Empty 48' Yacht Washes Up on Florida Beach

[Drew13440]

If you look at the vidio, you can see that the anchor locker is open and there is a winch handle in the windlass. Probably had a failure of the windlass, and the operator went forward to raise tha anchor manually, and somehow fell off.

I disagree with this. The eyewitness accounts indicate a vessel operating under normal conditions, until it became obvious something was wrong. It doesn't appear the boat was travelling at idle speed, but faster. So who goes forward with an open throttle under autopilot to retrieve an anchor? The swim ladder in the pics is also down. Did it come in down or did the onlookers/responders drop it? Same with the anchor locker.

I think the evidence makes a stronger case for a child falling off the back of his parents boat, who instinctively threw all the drugs, aliens and guns into the Gulf before going in after the kid. But we shall see.

[SaltyMonkey]

ummm and exactly where is this anchor that was not retrrieved?

[Drew13440]

ummm and exactly where is this anchor that was not retrrieved?

Exactly? I dunno. Generally? In the seabed, duh.

(KIDDING KIDDING KIDDING there will be no rudeness!)

[knottybuoyz]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

ummm and exactly where is this anchor that was not retrrieved?

It appears in pic #1 the anchor line is played out with some tension on it. In pic #2 it looks like someone has set the anchor in the beach.

[sabray]

Tampabay.com – Yacht mysteriously washes ashore on Madeira Beach video shows the anchor in the chock. the first post had slides but the anchor was set on the beech. So Im guessing boat is bouncing around tide maybe coming up someone took the anchor off the bow and set it on the beech then backdown on it using the manual handle on the winch. I think I saw this on CSI

[slomotion]

Also, per the report I just saw on CNN, the engines were running but not in gear and the lights were off when she came ashore. This is different from their original report. Also, I don't know where you keep a dinghy on such a boat, but I would expect it to have one and I don't see it.

[knottybuoyz]

Originally Posted by slomotion

Also, per the report I just saw on CNN, the engines were running but not in gear and the lights were off when she came ashore. This is different from their original report. Also, I don't know where you keep a dinghy on such a boat, but I would expect it to have one and I don't see it.

Looks like it's got chocks for a PWC on the swim platform.

[erict]

That slide show now has a caption saying the boat's owner reported it stolen several days earlier.

[SaltyMonkey]

the plot thickens

[Ocean Girl]

It doesn't sound like this will have a good ending for those aboard. What is the gov doing with a million dollar yacht? gads we got a recession here, 9% jobless in some places. I used to work for sea ray, they aint cheap to buy, own, or run.
Erika

[Healer52]

So, whats the admiralty law on an abandoned vessel fetching up someplace?

[Drew13440]

It doesn't sound like this will have a good ending for those aboard. What is the gov doing with a million dollar yacht?

I am going out on a limb and guess reporters were told the vessel was "U.S. Coast Guard documented." So they report the federal government owns it. Just my best guess.

[erict]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

It doesn't sound like this will have a good ending for those aboard.
Erika

After watching the video interview with the man who witnessed and "discovered" the grounding, it occurred to me he might have some sort of legal claim to the boat. Perhaps something along the lines of salvage.

[speciald@ocens.]

The US government ended up owning the J boat Endeavor after it was taken from the Enron Guy. He still had to pay for the Maintenance and crew until he died

[gettinthere]

Originally Posted by Drew13440

I am going out on a limb and guess reporters were told the vessel was "U.S. Coast Guard documented." So they report the federal government owns it. Just my best guess.

Bingo...it is cnn after all