RedactedNarrative: On August 15, 2022, at approximately 1845 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded to a call of a sailboat grounding at Anastasia State Park.
   The vessel was later identified as a white 1997 38-foot Catalina Sailboat. V1 had come to close to shore and grounded on the south shoal at St. Augustine inlet. On board the vessel were the Captain and three other individuals. 
  I interviewed the captain who informed me the vessel was heading east out of the inlet using sail and engine power when the engine had mechanical failure. The operator attempted to steer the vessel out of the inlet, however between the wind out of the Northeast and waves he ended up on the south end of the inlet over a shoal. The vessel grounded and became disabled due to the depth. Operator hailed Tow Boat U.S. and they were on scene in approximately 10 minutes.
  Tow Boat U.S. attempted to hook up to Vessel on as it bounced of the ground however after approximately Fifteen minutes of attempting to hook up, the vessel went hard aground and listed due to the keel digging into the sand. Tow Boat subsequently attempted to pull the vessel off the beach with no success. 
  Following the failed salvage attempt all occupants walked to shore at the north end of Anastasia state park where FWC and State Park Rangers provided assistance. 
  Based on my findings to date I have found the operator to have violated the following Navigational Rules
  Rule 5 Look-out
  Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.
  Rule 7 Risk of Collision
  (a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt such risk shall be deemed to exist. 
  