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Team salvages sunken sailboat from canal in Lewes

Coast Guard rescues crew of four from boat in Delaware Bay that may have been hit by another vessel
Crews work to remove a sunken sailboat from the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal Sept. 25 in Lewes. NICK ROTH PHOTO
Ron MacArthur
September 25, 2023

A crew of personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard and Tow Boat US, and a dive team from New Jersey started salvage efforts Sept. 25 for a 52-foot sailboat that sank Sept. 22 in the middle of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. It was towed to Angler’s Marina, where work to remove it continued. 

The four-person crew of the Pegasus notified Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay that they had been hit by a vessel around 1 a.m., Sept. 22, and were taking on water. Coast Guard Station Cape May’s 45-foot response boat was already on duty and responded quickly to the distress call. There was a 4-foot gash on the port side of the boat. There is no report of what kind of vessel hit the boat.

The four crew members were rescued, taken ashore and treated for minor injuries. A crew from Tow Boat US began towing the sailboat during the start of the wind and waves from the outer bands of Tropical Storm Ophelia and got within close proximity to the marina when the boat rolled over and sank.

 

After a long day of work raising the Pegasus from the bottom of the canal, crews were able to get it out with a boat lift at Angler’s Marina. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
A large hole has been ripped in the port side side of the sailboat near showing there was some of impact with another vessel. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The rigging and sails are still on the deck of the Pegasus but they suffered major damage. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The fate of the Pegasus is in question because of the extensive damage. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
After raising some of the sailboat in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal using air-filled bladders Sept. 25, Tow Boat US crews slowly tow the destroyed boat to Angler’s Marina in Lewes. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The salvage operation in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal includes Coast Guard, Tow Boat US and a dive team. Work to raise the sunken boat began early Sept. 25. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Part of the sailboat begins to float to the surface as crews work underwater and on boats to raise it. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
Most of the sailboat has submerged below the canal waters as a large air-filled bladder helps crews tow it. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The work is slow, but it’s the best approach. Air-filled bladders slowly lift the sailboat out of the water. NICK ROTH PHOTO
The scene at Lewes Harbour Marina as crews work to remove a sunken sailboat from the canal. NICK ROTH PHOTO

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