Club to Fire Cannon in Southwest After Mollifying Locals

A yacht club along the Southwest waterfront has received permission to periodically fire a cannon after agreeing to a plan intended to address locals’ concerns about noise.

Capital Yacht Club at 660 Water St. SW can shoot its “saluting cannon” every Friday at sunset through Nov. 30 and midday on national holidays, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board ruled this week. The cannon, which will be pointed toward the 14th Street Bridge, also will go off for special functions and events, a club spokeswoman said.

After the club moved to its current location from 1000 Water St. SW last year, locals who live aboard boats in the area complained about noise from the cannon, which the organization has fired regularly since 1957.

The residents and the club in June reached an agreement to allow the cannon firing to resume, pending the approval of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. The club, which holds a liquor license, needed the support of the board to use its cannon again.

Under the board’s order, the club must “alert nearby persons in advance of the cannon firing either by the rapid ringing of a bell for a ten second duration from the CYC clubhouse, a horn or whistle blast, or by oral notification” five minutes before it uses the cannon.

Founded in 1892, the club has about 200 members.

Photo via Facebook/Capital Yacht Club