Sailboat washed up on State Park lands after a wind storm

A few months ago a southerly wind whipped through the San Juan Islands and one of the fears of a boat owner became reality. The breaths of mother nature are also the peril of vessels. The anchor did not hold fast during the blow and their sailboat was tossed up on the beach like one of the hundreds of pieces of driftwood seen above high tide line. Without the proper means of quick removal, this is usually the resting place of most vessels that meet this fate. Subsequent winds and waves pound away relentlessly on the hull of the boat bending and breaking it at the whim of the powerful elements. If this boat had landed on another beach in the area, chances are that it would lay there until it rotted out of existence. This vessel though landed on a state park and was thus declared a hazard to the public and was obviously also a pollution source. Therefor the State Department of Natural Resources placed the job of removal and disposal out to bid, and as a result, I was able to enjoy another beautiful day on the water and write another story of a successful job to put in the history of my memory - and Steemit of course ;)

Rudder snapped off rendering the vessel unable to steer

2,400lb steel keel dug into the sand and pinned under a log

Using the horsepower of 2 boats and skid logs we were able to spin the vessel 90 degrees to more easily tow it off the beach

Not knowing if the keel would hold fast to the bottom of the boat we had to remove the mast to prevent the hazard of it becoming top heavy and rolling to sink once in the water

With 2 tow points, skid and roll logs, 2 vessels and a combined 800 horsepower - we were able to pull her into the water

Fingers crossed and pumps primed and ready we monitored the bilge to make sure the vessel was not taking on water

After the seaworthiness was confirmed we were underway to tow her back to town to be hauled out at a local ship yard

Aft view of the vessel in the travel lift

Forward view of the vessel in the travel lift

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