On 05/17/23 at approximately 8:59 P.M., I, Cpl. along with Ofc., both of the Maryland Natural Resources Police, responded to a call received over VHF radio channel 16 for a vessel in distress at the entrance channel of Parish Creek on the West River Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Upon our arrival, officers observed a sailboat, just south of the channel to Parish Creek, with lights emanating from the cockpit area. The sailboat was identified as a 1972 27' Jensen sailboat, white in color with a red stripe, bearing Maryland Vessel registration.

    We subsequently maneuvered the patrol vessel alongside the sailboat and made contact with a female operator. I asked Operator if she was okay and how many other people were aboard the sailboat. Operator stated that the boat was aground, and she was accompanied by her son and their two dogs. Operator stated that she had a slip reservation at Parish Creek Landing Marina in Shady Side and was attempting to navigate the sailboat through the channel entrance to Parish Creek. Operator advised that the wind was very strong and pushed the sailboat out of the channel and causing them to run aground just south of the Parish Creek channel entrance. I asked Operator and Subject2 if they had tow insurance to assist them with removing the vessel. Subject2 stated they had used up all of their "tows" and those companies weren't an option. Due to the high winds, and the vessel's potential to become a navigational hazard, I attempted to tow the vessel off of the shoal. After several unsuccessful attempts, I instructed Operator and Subject2 to secure the sailboat with an anchor. I then instructed them to take refuge on their dingy that was tied to the starboard side of the sailboat. 

    Approximately twenty to thirty minutes later, Operator and Subject2 were still gathering personal items from the cabin area of the sailboat. Over the course of the twenty to thirty minutes, wind speeds were rapidly increasing. Ofc. and I decided to bring Operator aboard our patrol vessel, so she wouldn't have to step down onto the dingy. Ofc. instructed Operator to wear a life jacket and then assisted her and her dog onto the patrol vessel. Ofc. and I waited for approximately twenty more minutes while Subject2 attempted to gather personal items and patch a leak, he had discovered in the bow area of the cabin. As weather conditions continued to worsen, I had to order Subject2 to vacate the sailboat and board his dingy.

    It was at this time we observed that the starboard gunwale of the sailboat was perilously close to the waterline. As Subject2 was preparing to board his dingy, he realized he needed a fuel line for the dingy's outboard engine and searched for it near the stern of the sailboat. With each passing second, the sailboat continued to lean further and further to starboard. I instructed Subject2 to forget the fuel line and board his dingy immediately. Within minutes of Subject2 leaving the sailboat, the starboard side was completely underwater, and its mast was inches from the surface of the water. Subject2 struggled to get his dingy started, and I was fearful that he and his dog would be injured from the sailboat's mast. Ofc. maneuvered the patrol vessel alongside the dingy and I pulled Subject2 and his dog onto our patrol vessel. Operator and Subject2 were then transported to Parish Creek Landing Marina in Shady Side along with their two dogs.

    After arriving at Parish Creek Landing Marina, I interviewed both Operator and Subject2. They stated they had departed Burt Jabin's Marina located in Annapolis sometime between 9-10:00 A.M and arrived near Shady Side at approximately 3:30-4:00 P.M. Operator stated she was attempting to navigate the Parish Creek channel entrance when the wind pushed her to the south side of the channel where the sailboat became grounded. Operator stated they had been a ground since approximately 4:00 P.M. I asked Operator and Subject2 if they had called for help. They advised they never called nor signaled for help. I asked Subject2 if he attempted to call Sea Tow or Tow Boat U.S. Subject2 stated that he had sold another sailboat on the morning of 05/17/23 and the purchaser of the sailboat had falsely used his name to be towed by Tow Boat U.S. 

Due to this, he had no "tows" left and therefore could not receive any assistance. I asked Operator and Subject2 if they had consulted the weather report before departing, to which Operator advised she had. I asked Operator and Subject2 if their Jensen sailboat was equipped with navigational equipment, and they stated it was equipped with three different navigational units. Operator stated she had approximately two years of boating experience.

    Subject2 estimated the sailboat to be worth approximately $3000. He stated the sailboat was equipped with a 9.9 H.P. Yamaha outboard engine valued at approximately $1500. He advised there were numerous computers, hard-drives, solar panels, navigational instruments, and radios onboard the sailboat valued at a total of approximately $5000. 

    Operator advised the sailboat was insured by Safeco but could not provide a policy number. Operator and Subject2 advised they were going to contact a salvage company in the morning to have the sailboat removed. 

    The sailboat was aground at GPS coordinates: N 38 degrees 51.050', W 076 degrees 30.441' in approximately 4' of water. I contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, and they broadcasted a "notice to mariners" to warn passing vessels in the area. 

    On 05/21/23 I patrolled the channel entrance of Parish Creek and observed two Tow Boat U.S. vessels attempting to raise the sailboat. I talked to Tow Boat U.S., who stated, once the sailboat was raised, it was going to be towed to Galesville Harbor Yacht Yard to be destroyed. 

    As of this report no charges have been filed pending further investigation. 

    The accident resulted in property damage only. Neither Operator, Subject2, nor their dogs sustained injuries as a result of the accident. 

    All events occurred in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

West & Rhode Rivers-Parish Cre
Shady Side                    