Solitary Sailboat Anchored in Channel Remains a Curiosity in Ocean City

A lone sailboat has been anchored alongside the Ninth Street Bridge in Ocean City since last summer, leaving drivers who pass by it curious about its story.  

The boat, named “La Concha,” is moored in Rainbow Channel, just a few hundred yards north of the bridge that connects Somers Point and Ocean City.

The Ninth Street Bridge, also known as the Route 52 Causeway, is the busiest entryway to the island, ensuring that many motorists get a look at the sailboat each day.

Jimmy Wildman, a resident of Upper Township, claimed ownership of the vessel in a Facebook post on Sept. 18 made to a group called “Ocean City NJ 08226.” He responded to numerous posts from other group members asking about the sailboat. 

“I’m Jimmy, I live on that boat in the summer,” Wildman wrote in the post. “I tried to anchor as far away from land as not to impact anyone physically or visually in the only charted anchorage in Ocean City.” 

Wildman even invited curiosity seekers to come join him on the boat for a drink and to admire the beautiful sunsets.

Some of the Facebook posters told Wildman that they get a thrill every time they spot the boat while traveling over the bridge.

“This is an amazing story and I think you chose a perfect spot to anchor! I love seeing your boat as we go over the bridge. We might take you up on that offer to have a drink with you and watch a sunset next summer!!” Robbie Rogers Roselle wrote.

“Love that boat!” said MaryBeth Robertson-Quinlan in another post. “Look forward to seeing it each day! I also noticed a small boat attached, but I’ve never seen any people.”

Wildman, however, is currently not living on the sailboat while it remains anchored in the channel over the winter, according to people familiar with the boat.

Wildman did not respond to interview requests from OCNJDaily.com.  

    The U.S. Coast Guard says the sailboat may remain where it is because it is not blocking boat traffic in the channel.
  

Lt. Matthew Asire, commanding officer at the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Atlantic City, said anchoring vessels in the back bay is perfectly legal as long as they don’t block boat traffic, which La Concha is not.  

“As long as vessels are not impeding traffic of a navigable waterway like the Intracoastal Waterway, it’s a safe place to anchor,” Asire said.  

Another consideration for people anchoring boats overnight or longer periods of time is that they must have the proper anchor lights on and clearly visible, he explained.  

“Boats need to have the correct anchor lights on,” Asire said. “I've seen that boat at night from the bridge and I know that their anchor light is on.”  

Asire recommends anyone who is anchoring their boat for a prolonged period regularly checks on their vessel, as there is the possible danger of the boat drifting away from its anchored location.  

“Any boat has that potential, whether they're anchored for a few minutes or anchored for days,” Asire said. “(La Concha) seems to be holding solid.”  

In his Facebook post, Wildman stated that his decision to live on the boat during the summer was an opportunity given to him following a few life-changing events.

He wrote of “anchor life” very fondly, saying that it has been an enjoyable learning to become self-sufficient and experiencing nature with his family.  

“I highly recommend anchor life to everyone,” Wildman wrote in the post. “It's beautiful, peaceful, and freeing.”

    Jimmy Wildman, the sailboat's owner, talked about the pleasures of "anchor life" in this Facebook post last September.