Smith Point Sea Rescue (SPSR) editor Dan Morissette recently reported that crews responded to the following calls for assistance:
August 20: At 9 p.m., the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) notified Sea Rescue a sailboat was aground near Lewisetta Marina. The three-member SPSR duty crew assembled at Rescue 2 but was requested to standby while two additional crew members went to the marina to further assess the situation. The latter crew found that the 30-foot Catalina was aground approximately 75 feet from the “T” pier inside the marina basin. The duty crew was requested to come to the marina by land to assist. With help from the marina mechanic and his boat, the Catalina was ungrounded and safely moored to the pier. Time on call: 2 hours.
August 26: At 1 p.m., SPSR received a call from the NCSO regarding a small boat entangled in oyster cages in the Little Wicomico River. Rescue 1 dispatched from Cockrell Creek with a crew of three. While in route, the captain called Myles Cockrell of Little Wicomico Oyster Company and asked for assistance in ensuring that no damage was done to the cages. Rescue I arrived at the Little Wicomico to find that the small boat had been freed and was returning home. Thanks to Cockrell and his crew for their help. Time on call: 1.5 hours.
September 3: At 11:50 a.m., NCSO notified Sea Rescue of a 22-foot Wellcraft with engine trouble in the Potomac River near Judith Sound. Rescue 2 dispatched with a crew of five and located the vessel with two adults and a child aboard. The vessel was towed to Lewisetta Marina to be trailered. Time on call: 2.5 hours.
At 12:28 p.m., Sea Rescue responded to a call from NCSO reporting a 35-foot sailboat disabled near the mouth of the Great Wicomico River. Rescue I with a crew of four dispatched, located the sailboat with an overheated engine near Buoy 8, and towed it to Tiffany Yachts for repairs. Time on call: 1.5 hours.
At 2 p.m., SPSR received a call from NCSO that a 23-foot Scarab in the Great Wicomico was overheating near Glebe Point Bridge. SPSR dispatched Rescue I as it returned from the previous mission. Rescue I located the Scarab and towed it to the owner’s pier in Cockrell Creek. Time on call: 1.5 hours.
September 16: At 8:20 p.m., NCSO notified Sea Rescue that a fisherman reported his boat was disabled near the target ship “American Mariner” northwest of Smith Island. Rescue I responded with a crew of five to locate and assist. With the aid of its radar and FLIR thermal camera, Rescue I located a 35-foot Viking adrift in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, out of gas, and with no navigation lights showing. SPSR provided all the gasoline it had aboard and escorted the Viking to Smith Point. After entering the Little Wicomico, the Viking ran out of gas again, just inside the jetties. Rescue I then towed the vessel to Smith Point Marina for fuel. Time on call: 6 hours.
September 21: At 4 p.m., Sea Rescue received a report from NCSO of a sailboat aground in Cockrell Creek. Rescue I dispatched with a crew of four, accompanied by shallow-water Rescue Skiff A with a crew of two. Rescue A located the sailboat hard aground in the upper portion of Cockrell Creek. The skiff delivered a tow line from Rescue I, which pulled the sloop free and towed it to a pier near the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum. Time on call 1.5 hours.
September 24: SPSR supported the Northumberland Association for Progressive Stewardship (NAPS) Creek Cleanup on the Great Wicomico River. Rescue I served as the safety boat and Rescue Skiffs A & B contributed as transport and pickup boats. Thanks to Mike Ahart of NAPS for organizing this mission. Nine members of Sea Rescue appreciated the opportunity to support the community. Time on duty: 5.3 hours.
Smith Point Sea Rescue is a volunteer rescue unit serving boaters from Coles Point to the mouth of the Potomac River, south to the Rappahannock River and across the Chesapeake Bay to Smith and Tangier islands. It receives no regular governmental monetary support, depending solely on donations.
Smith Point Sea Rescue does not charge for its services and can be reached on VHF channel 16 or at 911. Rescue 1 and Rescue Skiff A are based in Reedville, with Rescue 2 and Rescue Skiff B on Lodge Creek near Callao.
