The 40-foot power yacht Virgin Express washed ashore in Josiahs Bay on Sunday morning after a powerful swell developed overnight.
The charter yacht’s guests, who were not aboard at the time, reportedly anchored the boat in the bay on Saturday, but large waves swept it toward land as beachgoers watched the following morning.
Attempts to return the boat to the open water proved unsuccessful, and by 10 a.m. it was beached, with waves pounding it from time to time.
A boat from Husky Salvage and Towing soon arrived on the scene, but did not attempt to tow the vessel past the breakers. Instead, the yacht was tied to trees to prevent it from drifting into nearby rocks before the swell died down.
On Monday morning, Husky operators were back at work with the hope of removing the boat by the end of the day.
The Virgin Express, which has two double cabins, rents for $5,000 per week in the winter, according to the website for the motor yacht charter company Virgin Traders.
“Express is a nimble, fast cruising yacht in the 20-knot range, with a flared ‘V’ section bow giving soft entry and great wave piercing ride,” according to the company’s website. “She is easy to handle, with twin engines and a bow thruster.”
See the April 23, 2015 edition for full coverage.
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