Smith Point Sea Rescue editor Dan Morissette recently reported crews responded to the following calls for assistance:
February 15: At 9:25 a.m., the captain of a 44’ Irwin sailboat called SPSR and reported that his vessel had lost steering and power and had run aground on an oyster bed near Lewisetta Marina. Rescue 2 responded with a crew of 4 at 9:55 a.m. from Olverson’s Marina, and arrived at the scene at 10:40 a.m., finding that a local waterman and an employee of Cowart’s Seafood were already engaged in towing the disabled vessel to Lewisetta Marina. Rescue 2 then escorted the tow to the Marina to aid if needed. Time on call: 2 hrs. 20 min.
April 1: At 1:45 p.m., SPSR received a call from the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) reporting that a 50’ cabin cruiser with 8 people onboard was in distress and taking on water near Chesapeake Bay Buoy 62. SPSR responded from Cockrell’s Creek at 2:00 p.m. with a crew of four on Rescue 1. While enroute, SPSR learned that the boat had sunk completely, and that the 8 people were in the water. Rescue I arrived in the vicinity Buoy 62 and started a systematic search in moderate winds and choppy seas. After a 1/2-hour search and no sighting of flares or debris, Rescue I changed its search vector and picked up a VHF radio call from one of the survivors stating he could hear a boat—which was in fact Rescue I. SPSR then adjusted the search and located the 8 survivors, 3 women and 5 men, huddled together in the water one mile SE of Buoy 62. The crew pulled the survivors onboard in states of mild to moderate hypothermia from exposure of at least an hour in the 49-degree water. The crew provided basic hypothermia first aid on the way to Ingram Bay Marina, where crews from three Northumberland Count Rescue Squad and EMS units were waiting to provide further treatment. None of the survivors were hospitalized. Time on call: 3 hours. Note: The boaters survived because they wore PFDs, stayed together, and had a handheld VHF radio which was used to help direct SPSR to their location. Taking common sense safety precautions when boating can save lives.
CBS 6 News story with video
April 13-14: In response to a request for assistance, SPSR departed at 9:45 a.m. with a crew of 5 on Rescue 1 to a dock on Warehouse Creek. A 20’ Mach 1 runabout was half-submerged on its side at the dock because its lift had partially collapsed. The rescue crew had to first disassemble the lift to right the boat. The crew then used dewatering pumps to restore buoyancy and towed it to a neighbor’s dock. Time on call: 3.5 hours. The next day, an SPSR crew returned on Rescue 1 and towed the boat to Buzzard Point Marina for repairs. Time on call: 2 hours.
April 23: At 6:21 a.m., NCSO notified SPSR that a sailboat had run aground overnight near the horseshoe bend in the St. Mary’s River. Rescue 2 departed from Olverson’s Marina with a crew of 4 at 7:30 a.m. and arrived on scene at 8:25 a.m. The captain of the 26’ sailboat reported that his vessel had dragged its anchor overnight and was now hard aground. The captain rowed out to Rescue 2 to get a tow rope and returned to his vessel to secure the rope. Rescue 2 then towed the boat to deeper water, and the captain re-anchored it. Time on call: 2.5 hrs.
May 5: At 8:15 a.m. Rescue 1 with a crew of 5 responded to a request for assistance from the owner of a 25’ Shamrock walkaround to tow his disabled vessel from Buzzard Point Marina to Tiffany Yachts for engine work. The crew arrived on scene at 8:30 a.m. and completed the tow without incident. Time on call: 1.5 hrs.
May 5: At 1:30 p.m., an SPSR crew of 5 on Rescue I responded to a call for assistance from a boat disabled due to an overheated engine north of Buoy 65, near Point Lookout. Three persons were on board. Rescue I arrived on scene at 2:55 p.m. and towed the 34’ MJM powerboat to Tiffany Yachts for repairs. Time on call: 5.5 hrs.
May 15: At 10:10 a.m., an SPSR member was called by the owner of a 50’ Beneteau sailboat to report his engine had overheated near Krentz Marina in the Yeocomico River while under way to Tiffany Yachts for repairs. The owner had already arranged with a commercial operator for a tow the following day but requested that Sea Rescue assist him and his 2 crew in returning to his dock. At 10:50 a.m., Rescue II with a crew of 2 brought the 3 men back to the dock. Time on call: 1.5 hrs.
May 19: At 8:19 a.m., NCSO notified SPSR that the owner of a 24’ Carolina Skiff located at Smith Point Light was unable to start his boat. Rescue I with a crew of 3 launched at 8:30 a.m. and approached the Light, where the boat found to be tied up. Due to wind and a rough sea, the SPSR captain determined that assistance could not be rendered without risk of severe damage to the skiff. After notifing the skiff’s owner, who was also the owner of the lighthouse. Rescue I returned to its slip at 9:30 a.m. At 4:00 p.m., the sea having calmed, Rescue I returned to the lighthouse and left a battery in the skiff for the owner to use to start it. Rescue I then returned to its slip at 5:27 p.m. Total time on call for both missions: 3 hrs.
May 20: At 3:00 p.m. SPSR receives a call that a 25′ Parker is caught in oyster cages in Ellyson Creek off the Little Wicomico. Rescue III responds with crew of four to find Parker badly entangled. Rescue III approaches cautiously but gets itself entangled very near the Parker. Rescue III calls for help and Rescue I arrives but stands off until a local waterman arrives with a diver onboard who frees both boats. The Parker continues its journey while Rescue III is towed by Rescue I back to Smith Point Marina for haul out and repairs to its running gear. Many thanks to Myles Cockrell and Brandon the diver for coming to our rescue. Total time 3 hours
May 21: At 9:30 a.m., the owner of the skiff from the May 19 missions called the SPSR captain directly to report that his unoccupied skiff had broken free from its mooring at the lighthouse and was floating south in the Bay. At 9:50 a.m., Rescue I began a search for the skiff, with grappling hooks aboard if needed. The captain of Rescue I also broadcast a request for other vessels in the area to be on the lookout for the skiff. Eventually, the captain of sailboat Kaja called Rescue I to report that he had located the skiff near Buoy 63 adjacent to the main shipping channel and would circle it until Rescue I arrived. Rescue I redirected to the Buoy 63 location and then towed the skiff to Smith Point Marina. SPSR thanks Kaja’s captain for his assistance. Time on call: 3 hrs.
May 25: At 9:00 a.m., NCSO notified SPSR that a 20’ pontoon boat had come loose from its dock and was adrift in Glebe Creek. Rescue II responded with a crew of 4 and found the boat at the head of Glebe Creek, in water too shallow for Rescue II to approach. The owner of the boat also had a paddle boat, so an SPSR crew member attached the tow line to it and paddled 200’ across the creek and secured the line to the pontoon boat. The SPSR crew on shore pulled the pontoon boat back across the creek and moored it in its slip. Time on call: 2.5 hrs.
June 3: At 1:21 p.m. The Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) reported the sighting of a boat on fire on the Potomac River. Rescue II dispatched from Olverson’s Marina at 1:50 P.M with a crew of two to search and assist. At the same time, another SPSR member drove to Lewisetta Marina to provide on-scene guidance. At 2:05 p.m. the SPSR member at Lewisetta reported there was no fire. When Rescue II reached the boat, its owner reported that malfunctioning engines had caused intermittent excessive plumes of black smoke. Time on call: 2 Hrs.
At 4:10 P.M., soon after Rescue II returned from the prior mission, NCSO reported a disabled johnboat with two adults and one child aboard near Wilkins Creek in the Yeocomico. Rescue II departed Olverson’s with a crew of three. While Rescue II was on route to the johnboat, the boaters in distress called to report they had restarted their engine and were headed to Kinsale. Because the wind had risen to 16-18 knots, gusting over 20, Rescue II followed the johnboat to ensure the boaters reached Kinsale safely. Time on call: 1.5 Hrs.
June 4: At 12:15 p.m. SPSR received a report that a pontoon boat needed help on the Potomac River. Rescue I departed Reedville at 12:45 with crew of four and at 1:45 p.m. located a 24′ pontoon boat beached hard aground near VIRMAR Beach. SPSR passed a tow line to a swimmer and after several attempts—and a broken towline—Rescue I pulled the boat clear and then returned to Reedville. Time on call: 3 Hrs.
June 6: At 4:40 p.m. SPSR received a call from NCSO that a boat was “stuck on a sandbar near Smith Point heading towards Colonial Beach.” Rescue I responded from Reedville with a crew of five and traveled along the Potomac shore north of Smith Point, looking for the vessel. The crew eventually located a small construction barge with an excavator on it, hard aground near Hacks Creek. Rescue I approached as close as possible in the extremely shallow water and passed a towline to a swimmer from the barge. After Rescue I pulled at full power for 20 minutes while the excavator pushed off the bottom—both with no success—the barge owner gave up the effort and cast off the towline. Rescue I returned to Reedville after recommending the owner contact a salvage company for further help. Total time 2.75 Hrs.
June 15: At 11:15 a.m., SPSR received a call for help from a disabled 37’ tugboat-style trawler. Rescue I dispatched at 11:35 a.m. with a crew of four, including a new member in training, and located the vessel. After a towline was secured, Rescue I slowly towed the trawler to Tiffany Yachts for repairs. Time on call: 2.75 Hrs.
At 4:30 p.m., SPSR received a call that an inboard-outboard boat was caught up in a “pot” of some type in the Little Wicomico. SPSR responded with a member’s personal shallow draft skiff to assist. The member noted the boat was caught in oyster cages, and so immediately called the Little Wicomico Oyster Company. An employee of the Company quickly responded to the scene and helped free the boat. The SPSR member then used his skiff to tow the boat to owner’s pier for inspection. Time on call: 1.5 hrs.
July 3: At 5:45 p.m., SPSR received reports from the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) that a 28′ Grady-White with 2 passengers was aground on a sandbar in Mill Creek off Ingram Bay. Rescue I dispatched from Cockrell Creek with crew of three in a serious thunderstorm with torrential rain. While underway, Rescue I contacted an SPSR member living on Mill Creek to assist in locating the boat and reporting its precise location. Rescue I then navigated to the vessel, finding it hard aground in very shallow water. The operator of a passing shallow-draft jet boat was hailed for assistance and carried a tow line from Rescue I to the grounded vessel. After pulling for several minutes, Rescue I freed the Grady-White and towed it to deeper water, where it was able to proceed under its own power. SPSR thanks the assisting boaters for their help. Time on call: 1.5 hrs.
July 7: At 1:15 p.m., NCSO notified SPSR that a 22’ Grady-White with two persons aboard was disabled near Potomac Buoy “1”, north of Smith Point. The boat was reported to be drifting with its engine overheated and the oil alarm sounding. Rescue I departed with a crew of three at 1:43 p.m. from its boathouse on Cockrell Creek and quickly located the disabled boat due to the accurate latitude and longitude coordinates provided by the vessel’s captain. The boat was then towed to Smith Point Marina for repairs. Time on call: 3.0 hrs.
July 8: At 1:20 p.m., SPSR received a call from NCSO reporting that a 22’ Grady-White with two people and two dogs aboard was disabled in Ingram Bay. Rescue I dispatched from Cockrell Creek at 1:50 p.m. with crew of four and quickly located the vessel anchored just outside Mill Creek. The owner of the boat explained that he hit something in the water that froze his engine and asked to be towed to his pier further up Mill Creek. Rescue I towed the vessel to the owner’s pier and returned to base. Time on call: 1.5 hrs.
July 12: At 3:38 p.m., NCSO notified Sea Rescue that the operator of an 18-foot Buoy Eight center console skiff had reported that his boat had hit something, lost its prop, and was anchored in the vicinity of the target ships southwest of Tangier Island. Rescue I responded with a crew of four from Cockrell Creek and headed for the latitude and longitude coordinates provided by the solo boat operator. Upon arriving at that location, in clear weather but building seas, SPSR commenced visual and radar search for the small skiff. Several hours of searching failed to locate the boat and repeated efforts to re-establish communications with boat’s young operator were fruitless.
The SPSR captain decided to expand the search and called the USCG to request assistance, because night was approaching, and seas were getting heavy. The Coast Guard was unable to provide aerial support before dark, so SPSR called Omega Protein and requested the assistance of an Ocean Harvester spotter plane. Omega quickly launched a plane to the area of Tangier Island. The pilot located the skiff, now northwest of the island, and passed its coordinates to SPSR. Rescue I arrived at the new position 30 minutes later but again found nothing. Sea Rescue continued searching the area, and after another hour located the unlit skiff with a dragging anchor well north of Tangier Island. Rescue I took the skiff in tow and returned it to Jennings Boat Yard at 1:00 a.m. The young operator was reunited with very anxious parents. Rescue I then returned to base. Time on call: 9.0 hrs.
SPSR wishes to thank Ocean Harvester and Omega Protein for their quick and vital assistance in locating this boater.
August 20: At 9:00 p.m., the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) notified Sea Rescue that a sailboat was aground near Lewisetta Marina. The 3-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’ Catalina was aground approximately 75’ 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 hrs.
August 26: At 1:00 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 enroute 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. Many thanks to Myles Cockrell and his crew for their help. Time on call: 1.5 hours.
September 3: A busy day. At 11:50 a.m., the Sheriff’s Office notified Sea Rescue of a 22’ 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 hrs.
At 12:28 p.m., Sea Rescue responded to a call from NCSO reporting a 35′ sailboat disabled near the mouth of the Great Wicomico River. Rescue I with 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 hrs.
At 2:00 p.m., SPSR received a call from the Sheriff’s Office that a 23’ 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 23′ Scarab and towed it to the owner’s pier in Cockrell Creek. Time on call: 1.5 hrs.
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′ Viking adrift in the middle of the 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: 6.0 hrs.
September 21: at 4:00 p.m., Sea Rescue received a report from NCSO of a sailboat aground in Cockrell Creek. Rescue I dispatched with 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 hrs.
September 24: Smith Point Sea Rescue supported the Northumberland Association of Progressive Stewardship (NAPS) Creek Cleanup of the Great Wicomico River with Rescue I as safety lifeguard boat and Rescue Skiffs A & B as pickup boats. Thanks to Mike Ahart, from the participating Members of SPSR, who appreciated the opportunity to support the local community. Time on call 5.3 Hrs
September 27: At 10:00 a.m., the owner of a 31-foot SeaRay Cruiser with twin inboard/outboard engines called Smith Point Sea Rescue to report that both engines were dead. Rescue I and a crew of three responded, towing the disabled vessel from Ball’s Creek to Shell Landing for haul out. Time on call 2.5 Hrs.
September 30: Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) contacted SPSR at 7:51 p.m. to report that a 25-foot NauticStar center console was dead in the water on the Potomac River. Rescue II responded with a crew of five and located the boat, anchored with two aboard, one-half mile east of the Coan River entrance. SPSR crew passed a “jump box” to the NauticStar captain, who was able to restart one of his engines. Rescue II then escorted the vessel to the owner’s pier in Kingscote Creek. This night mission was made safer and easier because the captain of the disabled vessel (i) knew his latitude and longitude; (ii) anchored promptly so his vessel did not drift into shallow water; (iii) answered his cell phone when SPSR called him; and (iv) flashed a spotlight as Rescue II vessel approached. Time on call 3 Hrs.
October 11: At 2:57 p.m., NCSO notified SPSR that a 21-foot boat had collided with a pier and capsized, with two passengers in the water. Rescue I rapidly responded with a crew of four, learning enroute that the people were out of the water. They had serious injuries but were being treated by Northumberland Emergency Services. Rescue I, with the aid of two other SPSR crew in their private boats located the Parker T-Top capsized in Mill Creek. The crew noted extensive damage to a local pier and to the Parker’s inverted hull. The SPSR crew attempted without success to right the boat before deciding to tow it to Jennings Marina, where it was righted and hauled the next day. Time on call: 3 Hrs.
October 12: At 10:00 a.m. SPSR Rescue I and crew responded to an owner’s request to tow his 31-foot Silverton with engine problems from Smith Point Marina to Jennings Boatyard for repairs. Tow completed without incident. Time on call: 2 Hrs.
October 12: At 5:37 p.m., SPSR received a call from NCSO that a sailboat in the Chesapeake Bay needed a tow. Rescue I responded with a crew of four and located the 30-foot vessel with no power off Chesapeake Beach, between Smith Point and Fleeton Point. Rescue I towed the boat to a pier in Reedville without incident. Time on call: 4 Hrs.
October 18: At 10:00 a.m., SPSR responded to a local boater’s request for to have his disabled 1966 41-foot wood deadrise towed to Cranes Creek for repairs. Rescue I completed the tow without incident. Time on call 4.0 Hrs.
October 20: 12:00 p.m. At the request of several retired Coast Guardsmen, SPSR hosted a wreath-laying ceremony on Rescue I to commemorate the 11 young lives lost in the sinking of the USCGC CUYAHOGA (WIX-157), which was struck by the Argentine M/V SANTA CRUZ II in the Chesapeake Bay near Smith Point Light on 20 October 1978. Sea Rescue was honored to participate in the ceremony, as SPSR helped lead the civilian search and rescue and recovery effort after the sinking, which 18 Coast Guardsmen survived. October 23: At 2:00 p.m., SPRS received a call from NCSO reporting that a 36-foot Carver in Cockrell Creek had lost power and needed a tow. Rescue I dispatched with a crew of three, located the boat, and completed the tow to Tiffany Yachts without incident. Time on call: 2.5 Hrs.
October 25: At 2:00 p.m., a concerned citizen reported to Sea Rescue that a neighbor’s Classic powerboat was aground in Whays Creek. SPSR dispatched Rescue I with three crew and Rescue A with a crew of two, to assist. The Classic powerboat was located hard aground just inside Whays Creek, in a tight location on a falling tide. With the help of shallow-draft Rescue A, which transported a tow line to the boat, Rescue I began the attempt pull the boat free. Rescue I had to reposition itself four times to free the grounded vessel, which was then able to head home under her own power. Time on call: 2 hrs.
October 25: At 6:00 p.m., the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) notified SPSR that a sailboat was in distress in the central Chesapeake Bay. Rescue I dispatched with a large crew of six because night was coming on and a lengthy visual search might be needed. Sea Rescue communicated with the boat owner by cell phone and got an approximate position 2 miles south of Smith Point Lighthouse, inshore near the pound fishing nets. The sailboat captain reported that the boat had no power and no lights. After a successful search, Rescue I located the sailboat, which also had a broken tiller. Rescue I then towed the boat through the numerous pound nets and crab pots in the area waters, taking it to Fairport Marina for repairs. Time on call: 3.25 hrs.
November 1: At 1:10PM The Sheriff’s office notified SPSR that a cluster of boats located near the entrance to Cockrells Creek needed assistance. Rescue I with crew of four responded and found a single-handed sailor bound for Norfolk, with a larger sailboat lashed to his boat’s side and a Johnboat in tow behind (3 boats tied together, one sailor). The raft of three vessels was being overcome by strong winds, which had been forecasted well in advance. Rescue I promptly towed the vessels to a safe anchorage. Time on call: 1.5 Hrs.
December 12: At 9:00 a.m., SPSR responded to a NCSO call that a 25′ Parker powerboat was out of gas just south of Smith Point Light. Rescue I departed from Reedville with a crew of four and located the boat. The Sea Rescue crew passed two cans of gas to the disabled boat and soon enough the Parker was running again and on its way to Smith Point Marina for a fill-up. Time on call: 2 hrs.
December 16: At 10:45 a.m., SPSR answered a call from NCSO that a 23′ Maycraft powerboat was broken down in the shipping lanes, one-half mile west of the R ”62” Chesapeake Bay channel buoy. Rescue I responded from Reedville with crew of four, located the boat with two aboard, and towed it to Ingram Bay Marina for haul out and repairs. Time on call: 1.5 hrs.
December 30: At 2:45 p.m., Sea Rescue received a call from the Sheriff’s Office that a kayaker who had gone out fishing was being overwhelmed by westerly winds and blown out of Dividing Creek into the mid-Bay. Rescue I responded from Reedville with a crew of six, locating the kayaker two miles east of Bluff Point. SPSR took the kayaker and his kayak onboard and returned both to calm waters for the paddle home. Time on call 2.45 hrs.
December 31: At 7:30 a.m., SPSR received a call from a concerned citizen that a fisherman’s boat was disabled east of Dameron Marsh. SPSR responded with Rescue I and crew of four. Rescue I located a 26′ Sea Vee powerboat adrift near the R “62” Chesapeake Bay channel buoy and towed it to Whays Creek for repairs. Time on call: 2 hrs.
Smith Point Sea Rescue is a volunteer rescue unit that serves boaters from Coles Point to the mouth of the Potomac River, across the Chesapeake Bay to Smith and Tangier islands, and south to the Rappahannock River. The organization 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 by calling 911. Rescue 1 and Rescue Skiff A are based in Reedville, with Rescue 2 and Rescue Skiff B based at Olversons Marina on the Yeocomico near Callao.
