Storm Forces 42-foot Schooner to Wreck on Drakes Beach

Date: October 20, 2004
Contact: John Dell'Osso, 415-464-5135

Yesterday’s massive southern storm caused a 42-foot Alden Schooner to wreck on Drakes Beach within Point Reyes National Seashore. Heavy rains and strong winds up to 60 mph forced the vessel to be tossed on to the beach yesterday morning. The vessel, Sunshine, is now stranded on the upper beach near the Drakes Beach Visitor Center. The vessel’s home port is Bodega Bay, California and according to reports was on its way to Florida.

Park rangers and salvage specialists are now removing approximately 60 gallons of diesel fuel. Today Parker Dive Salvage specialists are on scene recommending to the owner and the Park Service on how to remove the vessel. The vessel may have a cracked hull and removing it from the beach is estimated at $35,000. Costs from the removal will be billed to the owner of the vessel. The vessel was not insured.

This is the fourth vessel to strand on National Seashore beaches in the last four months. Drakes Beach receives 300,000 visitors annually and is considered one of the park’s most scenic areas. Point Reyes National Seashore receives approximately 2.5 million visitors per year.

-NPS-