On the 10th of april, 2013 at approximately 2:59am, operator was operating an aux sailboat named pelagic on the icw in the newport river approximately 500 feet west of the morehead city state port. Operator was heading north cruising under engine power at a speed under 10mph when the mast of the sail boat pelagic collided with the carolina coastal railroad bascule bridge. The collision with the bridge broke the mast and all of the standing rigging fell backwards from the bow to the stern of the vessel. Operator was standing at the helm behind the wheel when the collision occurred. His only passenger, was standing next to him on the port deck next to the wheel. According to operator, the standing rigging missed his head by about 12 inches when it came crashing down. Passenger claimed his head missed colliding with the bridge by a couple of feet. Neither the operator nor the passenger suffered any physical injury. At the time of the accident the weather was clear with a moderate wind between 7 and 14 mph. There was a strong outgoing flood tide. According to operator, he and passenger had spent 20 days in treasure cay bahamas. They arrived in cape canaveral florida on the 5th of april. They left cape canaveral on the 7th of april and sailed all day and night sunday, monday, and tuesday arriving at beaufort inlet at around 3:00 wednesday morning. Operator successfully navigated beaufort inlet and was proceeding to go under the newport river bridge. Operator claimed that he and passenger were lining up the vessel with the green light that is located on the top of the nc hwy 70 bridge. According to operator, passenger was shining a hand held spotlight to keep them in the middle of the narrow channel while proceeding under the bridge. Operator said, "he had good steerage because of the strong outgoing tide." he said, "we never saw the bridge until we were under it." operator said, "there was absolutely no light on the bridge spanning the passage and no signage was visible in the dark." he said, "i always have the vhf on when i am offshore and no such warning was given." 
The us coast guard officially published the bridge closure on the local notice to mariners, district 5 on the 13th of november 2012. The notice states that the newport river carolina coastal railroad lift bridge-temporar final rule issued effective through 2030 on 1 october 2013, by maintaining the drawbridge in the open position to vessels from 0500 to 2030 and would only be closed for the passage of trains and to perform periodic maintenance; and the drawbridge need not open from 2030 to 0500, except with one optional opening at 0000 (midnight) for vessels providing advance notice before 1600 on the afternoon before the requested opening. According to uscg command center supervisor in wilmington, nc, the bridge closure warning is broadcast several times a day on the radio for 14 days prior to the posting of the local notice to mariners.
MOREHEAD CITY