Two people were rescued off the Florida coast Saturday when an 80-foot luxury sports yacht began sinking according to a release from the U.S. Coast Guard in Jacksonville.
Unlike other recent incidents in other parts of the world, no orcas were involved in this yacht going down. The operator reported that the boat hit something in the water.
At 11:37 a.m. the operator of the yacht radioed that they were taking on water three miles off the coast of St. Augustine Beach. Multiple agencies responded, the Coast Guard said.
When marine units from St. Johns Sheriff’s Office and St. Augustine Police Department arrived, the boat was already partially submerged. Two people were safely removed.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partner agencies for their invaluable assistance during this case,” said U.S. Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Ricardo Santacana. “With the weather improving and mariners heading out onto the water, it’s imperative for everyone to verify the presence of all necessary safety equipment aboard their vessel. This ensures that responders, as demonstrated in this case, can swiftly locate you and render assistance when an emergency arises.”
Here’s what we know.
Why did the Sunseeker Atlantis yacht sink off the coast of Florida?
According to the operator of the boat, it struck something.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue reported it was a dredge pipe piling and a photo of the piling shows a bent sign.
Was anyone hurt when the Sunseeker Atlantis yacht sank?
One person suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital in stable condition, St. Johns County Fire Rescue said in a Facebook post.
What kind of yacht sank off the St. Augustine Beach coast?
The boat appears to be a Sunseeker Atlantis, built in the United Kingdom and delivered in 1999, according to Boat International.
The motor yacht is one of 21 Predator 80 models. It has two Caterpillar diesel engines, a top speed of 45 knots and a cruising speed of 40 knots, with room for up to six guests in three staterooms, plus two crewmembers.
The yacht was designed by naval architect Don Shead, with interiors from designer Ken Freivokh, Boat International said. Similar Sunseeker Predator 80 yachts have been listed for around $1 million.
What will happen to the Sunseeker yacht Atlantis?
A hazard has been issued to alert others of the partially submerged vessel.
The owner of the boat will arrange salvage and the cause of the incident is under investigation, the Coast Guard said.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Yacht sinks Florida: Sunseeker Atlantis remains off St. Augustine Beach
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