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Sailboat washes ashore on Bonita beach (Bonita Springs, FL)
Sailboat washes ashore on Bonita beach
By ANNE MARIE APOLLO and NICHOLAS PAUL ALAJAKIS, Staff Writers August 30, 2005 A sailboat with gas cans and a solar energy panel lashed to its decks washed ashore a Bonita Springs beach Monday, sparking concern and curiosity of onlookers. The vessel, which witnesses said bobbed and weaved its way to land, beached itself near Beach Access No. 5. Authorities called to the scene at about 11 a.m. said no one seemed to be aboard. "It was not occupied by refugees or anybody," said Lee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Angelo Vaughn. Coast Guard Petty Officer Danielle DeMarino said the boat was judged uninhabited and derelict. The vessel has been turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Vaughn said. Its owner had not been found Monday. Hickory Boulevard resident Boni Kelly said she thought it was possible the craft broke loose near Key West and traveled north with Hurricane Katrina. The boat is visible from her home and she called emergency officials Monday after watching it come ashore. Kelly said she watched emergency responders open the cabin only to find no one inside. Chris Bielski, president of the Bonita Beach Improvement Association, also saw the boat bobbing out in the Gulf and said she did not spot any people in it. "The boat was acting like it was totally unsteered, unpiloted," Bielski said. Among those keeping track of the boat's progress was construction worker Cruz Quinteros, 32, of Fort Myers. He and other workers first spotted the boat about two miles off shore at 7 a.m., he said. The crew, which was working on a Hickory Boulevard home overlooking the beach, saw the craft slowly make its way to shore, but never saw any occupants, said Quinteros. "This is the first time I've seen a boat just (wash) ashore," Quinteros said. The unusual event drew onlookers to the beach Monday afternoon, some of whom crawled atop the sailboat for a closer look. Some, including Bonita Springs City Councilman Bob Wagner, climbed inside the cabin. Taking note of the numerous gasoline cans aboard, as well as food and other supplies, Wagner said he believed someone had been living inside the boat. The boat definitely looked like it could be inhabitable, said Naples resident Jack Salo, whose curiosity also led him into the cabin. On board, Salo, 54, said he saw various items that could lend themselves to a longer voyage, including a hot plate, silverware and an outboard motor. The boat's sails were also tucked away inside the cabin, he added. The boat's general appearance and lack of a visible registry led Wagner to say he thought it could have been a vehicle for refugees. The only marking on the boat read Ciel Bleu, which in French means "blue sky." "It has all the earmarks of not being from around here, or even from the state of Florida," Wagner said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Here's the link to a pic of the boat: http://mas.scripps.com/NPDN/2005/08/29/N-boat130_e.jpg |
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On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 13:31:44 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:
Sailboat washes ashore on Bonita beach By ANNE MARIE APOLLO and NICHOLAS PAUL ALAJAKIS, Staff Writers August 30, 2005 Looks like a Coronado 35. By the looks of things I'd guess some frog fell overboard. bb |
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