ON FRIDAY JUNE 2, 2023, AT 1216 A SAILBOAT STRUCK A BRIDGE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE SAILBOAT.

THE SAILBOAT WAS TRAVELLING NORTH THROUGH THE CROATAN SOUND AS PART OF A TRIP FROM FLORIDA TO MARYLAND.  THE VESSEL WAS ALTERNATING BETWEEN SAILING ON THE OPEN WATER AND SWITCHING TO AUXILARY POWER WHEN TRAVELING UNDERNEATH BRIDGES.  THE SAILBOAT SUCCESSFULLY PASSED UNDERNEATH THE VIRGINIA DARE BRIDGE BUT STRUCK THE WILLIAM B. UMSTEAD (OLD MANNS HARBOR) BRIDGE WITH ITS MAST WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS UNDERNEATH.

THE MAST OF THE SAILBOAT IS APPROXIMATELY 52' TALL AND THE CLEARANCE UNDER THE WILLIAM B. UMSTEAD BRIDGE IS APPROXIMATELY 44'.  THE BRIDGE HEIGHT IS UNMARKED ON THE WATER AND ALSO NOT MARKED ON THE MAP THE OPERATOR WAS USING TO PLOT THEIR COURSE. THE MAST OF THE SAILBOAT WAS DAMAGED PREVENTING THE RAISING OF THE SAILS.

THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS THE UNMARKED BRIDGE.  THE VERTICAL CLEARANCE FOR THE BRIDGE IS NOT SHOWN ON MAPS OR ON THE WATERLINE BUT YET THE CHANNEL IS CLEARLY MARKED THROUGH BOTH GIVING THE IMPRESSION THE CLEARANCE ON THIS BRIDGE MATCHES THE NEIGHBORING BRIDGE.


*****END OF REPORT*****
CROATAN SOUND
MANTEO                        