how did I know?...The naval vessel had basketball sized orange floats at about 100 yards, in a perimeter around the USS whatever it was...we were at least another 100 yards outside of said perimeter, in a classic sailing vessel, which could possibly, in open water, make ten knots.
The zodiac could do close to 50 mph.
What actually happened was that they wanted to take a look at our vessel. It happens quite regularly. The bowsprit has a beautifully carved American Eagle protruding like a figurehead. They blew in at way above wake speed, guys at parade rest, and dyke standing with her hand on the glock, yelling at us to stay away.
Needless to say, we weren't very happy to have our lovely afternoon disrupted in such a manner.
Comments like, "This is our harbor, get your friggin' warship outta here", may have set things off.
But...and this is the key...she was already standing there with her hand on the gun, which was not holstered. It was on one of those swivels. She was showing off for her crew. And, yes, I'd bet my life that she was a belligerent dyke. ( I almost did. ) There is no turnip truck outside my door.
Wanna represent me? It happened on July 4, 2003, at about 3:00 P.M., just inside the breakwater of the harbor at Gloucester, Mass.
I put an end to the foolishness by going below, and saying to all in earshot that I was looking for the automatic weapons. Everyone laughed, including her crew, which kinda stopped the foolishness. Besides, the fun was over, and they got to see what they wanted.
The US Coast Guard is our first line of Homeland Defense...all of a sudden...if you've ever dealt with them, you know that it does not make me sleep better.
No kiddin' kids...