On our way up the river, we stopped at Mt Vernon, where the dock usually fills up with a waiting row of boats when the dock hands arrive about 8:30 in the morning, first come first serve. The day we arrived we expected to have to anchor in the tiny bit of 5' deep area but it was a damp and cold day and we found plenty of dock space. We had a nice afternoons visit there. They told us that we could have stayed in the small anchorage if we had wanted. Good info for someone who needed an anchorage in that part of the Potomac.

We reserved an appointment to enter Washington under the 50' Woodrow Wilson Drawbridge [202-727-5522] at 8:00pm friday evening but by the time we got there the commercial vessel requesting the original opening had canceled so we had to wait until a 10:30 pm opening saturday, the next night. We anchored in the wide cove to the east of the bridge but the entry was shallower than the chart and our new Raymarine chartplotter noted...we found 5'6" where it said 7-8' due to a lot of work barges chopping up the bottom, I figured. They are building a new bridge there. The anchorage was fine except for the herds of noisy bass fishermen out on saturday morning!!

As we prepared to go through the 10:30pm opening with 2 other sailboats we realized that a boat could spend time anchored just to the side of the channel, as one did. He said didn't want to chance the shallow cove. We sailed into the Washington area at night and on up the river that was well marked for about an hour until we reached the Anacostia River cutoff and the Washington Channel branch towards the anchorage area near the marinas.

It was not crowded but the anchorages are 17-25' deep so space is to be allowed between boats and 2 anchors are recommended. We have an anchor that is 2 sizes bigger and we rarely have problems. We were happy to get situated and call the DC Harbor Police [202-727-4582] as required, to advise them of who we are and where we were and how long we were going to stay.

The next morning we took the dinghy over to the Capitol Yacht Club [202-488-8110] where the folks are just terrific!!! Some of the best we found, especially for such a big city. So many there were so helpful...more than expected or necessary. It costs $15 to dock the dinghy but you get use of all the ammenities... security, laundry, showers, bar, hoist, wireless, computer, fax, cookouts and more.

We understand that while waiting to leave the WW bridge we can tie up at the Alexandria dock. We plan to sail all night along the Potomac to get back to the Chesapeake and more quaint towns after all the noise and hussle of the city.