Smith Point Sea Rescue editor Dan Morissette recently reported crews responded to the following calls for assistance:
November 6: At 2:30 p.m., the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) notified SPSR that a sailboat was hung up on submerged pilings in Cockrell Creek across from the Crazy Crab. Rescue 1 with 3 crew and Rescue Skiff A with 1 crew responded and located the vessel, a 36’ Hunter with 2 aboard, near the “Stack”. Rescue 1 pulled the vessel off the pilings and towed it to deeper water. The vessel was then escorted to docking at the Crazy Crab for inspection. Time on call: 1 hr.
November 6: At 5:07 p.m., SPSR was notified by NCSO of a disabled boat at Sandy Point. After Rescue 1 departed for the Sandy Point at the mouth of the Great Wicomico, it was determined that the boat in question was off Sandy Point on the Potomac, north of the mouth of the Yeocomico. Rescue 2 then dispatched from Lodge Creek with a crew of 4 and located the vessel, a 23’ Hydra Sport with 2 persons and a dog aboard; it was anchored in 6 feet of water due to engine failure. The Rescue 2 crew secured a tow line, towed the vessel to Lodge Landing, and assisted with loading it onto a trailer. Time on call: 2.8 hrs.
November 21: At 11:30 a.m., an SPSR member received a call from the owner of a 44’ Midnight Lace power boat who had discovered an engine problem while getting his boat ready for a previously-scheduled winter haul out. Rescue 2 was dispatched with 5 crew to the owner’s dock on Lodge Creek and towed the vessel to Krentz Marine for haul out and service. Time on call: 1.5 hrs.
November 26: At 3:00 p.m., NCSO notified SPSR of a disabled boat in a small cove on Ellyson Creek off the Little Wicomico. Because of very shallow water, the SPSR Captain determined to wait until highest tide, then responded with Rescue I and an SPSR member’s small skiff. The skiff was able to tow the 32′ Luhrs from its dock to deeper water, where Rescue I then towed it to Smith Point Marina for haul out. Time on call: 3.0 hrs.
December 11: At 3:45pm, SPSR received a call from NCSO reporting a disabled boat In Chesapeake Bay, south of Smith Point Light. Rescue I was dispatched with 3 crew and the vessel, a 20’ center console, was found with 3 persons aboard at the reported location and was determined to be out of fuel. Rescue 1 crew provided gasoline, and the vessel then proceeded under its own power to Smith Point Marina, escorted by Rescue 1, and was trailered. Time on call: 2.0 hrs.
December 11: At 5:30 p.m., while escorting the vessel in the previous mission to Smith Point Marina, Rescue I received a call from NCSO reporting another boat disabled at Smith Point Lighthouse. Rescue I continued to the Marina and picked up an additional crew member due to night approaching. Rescue 1 then returned to the Bay and located the vessel, a 28′ Albermarle with 2 men and a dog aboard, dead in the water without power. An SPSR crew member passed a “jump box’ to the Albermarle’s crew to provide power to start its engines. Once the engines were started, Rescue 1 escorted the Albemarle to Cockrell’s Creek. Time on call: 2.30 hrs.
Smith Point Sea Rescue is a volunteer rescue unit which serves 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. The organization receives no regular governmental monetary support and 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 1 and Rescue Skiff A are based in Reedville, Rescue 2 and Rescue Skiff B on Lodge Creek near Callao, and Rescue 3 at Smith Point.
