EL PRESIDENTE departs; BUFFALO due

This morning at around 0730 EL PRESIDENTE departed Wolverine Marina, backing away from her overnight mooring, turning and proceeding outbound. EL PRESIDENTE was clear of Erie harbor by 0755.

American Steamship Company's BUFFALO, with stone from Cedarville, makes her second visit of the year tomorrow when she arrives at 1615 hours tomorrow. Two visits in a season are more than the BUFFALO usually makes to Erie; one visit is the normal number in a season.


EL PRESIDENTE enters the channel proceeding outbound.


In the channel.


Stern view.

FORMER PRESIDENTIAL YACHT IN PORT

Former Presidential yacht EL PRESIDENTE arrived in Erie this afternoon and docked at Wolverine Marina, where she will remain for the night.

The yacht, built in 1939 for the Cudahy family of Lake Forest, Illinois, for use on the East Coast, was originally the INNISFAIL. Requisitioned by the government in 1942, the vessel was outfitted as YP-354 after a refit at the Naval Shipyard at Philadelphia, with two 20mm cannons on deck and a depth charge rack at the stern. The YP-354 served five years in this role, before being decommissioned in 1947. It was at this time that EL PRESIDENTE was refurbished and remained in control of the U.S. government via a lend-lease agreement.

Every U.S. President from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Bill Clinton used the yacht, which was refurbished in 1996 and is now used for charters in Chicago. For more information on EL PRESIDENT, visit her website.


EL PRESIDENTE at dock this evening.

I'd like to thank the kind staff of Wolverine Marina for allowing me access to the dock to take the photo seen here.