Sharp's Island Light, fyi....

[Warren Milberg]

MD - CHESAPEAKE BAY - SHARPS ISLAND LIGHT - PROPOSAL TO DISCONTINUE- PUBLIC NOTICEThe Coast Guard is soliciting comments on a proposal to discontinue Sharps Island Light (LLNR 7690). The lighthouse was damaged during the1978-1979 ice season as well as recent damage, has rendered it unsafe for personnel to perform any maintenance. The light has beenextinguished since November 2007 and due to the structural condition. The Coast Guard will not make any attempts to relight it. The CoastGuard does not intend to replace the light or lighthouse. In your comments, please address the impact this proposal my impose on youroperations including the means you are using to navigate this area of the Chesapeake Bay. All comments must be submitted prior to 16 March,2008. Charts: 12263 & 12266.Commander (dpw)Fifth Coast Guard District431 Crawford Street, Rm. 100Portsmouth, VA. 23704Attn.: Albert Grimes Or email to: Albert.L.Grimes@uscg.mil

 

[Ross]

I just checked the location of this light

and can see that at some time in the past it may have had purpose but at present there are many other navaids in the area so I can understand the desision to discontinue its use.

 

[Ross]

Jim is that light visible from the southern end

of Tilghman Island?

 

[Jim Seamans]

Ross you mean

the actual light or the structure. The structure is visible and depending on the angle you are approaching makes you think you are seeing something strange.Never been by there in the dark...Jim

 

[Ross]

Thanks Jim, I meant the structure.

For those who have the interest I found a sourse for the 1889 Chesapeake Bay pilot. I lists many more lights than are known today.http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/hcp.htmWhen the link opens click on "Sandy Hook to Cape Henry" and select Chesapeake Bay 1889. It is a very large file 168 pages but an interesting read given the navigation methods we have today.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Ross, some interesting reading - question

As I was reading I came across some courses that I hadn't seen before.Anyone care for a try. Sailing Directions - page 365. Light-house bearing 2., distant 3/4 mile to 1/1/4 miles, shape the course N. by W. 1/2 W. The depth should not be less than 6 fathoms. Having made good the course N. by W. 1/2 W. for a lettle over 13 1/2 miles, Sharp's Island should bear NE. by E. 1/2 E and so forth....I'm trying to figure out what is meant by N. by W. 1/2 W. What does the 1/2 W mean.Jim

 

[Ross]

Points! There was a time when the compass was

divided into 32 points N.E.S.W. then you got NE. SE. SW. NW. Then you got NE by N . NE by E, SE by E, SE by S. etc. These were further divided into quarter and half points. One point being 12.5 degrees so a quarter point would be about 3 degrees. In reality it is how small boats sail today just by slightly different terms.This link is better than my memory.http://www.mcallen.lib.tx.us/staff/compcrd.htm

 

[Jim Seamans]

Finally found in your given link

Took some searching around. I had never seen it described in that manner.Thanks Jim

 

[Warren Milberg]

Sharp's Isl. Light, Pt II

For those Bay sailors who love all the old lighthouses here, here is some interesting trivia re Sharps Island Light (note that in 1881, the lighthouse, and its keepers, sailed north a few hundred yards, so.... where do underway lighthouses fit into the scheme of things re the Rules of the Road?):Sharps Island Lighthouse Timeline(The leaning light of the Chesapeake Bay)1838 First lighthouse, a wooden tower, built on the island (900 acres).1848 Lighthouse moved inland due to erosion (now – 450 acres).1855 Lighthouse refitted with 5th order Fresnel lens.1865/66 Second light, a screwpile, built on shoal.1881 Screwpile destroyed by ice. Structure w/ keepers aboard carriedaway by ice floes.1882 Present caisson, 54 feet tall constructed. 4th order lens lit onFebruary, 1882.1890s Resort hotel built on eroding island.1900 Island shrinks to 94 acres.1940s Island completely disappears1976/77 Lighthouse tilted by impact of heavy, moving ice. Lens removedand replaced by 250mm plastic lens. Deterioration of towercontinues.Source: Bay Beacons by Linda Turbyville

 

[Ross]

Thanks Warren, There are only two lights on the upper bay

that I know about Turkey point on Elk Neck and Fishing Battery on the Susquehanna. Concord point light is privately maintained now. Shipping channel lights and ranges have replaced most.