NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — An independent review concludes there likely was an inadequate lookout aboard a yacht that crashed into an island during a California-to-Mexico race, killing four sailors.
The sailing organization US Sailing released a report on Tuesday that concluded the Aegean was on autopilot when it passed a GPS waypoint and ran straight into the tip of North Coronado Island off the Mexican coast before dawn on April 28. The ship broke up.
The 37-foot yacht was taking part in the annual Newport to Ensenada Race. The accident killed the captain, Theo Mavromatis, and three crewmembers. They were the first deaths in the race’s 65-year history.
The report was criticized by a daughter of the captain. Anna Mavromati tells the Orange County Register (http://bit.ly/StpLWX) that she doesn’t think its claims are supported.
