One Sailboat Overturns, Two Others Collide off Point Loma

The Coast Guard was investigating the overturning of one sailboat Sunday off Point Loma and a collision involving two others that had come to investigate.

One woman was hospitalized, apparently for hypothermia, the Coast Guard said, and property damage was extensive.

About 1:30 p.m., a Coast Guard auxiliary boat spotted a 30-foot catamaran that had overturned just off Point Loma, according to Ben White of the Coast Guard auxiliary.

“Right now, it’s not real clear why she turned over, whether it was because they couldn’t handle her, a puff of wind, or what,” White said.

“A catamaran has a very high initial stability but once you get to a point, nothing is going to stop her from going over.”

Three crewman aboard the overturned sailboat had apparently climbed out of the water onto the floating hull to wait for help to arrive. White said divers had been dispatched to the scene to begin salvage work.

Meanwhile, two other sailboats circling the accident site apparently collided about 100 yards from the downed boat, causing extensive hull damage to both boats. At least six people on both boats were rescued from a 37-foot trimaran called the Uncky Punk and the sloop Annette, White said.

“Everything is under control,” White said. “The cleanup is just a mess.”

Both boats were being towed to marinas Sunday. No charges were expected to be filed against the captains of the colliding sailboats.

“I don’t think there was any basis for citations to be filed,” White said. “But I’m sure that at some point, somebody is going to talk to them, to find out just exactly what they were doing out there.”