Sailboat Runs Ashore In Dana Point, Sailors Abandon Ship

DANA POINT, CA — A sailboat ran aground Monday at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, but no one was injured.

The 30-foot sailboat was in about 3 feet of water at the shoreline when deputies responded to a call of a boat running aground about 4:30 a.m., Orange County sheriff's Lt. Lane Lagaret said.

A man was next to the boat and was told to stay put, but left before lifeguards got there, Lagaret said.

Deputies later got a call from two people who were on the boat, who relayed they had left out of Dana Point Harbor, Lagaret said. The boat lost power and drifted, but it was unclear why the men didn't use a radio to issue a distress call, Lagaret said.

Deputies found several empty alcohol containers on the boat, which began to take on water after it came ashore, making it difficult to tow, Lagaret said.

When a towing company came to try to take the boat further ashore, the craft was ripped up, Lagaret said.

City News Service; Images courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff's Department