Current:Home > InvestSailing vessel that suffered broken mast, killing a passenger, had previous incidents -Capitatum
Sailing vessel that suffered broken mast, killing a passenger, had previous incidents
Johnathan Walker View
Date:2025-04-05 23:31:01
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A historic sailing vessel on which a passenger was fatally injured by a broken mast was involved in three previous accidents in 2022 and 2019 when the schooner was under different ownership, according to Coast Guard records.
The Grace Bailey, built in 1882, was returning from a four-day excursion when its main mast splintered and tumbled onto the deck, killing a doctor and injuring three other passengers Monday outside Rockland Harbor.
The most serious previous incident happened on July 8, 2022, when the Grace Bailey’s skipper apparently misjudged distance while maneuvering and struck another schooner anchored in Rockland Harbor, with the Grace Bailey’s front boom hitting the American Eagle. American Eagle’s mainsail suffered a large gash, and Grace Bailey’s boom crashed into the water, according to a Coast Guard report.
The Grace Bailey also ran aground in 2022 and in 2019. Both times, there were no injuries and only minor damage, according to Coast Guard reports. The schooner floated free at high tide in both instances.
The vessel was under new ownership this season, according to a spokesperson. It underwent an annual inspection on May 31 and was in compliance with all regulatory requirements, the Coast Guard said.
The mast failure in routine sailing conditions suggests the mast must’ve been weakened, probably by water intrusion and rot, said Jim Sharp, a former schooner owner who runs the Sail, Power and Steam Museum in Rockland.
The Bailey Grace was carrying 33 passengers and crew when the mast snapped Monday morning. “It’s unbelievable that this could happen this way. It takes me aback,” Sharp said Wednesday.
Nicole Jacques, spokesperson for the Grace Bailey’s owners, said it’s “conjecture” to offer theories about why the mast failed. The cause will be determined by the Coast Guard, she said.
It’s unclear when the mast was last inspected. Those inspections are less frequent than annual inspections and require the mast to be removed from the vessel and inspected on land, Sharp said.
veryGood! (1692)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Democratic mayors in San Francisco and Oakland fight to keep their jobs on Election Day
- 3-term Democrat Sherrod Brown tries to hold key US Senate seat in expensive race
- Jaw-Dropping Amazon Fashion Deals: 3 Long-Sleeve Shirts for $19, Plus Up to 69% Off Fall Styles
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- 3 stocks that could be big winners if Kamala Harris wins but the GOP controls Congress
- Marshon Lattimore trade grades: Did Commanders or Saints win deal for CB?
- How do I begin supervising former co-workers and friends? Ask HR
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Ready to spend retirement savings? What to know about a formula for safe withdrawals
Ranking
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Brooklyn Peltz Beckham Details Double Dates With Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco
- Landmark Washington climate law faces possible repeal by voters
- Brooklyn Peltz Beckham Details Double Dates With Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- In Maryland, competitive US House race focuses on abortion, economy and immigration
- Alaska voters deciding a hard-fought race for the state’s only U.S. House seat, election issues
- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney challenged at poll when out to vote in election
Recommendation
San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
Hugh Jackman roasts Ryan Reynolds after Martha Stewart declares the actor 'isn't funny'
Taylor Swift Reunites With Pregnant Brittany Mahomes in Private Suite at Chiefs Game
Charges against South Carolina women's basketball's Ashlyn Watkins dismissed
Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
Queen Camilla Withdraws From Public Engagements Due to Chest Infection
Boeing strike ends as machinists accept contract offer with 38% pay increase
Colorado US House race between Rep. Caraveo and Evans comes down to Latino voters