Memorial Day crowds at Wrightsville Beach prompt safety reminder from rescuers

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. (WWAY) — Memorial Day weekend is bringing big crowds and busy waterways to eastern North Carolina as visitors head to the beaches of New Hanover County and surrounding coastal communities. Families and tourists are spending the holiday soaking up the sun, playing beach volleyball, and taking boats out on the water to enjoy the warm weather and coastal views.

But with the increase in holiday traffic comes added pressure for local rescue and towing crews working to keep everyone safe.

“This weekend is the main kickoff,” said Ryan Saporito, captain with Sea Tow Wrightsville Beach. “From here on out, the weekends will be jam-packed. Everybody’s trying to come out and have a good time on the water.”

Saporito said some of the busiest areas during the holiday weekend include spots near the C. Heide Trask Memorial Bridge, where heavy boat traffic often leads to calls for assistance. Sea Tow crews patrol high-traffic waterways throughout the day, especially during the busy summer season.

“We have our boats out patrolling for eight hours at a time,” Saporito said. “During the summer, we’ll have them out here starting at seven in the morning and going until sunset.”

According to Saporito, some of the most common issues involve stranded boaters, fuel problems, and people falling overboard.

“We do see a lot of fuel issues,” he said. “A lot of times fuel gauges on boats don’t work properly, and people think they have more gas than they actually do.”

While Sea Tow crews monitor the waterways, Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue is also ramping up staffing levels for the busy holiday weekend.

“We are increasing staffing throughout the entire Memorial Day weekend,” said Ocean Rescue Director Sam Proffitt. “We’ve got about 46 guards working today, and that’ll continue through most of the weekend.”

Proffitt said the holiday weekend also serves as an important learning experience for new lifeguards.

“This is the weekend where the rookies are always stationed with a returning guard,” Proffitt said. “It’s their first big weekend out here, but they’re working alongside someone with experience.”

Visitors say the extra safety presence helps them feel more comfortable while enjoying the beach.

“It’s my 25th birthday tomorrow, so we came down here to celebrate,” said visitor Skylar Wellington. “We love Wilmington. The water is a little hectic today, but the weather is always nice, and the water is always pretty.”

Officials also say when boating near an inlet, drive slowly, stay away from shallow waters, and never swim in the inlets.