Smith Point Sea Rescue (SPSR) editor Brent Stansbury recently reported crews responded to the following calls for assistance in May:
May 7: SPSR received a call from the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) regarding a 47-foot trawler stuck on a sandbar at the mouth of the Little Wicomico River.
SPSR responded with Rescue I and a member’s boat. Crews located the pleasure trawler hard aground on the western end of the jetties in a rapidly falling tide. SPSR ungrounded the trawler and the member guided the vessel through the narrow channel and out into the bay. Total time: 1.5 hours.
This incident is another example of the hazardous conditions in and around the jetties at Smith Point on the Little Wicomico River. While a very small and shallow channel may be open at times, the jetties are very challenging to navigate for larger vessels and transient boaters, harboring for the evening.
May 12: SPSR was dispatched by NCSO for a disabled 40-foot sailboat aground in Ingram Bay. Rescue III, with a crew of four, responded from Cockrell Creek. A member in a skiff was already on scene near the entrance to Towles Creek. The skiff delivered a towline to the vessel from Rescue III; it freed the sailboat and towed it to deeper anchorage. The skiff returned to Ingram Bay Marina and retrieved the sailboat owner’s dog, waiting on the pier. Total time: 2 hours
May 19: SPSR received a request from a local boater to help move a disabled 27-foot Regal from his pier to Lodge Landing for haul out and repairs. SPSR coordinated a time and dispatched Rescue II and a crew of three. Total time: 1 hour.
May 21: SPSR was dispatched by the NCSO for a 40-foot Leopard power catamaran aground in the jetties at the entrance to the Little Wicomico River. Rescue I responded with a crew of three. Rescue I was joined by a member in his skiff to deliver a tow line to the vessel aground.
The catamaran freed itself and proceeded toward the marina. Unfortunately, the vessel became stranded again. Rescue I responded, ungrounded the vessel and escorted it to Smith Point Marina. Total time: 1.5 hours.
May 22: SPSR received a call from the U.S. Coast Guard regarding a disabled vessel near the mouth of the Potomac River. SPSR assembled a crew of three and dispatched Rescue I. While exiting the jetties at the mouth of the Little Wicomico River, Rescue I encountered extremely rough seas and high winds, which precluded re-entry that night into the Little Wicomico River.
En route to the disabled boat, SPSR received word from the NCSO that Ridge Fire Boat Four was on scene; the disabled vessel’s captain had managed to get an engine running and intended to proceed to Smith Point Marina.
Due to the heavy seas and the known shoaling conditions within the jetties, SPSR advised against attempting entry into Smith Point. Instead, SPSR recommended diverting approximately 12 miles south to Reedville and offered escort and navigation assistance. The captain agreed and both vessels proceeded to Shell Landing on Cockrell Creek. Total time: 3.5 hours.
May 24: At the request of the vessel captain, Rescue III escorted a 40-foot Leopard power catamaran out through the Little Wicomico River jetties at Smith Point at high tide. SPSR had ungrounded the vessel from the jetties on May 21 and it requested assistance for departure transit back through the jetties. It then continued safely on its voyage to New York City. Total time: 1 hour.
SPSR is looking for new members. Call or text 540-446-8972 or 703-976-6830, or email searescue2023@gmailcom.
Smith Point Sea Rescue is a volunteer unit that serves boaters on the Potomac River and its tributaries from Coles Point to Smith Point, across the Chesapeake Bay to Smith and Tangier islands, and south to Windmill Point. The organization depends solely on donations.
Smith Point Sea Rescue does not charge for its services and can be reached on VHF channel 16 or by calling 911. Rescue I, Rescue III and Rescue Skiff A are based in Reedville, Rescue II and Rescue Skiff B on Lodge Creek near Callao.
