On 05/03/2023 I, Game Warden with the GA Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division (GA DNR LED) was notified by Game Warden about a boating incident that occurred off St. Catherine sound on 05/02/2023.

     Contact information was given to me from Game Warden who got the information from Coast Guard sector Charleston. I called, and interviewed him on 05/03/2023 to gather information on what happened leading up to the vessel sinking. Operator1 said he and his fiancé were 2.5 miles from shore near buoy #7 in St. Catherine Sound. 

They were traveling down the coast from New England. He was operating his vessel from the upper level when he noticed the boat was struggling to move forward. When he looked down at the main deck, he noticed the vessel was taking on water. Operator1 called mayday to the Coast Guard before deploying the emergency dingy. 

Operator1 put on his life jacket after realizing the boat was sinking.  Coast Guard responded via helicopter. and Game Warden arrived to rescue both persons, and the pet dog. Operator1 described the weather as seas 2-6 ft and winds from 15-25 mph. The vessel he was operating was a 2014 Aquila catamaran that was 48 feet named Pisces. It had two inboard engines that produced a total hp of 660. 

The estimated speed before the boat sank was less than 10 mph. Operator1 refused to provide insurance policy number and did not know the vessel document number. Operator1 said that the vessel was totaled, and he estimated damage was $500,000. 

     On 5/8/2023 I spoke with the other occupant on board the vessel. Occupant said they were heading into the channel to anchor for the day. She was on the upper deck when she heard an alarm go off. When she looked down at the main deck, she could see water getting into the vessel. Operator1 called mayday on a Garmin device to the Coast Guard. Occupant who was already wearing her life jacket tried to enter the emergency dingy. She said they waited for approximately, 20-25 minutes for the Coast Guard to arrive. Occupant said the weather was windy and high waves. While trying to get in the dingy it flipped over onto her striking her back. The force from the dingy hitting her caused 5 broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Occupant was admitted into the hospital for three days.
Saint Catherine's Sound
RICEBORO                      