Smith Point Sea Rescue editor Dan Morissette recently reported that crews responded to the following calls for assistance:
January 15: At 4:00 p.m., NCSO contacted SPSR that sailboat is disabled near Dameron Marsh. Rescue I dispatched with a crew of five. After a short search, crew located a 35′ Island Packett out of Hampden, ME “DIW” in very shallow water near the entrance to Mill Creek. SPSR passed a line to help raise the anchor, then took the boat in tow to Tiffany’s Yacht for repairs. Total time on call: 2.5 hours.
February: Rescue III, Smith Point Sea Rescue’s newest vessel, has recently returned from a week of search and rescue exercises and training with the United States Coast Guard and the Port of Virginia. The vessel was crewed by SPSR members Robert Gwaltney, Kendra Simpson, Don Stone, and Dan Benjamin.
More than three dozen organizations participated in the event, the 18th Annual Search & Rescue Forum, with classroom training in Hampton, and on-water training and exercises held in Norfolk Harbor. Other than Sea Rescue, most of the organizations were based in the vicinity of Norfolk, including Virginia Beach, Newport News, Portsmouth, and communities in the lower Bay and James and York Rivers.
Training sessions were wide-ranging, taught by recognized experts in their fields. Two sessions included use of side scan sonar to find people, boats, and other objects in the water. Also covered were target identification and confirmation using radar and AIS (vessel Automatic Identification System), towing, flare usage, and search and rescue procedures. Because not all organizations had vessels capable of night operations in open waters, Rescue III routinely took along crew from other groups as passengers. In addition, Captain Peggy M. Britton, Deputy Sector Commander, USCG Sector Virginia, rode along on Rescue III during one exercise.
Rescue III made the 60-nautical mile trip to Hampton on Sunday, February 25 and returned the evening of Friday, March 1. In addition to daytime training on Monday through Friday, three nights of training were originally scheduled. But on Wednesday, Mother Nature produced near-gale force winds and steep seas and the Coast Guard directed that no vessels were to leave the docks.
The week culminated with a simulated maritime active shooter incident. Police forces boarded the vessel and neutralized the shooter. They were followed aboard by fire and EMS units, to treat wounded “survivors” and evacuate the vessel. Rescue III and vessels from five other organizations conducted search and rescue for survivors who went overboard when the shooting began. SPSR crew aided by crew aboard from Camp Peary and Gloucester Fire Department, located and rescued two of those survivors.
This was Rescue III’s first “mission”, after having spent the winter being outfitted with electronics and other operating gear. The crew was thus faced with a steep learning curve as they sought to master both the new boat and its highly sophisticated electronics, in an unfamiliar harbor. Their efforts proved productive however, for SPSR received the coveted “Most Improved Crew” award, given to the organization that shows the most growth during the event.
March 14: At 1 p.m., SPSR received a report from a boater that a motor hose had broken on his 20-foot Wellcraft center console on Cockrell Creek. Rescue I dispatched with a crew of three, quickly located the vessel with one aboard, and towed it to Shell Landing for trailering. Time on call: 40 minutes.
March 16: At 10:40 p.m., NCSO contacted SPSR to report a 20-foot center console with four aboard was out of gas off the Yeocomico River and Sandy Point in 3- to 4-foot seas. Rescue II launched from Olverson’s Marina at 11:20 p.m. with a crew of six and located the disabled vessel anchored in the Potomac at Sandy Point beach.
Despite the difficult conditions, Rescue II maneuvered alongside the anchored vessel and delivered gas. Rescue II remained near the disabled vessel in case further assistance was needed. After three hours, the captain of the center console pulled anchor, started his motor and proceeded home on the Yeocomico. Rescue II followed the vessel to monitor its continued safety. Time on call: 3.5 hours.
April 27: At 9:10 a.m., NCSO contacted SPSR to report an unoccupied jon boat running in circles on the Coan River. Rescue II dispatched with a crew of three at 9:25 a.m. and was soon confronted with steady 3- to 4-foot waves, occasionally 5- to 6-foot. While Rescue II was en route, a Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) vessel was seen running at high speed, also responding. Shortly thereafter, NCSO contacted the Rescue II captain to advise that SPSR could stand down. Two persons from the circling boat had swum to shore and were safe.
After starting back toward Olverson’s, the SPSR captain received another call asking if Rescue II had rope on board that could be used to foul the prop of the unmanned vessel to stop it. While Rescue II was returning to the unmanned vessel to provide rope, VMRC advised Rescue II the situation was resolved. Time on call: 3.5 hours.
May 8: At 8 a.m., Rescue III was dispatched on its first mission with a crew of five in response to a call from the owner of a 36-foot sailboat off Wicomico Drive near Glebe Point, who requested that it be towed to Jennings Boatyard. Rescue III arrived on scene at 8:35 a.m. and towed the boat to the boatyard without incident. Time on call: 1.25 hours.
May 9: At 8:50 p.m., SPSR responded to a call that a 30-foot sailboat with one aboard had been anchored in the Chesapeake off Owens Pond and was blown aground, after the anchor broke free in high winds, and was taking on water over the side. Rescue III launched with a crew of five and arrived on scene at 10:20 p.m. Since shallow water prevented Rescue III from drawing close enough to provide a towline to the grounded vessel, the Coast Guard was called for assistance. The Coast Guard responded with a boat and a helicopter. The boater was airlifted to Bon Secours Rappahannock General Hospital. Time on call: 3 hours.
May 13: At 9:20 a.m., NCSO contacted SPRS to report that a 21-foot Striper dual console boat was stranded with an engine problem in the Yeocomico River near Kinsale. Rescue II dispatched at 10 a.m. with a crew of three and arrived at the disabled vessel across from Port Kinsale Marina at 10:25 a.m. The vessel was then towed to Sandy Point Marina. Time on call: 1.8 hours.
May 21: SPSR received a call on VHF 16 requesting assistance from a sailboat disabled in the Great Wicomico River. Rescue III with a crew of three responded from Reedville and located a 30″ S2 sailboat with a crew of two in Cockrell Creek without power. Rescue III towed the boat to the owner’s pier further up Cockrell Creek. Enroute RESCUE III encounters a large fellow boater. Total time on call: 1.5 hours.
June 6: 4:00 p.m., SPSR received a call from a local boater that a boat is submerged pierside. Due to shallow water, SPSR dispatched Rescue A, 21′ Carolina Skiff, with crew of three and two external pumps. Using two “come-alongs” the crew lifted the swamped 20′ center console skiff, pumped it out, and delivered it for clean up and repair. Dead bilge pump battery and clogged scuppers appeared to be the issue. Total time on call: 2.30 hours.
June 11: 11:30 a.m., NCSO contacted SPSR that a 27′ Trojan was having engine problems 1/4 mile east of the jetties at Smith Point. Rescue I responded with a crew of five from Smith Point Marina. Rescue I located the boat with one engine out and provided close escort through the jetties. Due to shoaling, Rescue I proceeded on the Trojan under its own power to owner’s pier on Ellyson Creek. Total time on call: 1.5 hours.
June 14: SPSR received a call that a pontoon boat had mechanical problems on the Little River. Rescue I responded with a crew of four and located a 24′ Harris pontoon which had lost its steering on Bridge Creek. SPSR towed the boat to Smith Point Marina for repairs. Total time on call: 1.25 hours.
June 22: 7:00 a.m., SPSR received a call that jet ski is disabled in Ingram Bay. Rescue III and a crew of three searched and located a novice operator with engine problems near Buoy 3 at the entrance to Great Wicomico River. SPSR towed the boat to to owner’s pier for mechanical assistance. Total time on call: 1.5 hours.
NCSO contacted SPSR to report that a catamaran with two people was capsized in the Chesapeake Bay west of Smith Point Light: “people in the water”. Rescue III and a crew of four headed out from Reedville; at the same time a crew of two launched a member’s personal skiff from the Little Wicomico. It was soon reported that a catamaran with a woman on board had blown or washed ashore with the woman safe, but that a man was missing. The skiff continued to search inshore waters and located a man wearing a PFD near the pound nets who was intermittently walking and swimming toward shore. The man declined to be taken aboard the skiff and continued toward shore with the skiff escorting him until he reached the shore safely. With all persons reported safe, Rescue III and the member’s skiff return to quarters. Total time on call: 1.5 hours.
SPSR received a call that 18′ bow rider had sunk at a pier in Snows Cove. SPSR responded from the beach with a crew of four to pump the boat clear of water and returned the boat to its boat lift. Total time on call: 1.25 hours.
Smith Point Sea Rescue is a volunteer rescue unit which serves boaters on the Potomac River from Coles Point to Smith Point, south to the Rappahannock River, and across the Chesapeake Bay to Smith and Tangier islands. 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 I, Rescue III and Rescue Skiff A are based in Reedville; Rescue II and Rescue Skiff B on Lodge Creek near Callao.
