Yesterday — Sunday, Nov 9 — Smith Point Sea Rescue (SPSR) responded to TWO emergency calls on the Chesapeake Bay.
In both cases, they did NOT enter through the Little Wicomico River jetties because the entrance channel is shoaled in.
Instead, Rescue I had to launch from Reedville and take the much longer route around to Cockrell Creek, even as night fell and a storm approached.
🚨 Rescue #1 – 3:17 PM
A catamaran lost an engine about 3 miles north of Smith Point.
👉 Crew of five launched Rescue I from Reedville.
👉 Located the vessel 1 mile northeast of Smith Point.
👉 Could NOT tow into Smith Point Marina — entrance impassable due to shoaling .
👉 Rescue I tows catamaran the longer route to Cockrell Creek, Reedville, VA. Cockrell Creek is packed with anchored sailboats as night storm is approaching.
⏱ Total time – 3 hours BT.
💬 SPSR: “There when needed.”
🚨 Rescue #2 – 11:55 PM
A 30-foot sailboat south of the Smith Point lighthouse issued a Coast Guard distress call — taking on water.
👉 Rescue I with four crew launched from Reedville.
👉 Located single-handed trimaran in heavy seas two miles away from Smith Island with help from Maryland State Police helo and USCG semi-rigid also onscene. SPSR takes SB in tow. Because jetties at Smith Point are shoaled in, SPSR tows SB much longer route to Cockrell Creek, Reedville, VA.
👉 Again, could NOT enter Little Wicomico — jetties too shoaled.
👉 Towed the boat the long, rough route to Cockrell Creek.
⏱ Total time – 4.5 hours BT.
💬 SPSR: “There when needed.”
⚠️ What this means
When rescue crews can’t use the federal navigation channel at Smith Point, public safety is at risk.
Every extra mile and minute in rough weather puts lives and boats in danger.
This channel was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1930s — a federally authorized public navigation channel — but it hasn’t been dredged since 2014.
It’s now shoaled to about 3 feet and worsening after each storm.
💪 How you can help
1️⃣ Sign & share the petition:
👉 https://www.change.org/p/dredge-the-little-wicomico-river-jetty-virginia
2️⃣ Email your elected officials — tell them rescue boats shouldn’t have to go the long way around when every minute counts.
3️⃣ Share this post — spread the word across Chesapeake Bay communities.
4️⃣ Send your stories or photos of the jetty conditions to
📧 DredgeLWJettyVA@gmail.com
The volunteers of Smith Point Sea Rescue are there when needed.
Now, it’s time for us and our government leaders to be there for them.
#DredgeTheLittleWicomico #SmithPointSeaRescue #NorthernNeck #SafeNavigation #ChesapeakeBay #VirginiaWaterways