Luxury yacht starts sinking with 2 aboard after impact off Florida coast, officials say

Two people were rescued from a sinking luxury yacht off the coast of north Florida over Memorial Day weekend, the Coast Guard said.

The 80-foot yacht hit an object and started taking on water about 3 miles from the beach of St. Augustine, according to a news release from the Coast Guard.

At around 11:30 a.m. on May 25, the operator of the yacht notified Coast Guard staff in Jacksonville of the incident and activated the emergency radio beacon to help direct rescuers, officials said.

Photos shared by the Coast Guard show the back half of the sleek yacht, the Atlantis, submerged beneath the water.

The St. Johns Sheriff’s Office and the St. Augustine Police Department sent out marine units, who rescued the two people from the yacht.

Coast Guard officials also issued an alert for boaters to be careful of the “partially submerged vessel,” which remained in the water off the coast.

The owner will arrange for the yacht to be salvaged, the agency said.

“With the weather improving and mariners heading out onto the water, it’s imperative for everyone to verify the presence of all necessary safety equipment aboard their vessel,” Senior Chief Petty Officer Ricardo Santacana said in the release. “This ensures that responders, as demonstrated in this case, can swiftly locate you and render assistance when an emergency arises.”

Officials are investigating how the incident occurred.

With the busy summer season approaching, the Coast Guard advises that boaters wear a personal flotation device, share their boating plan with others and carry a marine VHF radio.

St. Augustine is a 55-mile drive southeast from downtown Jacksonville.

This story was originally published May 28, 2024 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Luxury yacht starts sinking with 2 aboard after impact off Florida coast, officials say."