The eleven yachts in the Clipper Round the World race arrived in Washington DC early -- very early -- Monday morning after a 170-mile trip up the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River. They have just completed a 1,990 nautical mile race from Panama, with only one more leg of their round-the-world journey remaining. Undoubtedly, they are ready to take a break and soak up the hospitality of their supporters in America's capital.

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge was the last milestone on the way to their port stop at The Wharf in DC.  With 75 feet of vertical clearance when closed, the drawbridge will open for taller boats -- the mast on a Clipper 70 is 95' 2" above waterline -- but only if prearranged, and almost always at inconvenient hours to have the least impact on traffic on the busy DC Beltway. Monday's opening was set for 04:45.

Waterway Guide made a pre-dawn trip to watch the scheduled opening of the Wilson Bridge, and the procession of yachts as they passed. On arrival at Jones Point Park in Alexandria VA, at the base of the bridge, a line of red and white lights was visible just downriver. The yachts had come up the Potomac River as a group, and neatly arranged themselves in a single file line to be ready when the bridge tender gave them the signal.

At about 04:30, the clang of bells was heard over the low din of traffic on the bridge. About ten minutes later, the gates went down on the bridge to stop all vehicles, and at precisely 04:45 there were three horn blasts and the two spans of the drawbridge began to open. The clanging stopped, traffic stopped, the small crowd of witnesses stopped talking, and the scene got notably quiet. A hush over DC is unusual, and it marked an atmosphere that something special was happening.

Even during the long days of mid-June, it's dark at 04:45. Though the bridge was well lit, there were no lights to illuminate the racing yachts as they started through the bridge span. Each boat had requisite running and steaming lights for motoring at night, but they were otherwise silhouetted against the glow under the bridge and the dim skyline. An onlooker with binoculars in hand said he could barely make out the name of each yacht. With the city's iconic skyline emblazoned on its topsides, the WASHINGTON, DC led the procession, escorting its fellow competitors into their home city.

One by one, the boats followed WASHINGTON, DC through the drawbridge and upriver, whispering by with only a soft lapping of water against their hulls. One crew had music playing, others gave a few whoops of celebration. And in no more than 20 minutes, the eleventh boat passed by and after three more blasts of the horn the bridge spans lowered. With the golden hues of a pending sunrise as background, eleven yachts paraded up the channel towards The Wharf.

On behalf of DC residents and sailing enthusiasts from all over the U.S.A., Waterway Guide Media extends a hearty welcome to all Clipper Round the World crews. We hope you have a great time in the nation's capital and enjoy your home base at The Wharf this week. We will see you there.

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