RedactedNarrative: On 07/21/2021 around approximately 3:20 PM, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP), responded to a call of a distressed sailboat underneath the Malkus Bridge. MNRP also responded via our NRP vessel located in Cambridge. I met them there and we responded to the Malkus Bridge by water.  
      The United States Coast Guard (USCG) was the first to arrive on location and found the vessel distressed with the mast broken at N 38 35.216, W 076 02.776. Contact was made with USCG by the responding NRP units at 3:35 PM. At that time, the USCG had the sailboat in a side tow. While the vessel was being towed by the USCG, they had to actively bilge out water that the sailboat kept taking on. USCG requested one officer to meet them at the Ferry Point Marina in Talbot County where they planned to tow vessel.
      I responded to Ferry Point and made contact with both the USCG and sailboat at 4:00 PM. It was determined that there was no medical attention needed and that there was only one person on board. The operator was identified as OPERATOR 1. I asked OPERATOR 1 if he wanted the sailboat to be pulled out of the water in which he replied “yes”. At that time the crew at Ferry Point took possession of the vessel so that they could pull it out of the water.
      After talking with OPERATOR 1 it was determined that he hit both the Malkus Bridge and the Bill Burton Fishing Pier on the Talbot County side of the channel. OPERATOR 1 said that he was coming from the Cambridge Yacht Basin when the vessel started to take on water. After he noticed that he was taking on water OPERATOR 1 started to head back to Ferry Point. While on his way to Ferry Point a pop up thunder storm with strong winds came through the area. At the time of the thunder storm, the engine on the sailboat stopped working. OPERATOR 1 told me that’s when he tried to hoist the sails, but it was too late and with the strong winds the storm pushed him into the Malkus Bridge. Shortly after crashing into the Malkus Bridge, OPERATOR 1 ran into the Bill Burton Fishing Pier. With no engine power and a broken sail/mast, OPERATOR 1 had no way of maneuvering his vessel while it continued to take on water.
      After the sailboat was pulled out of the water, it was determined that it was US Coast Guard documented with the name of “Dolphin” and a hailing port of Annapolis, MD. Paperwork determined that it is a 1977 Northshore Yacht and 28 feet in length. All pictures documenting the damage to the vessel have been added to this report. Pictures of the bill of sale and documentation paperwork have also been added to this report.
      When OPERATOR 1 was asked how much the damages would cost from the accident he believed that they would be well under $2,000. However when the head crew member for maintenance at Ferry Point was asked he believed that it would be close to $2,000 but would not know until they could assess the damages. Until Ferry Point determines the amount of the damages that occurred from the accident it is unknown if this is considered reportable or not.
      The head staff at Ferry Point Marina determined that he was not allowed to stay on his vessel as it was dry docked. When I told OPERATOR 1 he advised me that he had no vehicle and knew no one in the area to come get him. OPERATOR 1 said that he had been staying on the boat and had no way to get to a hotel. After calling several hotels in the area, the Cambridge Inn stated that they had room. MNRP gave OPERATOR 1 a ride to the hotel.
  
      All events occurred in Talbot and Dorchester County, Maryland.
  On 08/12/2021 around approximately 11:44 AM, Maryland Natural Resources Police made contact with OPERATOR 1. We spoke about the accident that had occurred back on 07/21/2021 to determine if he had received an estimate on the damages. OPERATOR 1 advised that he was planning on getting the work done at Ferry Point Marina in Trappe, Maryland where the vessel is currently dry docked.
      OPERATOR 1 advised however that Ferry Point will only fix the hull and engine damages/issues. In order to have the mast fixed OPERATOR 1 will have to find another marina to get the work done due to Ferry Point not being able to do any of the "Rigging". When I asked OPERATOR 1 where he planned on taking the vessel he advised that he would be taking it back to Charleston, South Carolina where he is from because he has more contacts there. 
      I asked OPERATOR 1 if he had any idea what the extent of the damages would cost to fix in which he said anywhere from $3500 to $5000. With the damages being estimated over $2000 a watercraft accident form has been added to this report as it is now a reportable boat accident. 
      All events occurred in Talbot County, Maryland.