Investigators probe fatal capsize of yacht

by Sail-World Cruising round-up on 29 Mar 2011 There is still no indication from authorities as to what caused a tragic capsize of a 35 ft yacht Nessie in San Diego Bay on Sunday afternoon this week, during mild weather.

While the most likely cause of any such sudden capsize of a sailing boat is the loss of the keel, it will be some time before investigators publish their findings.

Ten people were aboard the yacht including a 10-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy. Two of the men, who appeared to be in their fifties, were given CPR on the scene, but could not be revived. Four of the others, aged 30, 45, 50 and 57, were taken to University of California San Diego Medical Center (UCSD) for treatment, with one woman suffering from hypothermia. Three others, including the two children and a 49-year-old woman, were taken to Scripps Mercy HospitalVictims have not been identified pending families being notified, but it is known that most were the members of one family.

All of those onboard were thrown into the water when the vessel capsized. Witnesses said several nearby boaters tried to assist the victims while Harbor Police vessels patrolling the bay raced to the scene.

'I couldn’t see the boat. I just saw them pulling people onto the launch, doing CPR, and a lot of people screaming and yelling,' said Ty Alicot, who described himself as an avid sailboater. 'It’s pretty hard to turn over a sailboat that big.'

Harbor Police arrived within five minutes of being notified and some 60 firefighters, paramedics and other emergency crews gathered at the Shelter Island boat launch to render medical aid, Luque said.

'There were several good Samaritans who really came to the rescue,' San Diego Port District spokeswoman Marguerite Elicone said.

A crew of six Harbor Police divers were underwater Sunday night investigating what could have caused the boat to capsize, and the yacht was towed to a Shelter Island boatyard. There was no indication that another boat was involved, although authorities said they were not ruling that possibility out.