One Dead, Five Injured During California Sailboat Race
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U.S. Coast Guard(SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif.) — One person was killed and five more injured after a sailboat lost its ability to steer and broke apart during a race Friday night.
The 30-foot sailboat, named Uncontrollable Urge, was competing in a race near San Clemente Island in Southern California when its rudder failed, according to a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard.
A mayday call was issued around 9:26 p.m., but the crew initially said they were not in need of assistance. They did not initially feel the need to accept help from the other racers or the Coast Guard, instead looking to a commercial salvage company to help save the boat.
Weather conditions prevented the salvage company boat from launching, and the situation on the Uncontrollable Urge worsened. An attempt to anchor the boat around 11 p.m. failed, causing the boat to drift closer to San Clemente Island.
When the boat entered the crashing surf, the sailors were forced to abandon the vessel.
A Coast Guard helicopter picked up the crew of six, but one sailor, whose name has not made public, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
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