Phineas Sprague of Portland Yacht Services warns mariners of an uncharted extension of the ledge on the south side of Whitehead Passage, an extension of the ledge marked by green daybeacon "3.":
Location: White Head Passage, Vessel made contact with obstruction
>> > at 43 38.870N 70 11.578W Chart 1392 edition 38 edition date
>> > 02/01/2007 Update date 08/18/2007.
>> > http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/13292.shtml
>> >
>> > Saturday afternoon October 13, 2007 Entering White Head Passage
>> > under sail and power, draft 9 feet with 1.5 feet of tide no swell
>> > contacted "ground?" in an area showing near 29 feet MLW on the chart.
>> >
>> > We were in the marked channel approximately 40 feet N of Spire "G
>> > 3". Spire G # is located on the 15 foot depth contour.
>> >
>> > We transit this area on a regular basis and have checked GPS, track
>> > lines of the vessel and had a visual on the spire and the Nun "6"
>> > at the time of contact.
>> >
>> > Commercial Sailing Vessels with passengers for hire of similar
>> > draft use this passage on a regular basis.
>> >
>> > There is a significant discrepancy. Presuming the tidal data is
>> > accurate this contact would calculate about 7 feet of depth at MLW
>> > for that location.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > I hired a diver to take a look at the obstruction and it is a sharp
>> > spine with numerous bruises from impact with boats.
>> >
>> > Cheers Phin
Sun, 10 February 2008 11:47
