A boating accident occurred on 8-28-12 involving a sailing vessel that struck a rock while headed into the Westerly Yacht Club.  The female passenger was injured and transported to Westerly Hospital.  EPO responded to Dobson Boat Yard and met with an employee who showed him the 38’ Catalina sail boat, De La Mar.  Off with  owner/operator and his wife.  Operator stated that he was operating his boat in the Pawcatuck River heading south towards an anchorage location just north of the mooring field at the Watch Hill Yacht Club. He was within the channel and saw that there was a race of smaller sailboats ahead of him.  He then veered to port to give way to the vessels.  As the De La Mar left the channel, it struck a submerged rock on the east side of the channel.  The force of the collision caused his wife who was in the starboard cockpit to be thrown into the starboard cabin top.  Wife was bleeding from the mouth so he hailed the Westerly Yacht Club on VHF and requested rescue. Both were picked up and transported to Westerly Hospital, were treated, and later released.
WESTERLY                      