Operator AND CREW WERE SAILING SOUTHWEST OUT OF BEAUFORT INLET ALONG THE CHANNEL APPROX 1000 YARDS OUTSIDE THE INLET.  Operator  TURNED IN A MORE SOUTHER  DIRECTION NAVIGATING IN 8 FEET OF WATER WHEN HE RAN AGROUND.  Operator's 30 FOOT SAILBOAT IS A SHALLOW CRAFT, AND HE TOLD ME HE COULD OPERATE IT IN 4 FEET OF WATER, SO HE WAS COMFORTABLE IN 8 FEET OF WATER.  Operator HAD BEEN NAVIGATING THIS AREA FOR 40 YEARS.  WHEN Operator RAN AGROUND, HE TRIED TO USE HIS DIESEL POWERED ENGINE TO BACK HIS WAY OFF.  AFTER 15 MINUTES HE STARTED TAKING ON WATER.  THAT'S WHEN HE MADE A CALL TO THE USCG.  Operator AND HIS TWO CHILDREN AND DOG WERE RESCUED AND BROUGHT TO SAFETY.  THE OCEAN WAS TOO ROUGH ON THE SHOAL AND IT WAS GETTING DARK FOR TOW BOAT US TO MAKE A SALVAGE SAFELY.  SOMETIME DURING THE NIGHT THE SAILBOAT BROKE APART AND SANK.  FROM MY INVESTIGATION OF THIS BOAT ACCIDENT, THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS THE MOVING AND DEPOSITING OF SAND FROM UNDERWATER CURRENTS CREATING SHOALS.
ATLANTIC                      