Boat Owner Charged With Drunk Sailing
An Arizona man has been charged with operating a boat while intoxicated after his sailboat struck a breakwater in the Port Hueneme Harbor and began sinking, authorities said Tuesday.
Donald Strong, 63, of Yuma, was arrested Monday night by the Coast Guard and police, Port Hueneme Police Sgt. Ted Snyder said.
The Coast Guard in Oxnard received a radio distress call from Strong’s 42-foot motor sailer, “Tauras Trio,” about 9:40 p.m. Monday. When two Coast Guard boats responded, they found Strong’s vessel--loaded with eight passengers--taking on water through two holes in its bow. The boat had struck one of the two breakwaters that jut out of Port Hueneme Harbor, Coast Guard Petty Officer Mack McKenzie said.
While the Coast Guard plugged the holes and drained water from the boat, Strong and his passengers were taken to a Port Hueneme pier. A private firm towed the crippled boat to Channel Islands Harbor. Strong was released shortly after his arrest, Snyder said. No court date has been set.
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