BAY RESCUE: Captain ran sinking yacht into shallow water

BEVERLY BEACH, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES

07.27.2024

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Bokum 

U.S. Coast Guard District 5    

RESCUER CAPTAIN: reports that the LoveBug didn’t run aground but was sinking, and the captain intentionally ran it into shallow water to prevent losing the yacht.

The Coast Guard and partner agencies are responding to the 104-foot yacht Lovebug, which ran aground roughly a half-mile offshore between Beverly Beach and Idewilde on July 27, 2024. The five persons on board were safely recovered by a good Samaritan and a tow boat. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland – National Capital Region)

From EYE ON ANNAPOLIS:
Trevor Hardman, a retired Prince George’s County Firefighter and owner of Tour Boat Annapolis, was one of the first on the scene.

We were in the West River and noticed the boat listing to one side. Something didn’t seem right. We raced over and called the Coast Guard. We heard the captain call for help as the boat was taking on water. Towboat US responded, and they grabbed two people out of the water. The yacht “LOVEBUG” had its tender boat following, and they rescued two additional people from the water.

We went to the boat and got the captain, the last one onboard. He stated he did not run aground, but the boat started taking on water. He headed to shallow water before they abandoned ship. We could hear the high water alarms going off as we approached the boat.

Trevor Hardman