Warning, Middle River, Chesapeake Bay sailors

[tcbro]

Please note: there is a partially submerged obstruction as you enter or leave Middle River for the bay. A pipeline has become unanchored and is floating at an undetermined depth. This pipeline is approx 1.5 miles long and CROSSES MOST OF THE MARKED CHANNEL! It extends almost due north from the NW corner of Hart-Miller Island (from that little "finger" of land). Several boats in our racing fleet have hit this obstruction and a few sustained damage. The Army Corps of engineers has sent divers down to investigate and have marked it with warning bouys. It is marked every 500yds or so by 5 white warning bouys. The bouys on the ends and the middle are lighted, the other 2 are not. Don't confuse these bouys with the crab line limit bouys in almost the exact area. When passing north of Hart-Miller Island you must hug the northern part of the marked channel. Stay close to Flashing Red "2G". the northern most end of the pipeline is just SW of that mark. I have a 2 page .pdf file of that section of chart that shows the obstruction and lists Lat/lon coordinates for the warning bouys. I don't think I can post them on this forum, email me at brandywine@nni.com and I will send it to you. Or you can check with the CG for the latest Notice to Mariners.Toms/v Orion's Child

 

[tcbro]

Follow-up

Well, I was out this weekend. I took a course that took me north of the pipeline, from R"6" to R"2G". I never saw the warning bouys. I did see some smaller sailboats and one maybe in the mid 30's cross the area with no apparent problem. I'm not sure whether the entire lenght of the pipeline was causing problems or if only 1 or more sections were causing the problem. Remember, this is supposely marked for a mile and a half. A while after I passed, an old and very beautiful motor yacht, probably a Trumpy, passed me at about 12kts, heading in. By this time I had passed the area and never really thought to try and raise the old boat and convey a warning. That, plus I really didn't see any evidence of a problem. When I looked back 15 mins later the old boat was drifting in the area of the pipeline. An hour later, the boat was still drifting in that area. I feel sick that maybe my failure to warn them may have cause that beautiful old boat to be damaged.It goes without saying that my info on this is sketchy. I don't really have time to search the internet for more info. I hope that if somebody on here does that they will provide the accurate info we need. The latest thing that I'm hearing is that maybe this is a rather new pipeline set up to dredge the channel into the power plant so coal barges can get in again. I saw no surface vessels or dredges in the area of the power plant. The last message that was emailed to me indicated that the warning bouys (you remember, the ones I couldn't find) would be maintained until July 1 which leads me to believe that the pipeline may be dismantled at that time.Also note, I sent 2 emails on Fri. to people from this site who requested that chart. I am having problems with my email this morning and if you sent me an email I may not get your request. Please don't think I'm ignoring you.If anybody has any further info, please post it for us. In the meantime, I plan on giving it a wide berth.Toms/v Orion's Child

 

[Baysailor2]

Tom...

you did many of us a great service by posting this heads-up. BYC was one of my early season destinations, but I guess it can wait until later in the year. I'll just have to put up with Worton Creek instead (VBG>...

 

[tcbro]

Dan, don't stay away.....

Just be cautious. If you stay close to Flashing Red "2G" you should have no problem. I'm sending you the .pdf file that shows this pipline.Toms/v Orion's Child

 

[filthy liberal scum]

moving Que Pasa? memorial day week end!

tom;since we are moving Que Pasa? to bowley's memorial day weekend i guess we don't need to keep an eye out for yall,since you'll be in the carib. if as normal we cut behind pooles island and head straight for dolphin I'm assuming we won't have a problem. or am i incorrect? BTW we are going to be in E115 this year. its a good feeling to be back in bowley's this year. not as good as the great sailing in new England but definitely better than Havre De grace with little or no air. P.S get in touch and maybe we can plan a cruise some where.Jim

 

[Dan Johnson]

Thanks, Tom...

When I get the PDF I'll forward it to our club's fleet captain to post out to the club. The club's headed to Balt Inner Harbor for Memorial Day and some are planning to make a stop in Middle River. This could prove to be invaluable info!