Anyone notice?, Exit at MacRay fireworks last night Options

[PyrateJim]

Ok - so we always wait at least 45 minutes to an hour when the fireworks are over before we start pulling up the anchor and slowly motoring out. Last night though, it seemed like just about everyone was doing this, which then was like - ok , so how long do we wait? It's good to see that people are actually waiting and taking their time to be careful when leaving such a big event as this. ESPECIALLY at night, with this many boaters.

What a great day for being out there and always a spectacular fireworks show!

P.S. - Kudos to the Macomb County sheriff marine division - we saw them checking a lot of boats for life vests, etc. One small boat I swear had about 20 people on it, but they all held up life vests.

FullThrottle posting as PJ

[Big Dog]

We watched some really drunk guy in a Boston Whaler jet boat go around the group 5 or six times. Totally lost and he kept turning his lights on and off. The fourth time he circled he asked if he had been by us before, the boat looked familar, told him yep, 4th time he had been by. He eventualy made his way into the harbor, hopefully in one piece, without hitting anyone?

[Black Pearl]

We watched some really drunk guy in a Boston Whaler jet boat go around the group 5 or six times. Totally lost and he kept turning his lights on and off. The fourth time he circled he asked if he had been by us before, the boat looked familar, told him yep, 4th time he had been by. He eventualy made his way into the harbor, hopefully in one piece, without hitting anyone?

We were rafted off with 2 other boats toward the Selfridge side of MacRay and that same guy (boston whaler) came cruising right up to the bow of my boat. I yelled at him that he was about to run over my anchor line so he cuts his engine. He runs over the line and tries to pull my anchor line around his stern. Meanwhile his bow start heading toward the boat rafted off on my port side. He then scurries to his bow and fends the rafted boat. Once again his stern comes around and just about hits the boat rafted off to my port. The whole time this is happening he is asking if his friend Johnny is onboard one of the boats we are rafted to. I tell no and said I think he's over there somewhere. I think he got the picture that we didn't want him around. So he starts his engine and turns off his nav ligjhts (presumably he thought he was turning them on). Then off through the sea of anchored boats he motored. Judging by his slurred speech he was in no condition to be driving a boat.

Being new to powerboating, I have to admit I was wondering how I would make it the few hundred yards to my slip at MacRay after the fireworks. I was looking at all the boats anchored between me and the channel that takes me into the harbor and thinking this is going to be ugly. Most of the boats had been anchored out there all day and I could only imagine the condition the drivers would be in. I thought as soon as the fireworks end there would be a mad dash out of town. Meanwhile, our little 3 boat raft would be smashed to oblivion. But pleasantly, we waited about 45 minutes before departing and everything went pretty smooth.

Fireworks were amazing and had a blast with a bunch of friends and family.

[KMC]

I could not believe how dark it was heading east!! We had to go out around the Clinton and Metro before we could get up on plane it was so pitch black!! Great fun though, and for the most part saw very respectable boat operation. We were farther out (not too sure about the shallow areas up there), so we got hit by a couple last-minute attendees still on plane coming in through the anchored areas but no one too close. Wish we could have made it up to the LSCN raft!

[Stodge]

That's exactly why we just spend the night in Poorman's after the show.

[spacelord]

after the fireworks ended we watched a boat with NO lights on come in the MacRay channel right by the gas dock. It looked like a dark colored boat too. crazy.

not to mention plenty of morons running around on Golf Carts without lights.

[Stodge]

I'm curious to know who popped the aerial flares just before the show started.

Just not smart.

[Trixie923]

We watched some really drunk guy in a Boston Whaler jet boat go around the group 5 or six times. Totally lost and he kept turning his lights on and off. The fourth time he circled he asked if he had been by us before, the boat looked familar, told him yep, 4th time he had been by. He eventualy made his way into the harbor, hopefully in one piece, without hitting anyone?

There was a report about 11:30-midnight that there was a VERY drunk Boston Whaler causing havoc on the Clinton River. Don't know where he ended up as it quieted down before we made it into the river. Made sure the kids were sleeping on the bridge with us instead of in the cabin......but made for a very nerve-wracking ride home for me.

But it was a beautiful day with friends and family and the fireworks were awesome as usual!!

This post has been edited by Trixie923: Jul 6 2010, 10:36 AM

[sleeper]

We waited a while after the show before heading back, and it was still pretty tricky. We ran just above idle all the way back to the Clinton River. It seemed like a LOT of people waited.

Good show, though. I came late, had my dad pick me up via dinghy and watched from his boat.

[freckles]

Did anybody see Hammer's "friend" in the Searay who had 100' of anchor line out and didn't want anyone near him?

[fitsus]

Did anybody see Hammer's "friend" in the Searay who had 100' of anchor line out and didn't want anyone near him?

He's was out there and I came in during half the conversaition Pajanga Rick heard someone got too close to the dip pulled out scissors and cut his anchor line. He was reported to the authorities and they plan on charging him with something.

[freckles]

Did anybody see Hammer's "friend" in the Searay who had 100' of anchor line out and didn't want anyone near him?

He's was out there and I came in during half the conversaition Pajanga Rick heard someone got too close to the dip pulled out scissors and cut his anchor line. He was reported to the authorities and they plan on charging him with something.

Yep, a friend of mine is the one who got his anchor line cut. I'm waiting to hear the update.

[pquest29]

I'm curious to know who popped the aerial flares just before the show started.

Just not smart.

Saw those from my backyard... stupid prank.

[Pachanga_Rick]

We watched some really drunk guy in a Boston Whaler jet boat go around the group 5 or six times. Totally lost and he kept turning his lights on and off. The fourth time he circled he asked if he had been by us before, the boat looked familar, told him yep, 4th time he had been by. He eventualy made his way into the harbor, hopefully in one piece, without hitting anyone?

Sunday night while re-setting the anchors for the night he did the same in front of our boats.. slowed down, shut off power over our lines than re-started his engines and punched it doing a donut..

seemed perfectly normal to me so I did not think much of it..

[Pachanga_Rick]

And it was nice to met you Big Dog.