Bruce Chappell

I own a 38 foot yacht. My wife and I along with many friends sail the coast up towards maine and to the chesepeke. When standing watch at night it is often difficult to see objects. Usually we are 3 to 7 miles off shore. If yachts were to be forced into a traffic pattern, most likely an incident would occur from feeling safe and secure when a vigalant watch would be warranted. Off the coast of New Jersey we follow closer to shore to enter Cape May. Many vessels I know go far offshore as it is easier to enter the Delaware Bay. I would assume that Delaware with all the wind there is a prime area. With the commercial traffic we normally travel in daylight and are always watchful plus travel outside the normal channel to avoid an incident with barges. My biggest concern is the height and viibliity of structures used for wind engery collection. Your concerns for the approches to harbors would be most important to me. As a yacht captain with a Master License I know how many ships respond to yachts. Certainly a yacht captain needs to be careful with navigation, weather knowing a wind mill is nearby. If only these installations were landed in areas away from approaches, bays, and facilities for marine use then all should be safer.