2014 Annapolis Yacht Club Races Scheduled

Mariners are advised that the 2014 Annapolis Yacht Club Regattas (17 sail racing events) are scheduled to occur on the Chesapeake Bay and/or Severn River, most held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the following dates during 2014:
April 26 (Spring One Design) and April 26-27 (AYC Overnight);
May 2-4 (NOOD Regatta), May 16-18 (J/22 North Americans) and May 17-18 (Lippincott Regatta);
June 7-8 (CRAB Cup in Annapolis Harbor), June 14-15 (Annual Regatta);
July 2 (Junior Annual Regatta) and July 26 (Summer OD Regatta);
August 30-31 (Labor Day Regatta);
October 4 (Fall Series 1), October 11-12 (Fall Series 2), October 18-19 (Fall Series 3) and October 25-26 (Fall Etchells-Stars and Halloween Howl);
November 1-2 (J/105 Ches Bay Champs) and November 15-16 (I 420 Atlantic Coast).
Most races will occur near the mouth of the Severn River and the adjacent Chesapeake Bay, south of the William P. Lane Jr. Memorial (Chesapeake Bay) Bridges and north of Curtis Point, Maryland.
For additional information, interested persons may link to individual events by contacting the AYC Regatta Manager at website www.race.annapolisyc.org or telephone number (410) 263-9147. Chart: 12270.

Corn and Cantaloupe Sailing Regatta Today on the Lafayette

     Norfolk, Va. -- Mariners are advised that the Norfolk Yacht and County Club will host its Corn and Cantaloupe Sailing Regatta today beginning at noon and ending at 4 p.m.

     The event will begin and end at the mouth of the Lafayette River and will round Newport News Middle Ground Light.

     Mariners are requested to use caution and bare steerage when transiting the area.

Governor's Cup Yacht Race Scheduled for August 3-4

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the “Governor’s Cup Yacht Race” is scheduled to occur during August 3-4, 2012, with up to 150 participating sailboats (24 to 75 ft in length) competing on two courses planned for the annual overnight sail race. The 70-mile distance race on the Chesapeake Bay will start near the mouth of the Severn River at Annapolis, Maryland between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday, and finish in the St. Mary’s River at St. Mary’s City, Maryland by 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

     A 47-mile distance race on the Potomac River will start near Dahlgren, Virginia at 6 p.m. on Friday and also finish in the St. Mary’s River at St. Mary’s City, Maryland by 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

     Additional information can be obtained from the Sailing Association on the St. Mary's College of Maryland website at www.smcm.edu/govcup.

     For any comments or questions contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Charts 12280, 12285.

Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge Sailing Race Runs July 15-17

     Solomons, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the Southern Maryland Sailing Association (SMSA) will sponsor its annual “Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge” sailing races on the Chesapeake Bay, from Sunday, July 15, 2012 through Tuesday, July 17, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
     Approximately 150 participating sailboats will race in three fleets, each operating within a separate, designated course area, located at the mouth of the Patuxent River near Cedar Point, Drum Point and Little Cove Point, Maryland.
     Interested mariners may contact the SMSA’s Chief Race Officer aboard the 53-foot Hatteras “MAVOURNEEN” on marine band radio VHF-FM channel 16 or at telephone (301) 481-8665. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Chart 12270.

Annapolis Yacht Club Regattas Begin July 6

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the 2012 Annapolis Yacht Club’s Regattas (15 sail racing events) are scheduled to occur on the Chesapeake Bay, most held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the following dates: July 6-8 and July 21; September 29-30; October 6, October 13-14, October 20-21 and October 27-28; and November 3 and November 17-18. The races will occur near the mouth of the Severn River, between the William P. Lane Jr. Memorial (Chesapeake Bay) Bridges and Bloody Point (Kent Island), Maryland. For additional information, interested persons may link to individual events by contacting the AYC Regatta Management website at www.race.annapolisyc.org. Chart 12270.

Fishing Bay Yacht Club Leukemia Cup Race July 7-8

     Deltaville, Va. -- Mariners are advised that the Fishing Bay Yacht Club's Leukemia Cup Sailboat Regatta will occur in the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Piankatank River. The event will take place from July 7 through July 8 beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.

     Mariners are requested to use caution and bare steerage when transiting the area.

West Marine to Open Deltaville Store

     Deltaville, Va.-- West Marine announced on Wednesday the grand opening celebration of its newest location in Deltaville, Virginia from Friday, July 13th through Sunday, July 15th. The brand new store will be located at 16723 General Puller Highway in Deltaville with grand opening events taking place place 8:00 am – 9:00 pm on Friday & Saturday and 8:00 am – 7:00pm on Sunday.

     Responding to the needs of Middle Peninsula boaters, this new store will be 15,000 square feet and will feature a large selection of fishing gear, marine electronics, sailing hardware, boating supplies, an engine parts counter, plus casual and technical apparel designed for the outdoors.

     Store Manager Maggie Haynes has been with West Marine for over 15 years and is a passionate power boater. “All of us at the Deltaville West Marine are passionate about boating,” says Haynes. “By increasing the size of our store, we will offer even more in terms of fishing gear, engine parts and everything you need for a great day on the Rappahannock River, the Piankatank River, or the Chesapeake Bay” Haynes adds.

     There will be 19 Associates at the new West Marine who have over 160 years’ experience on the water and over 50,000 nautical miles under their collective belts. In fact, Associate Paula Richardson has over 40 years of boating experience and her fellow Associate Richard Tucker has spent 30 years’ as a Mercury dealer. Both look forward to serving the needs of the Deltaville community.

     

Summer Sailing Courses Offered at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

     St. Michaels, Md. -- Kids can explore the Miles River and learn maritime skills in the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s (CBMM) summer sailing program, where new sailors and old salts gain the confidence to sail a small boat in a fun, safe, and encouraging environment.
     Weekly classes are available June 11 through August 3 for participants 8 years of age and older, and offer instruction for sailors at basic, intermediate and advanced sailing levels. The daily classes include limited classroom instruction and three hours of on-thewater experience.
     Participants learn sailing and teambuilding skills including water safety, rigging, boat handling and docking. The week ends with a family picnic and awards ceremony, where the students’ accomplishments are celebrated.
     Pre-registration is needed, with a museum member cost of  $200, or $225 for non-members.
     On the weekends, the museum also offers adult and teen basic sailing classes using the museum’s fleet of 15-foot boats. Hourly, private sailings lessons are also available by reservation.
     For class schedules, visit  www.cbmm.org/l_families.htm.
     Space is limited in all classes. To pre-register, contact Helen Van Fleet at 410-745-2916.

Coast Guard Recovers Boater near Pasadena, Maryland

     Baltimore, Md. -- The Coast Guard recovered the body of an overdue boater in Rock Creek near Pasadena, Maryland on Wednesday.

     Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Baltimore command center received a call at approximately 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, from a source reporting the boater overdue aboard a 14-foot sailing vessel.

     The reporting source stated that the boater usually makes local sailing trips returning prior to sunset. The boater departed at 3 p.m. and was expected to return at 5 p.m.

      A 25-foot Response Boat - Small crew from Coast Guard Station Curtis Bay, Md., along with an MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., and assets from Anne Arundel County, Baltimore Fire and Rescue, Annapolis Fire Department and Maryland State Police responded.

     The crew aboard the helicopter located the overturned sailing vessel and did not locate the boater.

     At approximately 7:30 a.m., the crew from Station Curtis Bay located the male, about a half mile from where the sailing vessel was found.

     He was transported to Stoney Creek Marina to local EMS.

Rutherford Welcome Home On or About April 14 at Noon

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the “Matt Rutherford, Solo the Americas, Welcome Home Landfall” is scheduled to occur on the Severn River, Spa Creek and Annapolis Harbor on or about Saturday, April 14, at approximately 12 Noon. A parade of recreational boats and media vessels are expected to accompany the solo sailor as he transits from the mouth of the Severn River to the Annapolis City Dock, where a welcoming ceremony is planned on shore. The person-in-charge during the event can be hailed on marine band radio. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Charts 12283, 12282.

Yacht Club Regattas Scheduled for Middle Bay

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the Eastport Yacht Club’s Regattas are scheduled to occur in the middle Chesapeake Bay, between Hackett Point and Thomas Point, and in the Severn River with seven individual sail racing events scheduled on the following dates in 2012: (1) on April 7; (2) on May 11 and 18, June 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, July 20 and 27, and August 3; (3) on June 2;
(4) on June 30; (5) on August 25; (6) during September 24-October 1; and (7) November 24.
     The Eastport Yacht Club’s Race Committee can be contacted on marine band radio, at (410) 263-0415 or race.committee@eastportyc.org.  For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil.  Chart 12270.

Safety At Sea Seminar Saturday, March 31, on the Severn

     Annapolis, Md. -- Mariners are advised that the U.S. Naval Academy Sailing Squadron will sponsor the Safety At Sea Seminar (33rd Annual) in the Severn River adjacent to the U. S. Naval Academy, between the Naval Academy (SR-450) Bridge and Triton Light (LLN-19780), on Saturday, March 31, at 11:30 a.m.

      The event includes on-water activities involving small boats, a low-flying helicopter and pyrotechnics demonstrations. Coast Guard special local regulations establish a regulated area for all waters of the Severn River (from shoreline to shoreline), bounded to the northwest by a line drawn from the south shoreline at 39°00'38.9" N, 076°31'05.2" W, thence to the north shoreline at 39°00'54.7" N, 076°30'44.8" W, this line is approximately 1300 yards northwest of the Severn River (US-50) Bridge. The regulated area is bounded to the southeast by a line drawn from the Naval Academy Light at 38°58'39.5" N, 076°28'49" W, thence southeast to a point 700 yards east of Chinks Point, at 38°58'1.9" N, 076°28'1.7" W, thence northeast to Greenbury Point at 38°58'29" N, 076°27'16" W.

     The regulated area will be enforced from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on March 31. The effect will be to restrict vessel traffic on certain waters of the Severn River. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander may forbid and control the movement of all vessels in the regulated area. Coast Guard vessels enforcing this regulated area can be contacted on marine band radio VHF-FM channel 16 or 22A. When hailed or signaled by an official patrol vessel, a vessel in the area shall immediately comply with the directions given. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the area, citation for failure to comply, or both. Mariners are urged to schedule their transits on this waterway beyond the enforcement times. For any comments or questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways Management Division, at (410) 576-2674 or Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. Charts 12282, 12283.