Fatal Boat Accident In Harford County Being Investigated by NRP

     Havre De Grace, Md. -- The Maryland Natural Resources Police Special Operations Division is investigating a fatal boating accident that occurred at 9:45 a.m. Friday at the Tidewater Marina located on the Susquehanna River in Havre De Grace.

     A preliminary investigation found that a 44-foot sailboat was leaving the dock area of the marina when one of its passengers, an 81-year-old man, fell into the water. The man was not wearing a life jacket.

     After being pulled back onto the boat and brought to shore, the man was transported to Harford Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death is yet to be determined, and the victim’s name was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

     The Maryland Natural Resources Police remind all citizens and visitors that attention to boating safety saves lives, and is of paramount importance when enjoying Maryland’s waterways. While it is recommended that everyone on board wear a personal floatation device while a vessel is underway, a child under 13 years of age must wear a life jacket while underway in a vessel that is less than 21 feet in length.

     In addition, children under 4 years of age and/or less than 50 pounds must have a life jacket equipped with a grab strap, inflatable headrest and crotch strap. NRP also recommends filing a float plan with a friend or relative. The plan should include the vessel’s destination, how long it will remain at the destination, and what time it’s expected to return. This information will assist rescue units if the vessel does not return. The Maryland Natural Resources Police emergency number is 800-628-9944 .

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Seeking Sailors for Mister Jim

Volunteer crew members aboard the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s replica buyboat Mister Jim prepare the vessel for visitors. Pictured from the left: museum volunteers John Gillespie, Duane Lundahl, Lloyd Devigne, Lou Berman, Tom Hollingshead, and Robin Gordon. The museum is recruiting new volunteers for its on-the-water programs with crew testing on June 1 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the museum in St. Michaels. Call 410-745-4956 for more info.

      St. Michaels, MD -- The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland, will be recruiting volunteer crew members for its on-the-water programs with crew testing on Wednesday, June 1, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the museum’s campus. As crew members, volunteers aboard the museum’s buyboat, Mister Jim, ensure the safety of passengers and share information with visitors about the Chesapeake Bay.
     Volunteers should be comfortable aboard a boat and possess some general boating skills. Participants will be selected based on their ability to perform basic agility skills such as climbing down a ladder into the engine compartment, climbing on top of the cabin to lift the raft, tying up the vessel, and setting up the man overboard ladder.
     Volunteers selected must be willing to participate in a Coast Guard required drug-testing program, attend three half-day training sessions, and make a commitment to work at least six days during the summer season. Shifts are six hours long and are available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the fall.
     Individuals interested in volunteering as crew for the museum’s on-the-water programs will learn safe boating practices and the specific procedures necessary to ensure the safety of passengers aboard the buyboat Mister Jim. They will also develop talking points based on the region's social, cultural, and environmental history to engage and interest museum visitors. For more information about becoming a volunteer crew member, contact Director of Education Melissa Spielman at 410-745-4956 or email mspielman@cbmm.org.

OkoumeFest Small Boat Event May 13 and 14 a Family Fun Event

OkoumeFest features paddling and sail-powered small crafts.



     Annapolis and Stevensville, MD -- Chesapeake Light Craft's annual Okoumefest weekend is May 13 and 14 this year. CLC's small-boat festival brings do-it-yourself boatbuilders and small-boat enthusiasts together for workshops, on-the-water demonstrations, and prizes. An Open House is Friday at Chesapeake Light Craft’s factory and showroom in Annapolis from 2-7 pm; on-the-water fun takes place Saturday at Kent Island’s Matapeake State Park from 9 am-5 pm. Complete information is available at www.clcboats.com/festival.

     Now in its 13th year, OkoumeFest (pronounced oh-KOO-me-fest) is a family-friendly event centered on the joys of building and using small boats. For those new to boats or boatbuilding there is no better opportunity to get on the water, attend seminars, and have questions answered.

Affordable Saturday Sailing Programs Offered at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is offering sailing to visitors in a selection of rowing and sailing skiffs, like the Melonseed skiffs shown here. Dates for the program are June 11, July 17, August 13, and September 17, with two sessions from 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm. Cost to participate is $10 plus museum admission. Drop-ins welcome.

     St. Michaels, MD -- Beginning in June, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland will offer novice and experienced boaters a chance to get out on the water along Fogg’s Cove in a selection of the museum’s beautifully crafted wooden sailing and rowing skiffs.
     The Sailing Saturdays program runs June 11, July 16, August 13 and September 17 with two daily sailing sessions running from 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm. Boats used for the program range in size from 12 to 20 feet, and were crafted in the museum’s Apprentice for a Day public boatbuilding program. The boats are perfect for one to two people, with instruction provided for beginning sailors or boaters.
     “For people interested in commissioning the museum to build one of these boats, this is a great way to ‘try before you buy,’” explains Boat Yard Manager Rich Scofield. “And for the experienced boater, this is a unique opportunity to enjoy sailing in some of the nicest, handmade wooden boats in the world.”
     Boats in the program rotate from the museum’s collection, which includes Melonseed sailing skiffs, Rushton rowing skiffs and paddleboats. “You might event get to sail in the boat that appeared in the Failure to Launch movie as part of your experience,” commented Scofield.
     Reservations can be made, with drop-in participation welcomed. The cost to participate in the Sailing Saturdays program is $10 per session plus museum admission. The museum is open daily and also offers visitors the opportunity to help build one of these skiffs through its Apprentice for a Day program. For more information, call 410-745-2916 or visit http://www.cbmm.org/.