United States Coast Guard photo - BOATING SAFETY

During the evening of June 19, 2004, Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel 24999s crew came upon this vessel aground near Conrad Island in Belmont Bay in Lorton, VA. The boater is clearly seen in this photo, standing in the water, attempting to pull his boat free. The 24999 stood by (in deeper water), slowing other boats transiting the area, in order to prevent further damage to the grounded vessel and potential injury to the person in the water, until commercial salvage could arrive on the scene. Nautical charts of the area indicate the mean low lowest water depth of between one-half to one-foot. The following day, the crew of 24999 came across a sailboat aground in the same place. Boaters are highly encouraged to take a boating safety course, available from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (www.cgaux.org) and others; as well as carry and know how to read nautical charts, to prevent navigational mishaps and injury.