescue impossible. The city jail was forgotten and cells were filling with water before someone sent a bus to collect inmates. They had to hurry because the bus started to float before all the people could get aboard. Only the weight of the prisoners kept the bus from floating away. Mercy hospital’s basement housing all electrical equipment and machines was completely under water and 1.5 feet of brown water stood on the first floor. The National Czech and Slovak museum was flooded. 

Iowa City fared no better. Hancher Auditorium, the University of Iowa’s modern cultural center, a dormitory, the art museum, were all destroyed. 

            All this was caused by the largescale degradation of wetlands between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids. Since then, Cedar Rapids is continuing building significant floodwalls on both sides of the river. The dozens of blocks of torn-down houses are now owned by the city that is trying to figure how to deal with acres and acres of empty land in the center of town.

            By 2018, Cedar Rapids had spent $5.4 billion dollars restoring services and businesses. As of April, 2025, the city is still building flood walls, working on the empty acres, and restructuring electrical and gas services. It took almost a year for Mercy Hospital to be cleaned and sanitized to reopen. 

            Interestingly, the sundry agricultural organizations, led by Governor Kim Reynolds and her allies, continue to fight wetland protection.  Her popularity has declined so badly that she has opted to not run for another term. The rural-urban internecine legislative war has intensified its divisiveness. All this in order to produce a few extra bushels of corn.

Cedar Rapids Flood 2028

(notice that all 8 bridges are under water)

Mercy hospital (10 blocks from the river) evacuating patients

            And developers are still fighting to eliminate wetlands. The City announced that it planned on spending $23 million this summer on protecting Quacker Oats and other riverside plants. 

            If you haven’t gotten into Stone’s books, you are missing a fun read. His Rick Waters series makes for great summer enjoyment. Also, his many albums are great boat music that I play while sailing and pretending I am a pirate.

            Burr’s Marina, New London, CT, is a truly interesting place to berth your boat, service your motors, or have anything fixed. Irene Swenson, who sails a 24’ boat, conversed with me while manning the phones. I love a place where you can simply visit with people who know about boats and sailing and all that kind of stuff ( a cliché I was docked points on a history 101 exam in college – rightly so).  If you wander through New London, stop in to say HI to the people there. 

Great Accommodations

• Behind a New Breakwater
• Gas & Diesel ValvTect Fuel
• Dock Attendants
• Bathrooms & Shower
• Pool & Picnic Area
• Laundry
• 20-ton Travelift
• ABYC Certified Marine Electric Service
• Hull Repairs
• Engine Repairs
• 150+ Slips & Moorings
• Sail & Power Boats to 50′
• Boats to 120′ – Tie Alongside

244 Pequot Avenue, New London, Connecticut 06320, United States

(860) 443-8457