On Sunday, April 25, 2010 at approximately 1100 operator left Waukegan Harbor sailing north to North Point Marina (NPM).  At approximately 1500 he took down his sails and started his auxiliary motor approximately 1/2 mile from the entrance to North Point Marina and 3/4 mile offshore.  operators' motor died after a few minutes and he was unsuccessful in his attempts to restart it.  He raised his sails and attempted to sail into the marina.  Upon reaching a location approximately 200 yards south of the marina entrance, operators attempted to tack north but strong winds and rough waves drove the port side of his vessel into the rocks on the breakwall.  A NPM slipholder contacted the United States Coast Guard for assistance via radio.  

Upon being notified of the distress call, CPO and I made our way down the breakwall to assist operators.  When we arrived at the vessel, operators was hanging on to the helm and the port side was being repeatedly slammed into the rocks by the waves causing the vessel to list severely to its' port side.  A large hole approximately 12 inches in diameter had developed in the port side approximately mid-ship.  I made my down the rocks to operators' vessel and via use of a safety line, CPO  and I were able to successfully remove operators from his vessel to the breakwall without injury.  We assisted him down the breakwall to shore.

Upon reaching shore, operators contacted Tow Boat US to have his vessel removed.  He was informed the vessel could not be removed until the water conditions calmed.  The United States Coastguard arrived on scene and also assessed the vessel to be unsafe to remove under the current water conditions.  I interviewed operators about the accident and he left the scene.

On Monday, April 26, 2010 CPO  went back to the vessel and informed me it had sustained significant damage overnight and had developed several large holes in its' port side (photographs attached).  The vessel is scheduled to be removed by Tow Boat US as soon as conditions are safe to do so.
Winthrop Harbor               