V1 WAS OPERATING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES OUTSIDE OF GASPARILLA PASS. AT APPROXIMATELY 18:00, V1 BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE PROBLEMS. V1 OPERATOR CONTACTED THE USCG AND ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM. V1 OPERATOR ADVISED THE PASSENGER TO SET THE ANCHOR. DUE TO STRONG WINDS AND LARGE WAVES, THE ANCHOR WINCH WAS RIPPED OFF OF THE BOW OF THE VESSEL. V1 OPERATOR CONTACTED THE USCG AGAIN AFTER THE ANCHOR WAS RIPPED OFF THE BOW. WITHOUT AN ANCHOR, V1 STARTED DRIFTING TOWARDS SHORE, STRIKING A SAND BAR WITH ITS SKEG. V1 BECAME LODGED ON THE SAND BAR WITH ITS SKEG. THE SKEG WAS BROKEN OFF ON THE SAND BAR, CAUSING V1 TO BEGIN DRIFTIN AGAIN. BECAUSE THE SKEG WAS GONE, V1 BEGAN TO YAW. BOTH MASTS BROKE OFF, AND SHORTLY AFTER V1 LOST CONTACT WITH THE USCG. THE LAST CONTACT V1 HAD WITH THE USCG WAS V1 OPERATOR TELLING THEM THAT THEY WERE BOARDING THE LIFE RAFT. THIS TRANSMISSION SPARKED A SEVERAL HOUR SEARCH AND RESCUE. THE VESSEL EVENTUALLY DRIFTED TO ASHORE ON TO THE BEACH ON BOCA GRANDE. AT APPROXIMATELY 03:00 ON 10/18/2009 THE VESSEL WAS FOUND BY CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WITH BOTH PASSENGERS ABOARD INJURY FREE.
BOCA GRANDE                   