TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

5-25-08

We got a later start this morning than we had intended, around 9:00, but still left plenty of boats still anchored.  As we left the anchorage we passed a small skiff with a father and a tow-head young daughter (about 6) with a fishing pole eating a banana.  I waved, and she waved back.  “Oh, look, Bill,” I said, “She already knows the ‘queen’ wave.”  “Well, of course,” replied Bill.  “She is from ‘Vu-gin-yuh’.”  After exiting the river, we motored to the bridge and then sailed back up the Rappahannock with, surprisingly, a pretty nice wind angle.  However, when we headed up the Bay, we first had to take in the headsail, followed soon by the main as we headed almost directly into a NE wind.  We had given Windmill Point a pretty wide berth as the chart showed riprap all around the light.  We were sad to hear a distress call from a Catalina 27 that hard grounded on rocks close to the light.  As we traveled up the Bay we listened to the ensuing drama.  First, there was the call to the Coast Guard stating the grounding and the type of boat and the captain said we are in our 70’s, and we’re getting pounded really hard on the rocks.  Our hearts went out to him and his wife, also aboard.  The Coast Guard responded and soon had a crew out of Milford Harbor, which wasn’t too far away, headed toward the distressed boat.  Then we heard a boat in the area offering assistance by lowering their dinghy and trying to tow them off the rocks – a well-meaning Good Samaritan.  Next, came a radio call to the Catalina 27 that said, “There are pilings all around that light, you should have known not to get so close.”  The captain of the distressed boat responded that he didn’t have the local knowledge and just got too close.  “Well, you should have known,” came the scolding voice.  Bill said, “What kind of person would give a lecture to someone who had the misfortune to go aground?”  I had an answer to that, which I’m sure you can guess what that was.  Next there was the command to take the sails down.  The captain of the distressed boat didn’t respond to that.  We heard the Coast Guard calling the Catalina and they were soon on the scene, asking, calmly, for the captain to lower the sails, and if the boat was taking on water.  As most of you are probably aware, the Coast Guard does not perform recovery operations, but will respond and standby to ensure that there aren’t any life-threatening emergencies.  They, of course, will save anyone in danger, but they will not rescue the boat.  So, the Coast Guard waited for the tow boat to arrive, and requested the captain frequently check to see if the vessel was taking on any water.  Now the captain had Tow Boat U.S. insurance, but for some reason (maybe it was too far away or involved in another recovery) Sea Tow was the first to arrive.  The Coast Guard switched communication to Sea Tow, and the boat was towed off the rocks.  As the tow boat headed toward safe harbour, the captain inquired about cost – $10 a foot for the hard grounding tow and $200 an hour.  The captain thought he might be able to start his outboard, but decided to go with the tow, especially since he had begun to take on water.  We were so worried that he would have a heart attack because he was breathing so heavily every time he came on the radio.  I pray he and his wife reached safe harbour. 

We continued on to our anchorage in Mill Creek just south of the Great Wicomico River.  This is another wonderful anchorage – a few houses on the shores and many power boats pulling skiers or tube riders, but wide and well protected.  Again, we arrived with only two or three boats anchored, but many more arrived after we were settled.  But, there is plenty of room for all.  Got a great phone call from grandson Hayden to report 2 soccer goals and an end-of-season trophy.  Congrats, Hayden.  Tomorrow we’ll try to get an early start as we’ll be crossing the Bay to Crisfield and there are small craft warnings for the afternoon.  And to Cap’n Dee, thanks for reading and responding.  Sailing definitely is a pleasure you should pursue.