Hello everyone! Imagine being out for a peaceful day on the water, only to find yourself in a dramatic rescue operation. This past Saturday, a superyacht named Lovebug capsized in the Chesapeake Bay near Washington, DC, sending its passengers plunging into the water. Let’s dive into the details of this incredible story!
It was around 12:30 p.m. when the 122-foot vessel started taking on water near Edgewater, Maryland. Witnesses and police informed CBS Baltimore that the Lovebug, a luxurious $8 million yacht, began to list and lean to one side. This isn’t just any boat, folks. The Lovebug docks at the Annapolis Yacht Club and costs a whopping $125,000 to charter per week!
Trevor Hardman, who works at Boat Annapolis, was nearby and witnessed the unfolding drama. “It slowly started to list and lean over to one side,” Hardman said. Within minutes, the yacht was consumed by water, prompting the captain to make the critical decision to abandon ship.
All five people onboard, whose identities remain undisclosed, had to jump into the water. Hardman, quick to act, radioed for help as the passengers leaped from the stern of the vessel. First responders swiftly arrived, pulling everyone to safety without any major injuries. One person did complain of head soreness but declined to go to the hospital.
Now, let’s talk about the captain. He was utterly baffled by what caused the yacht to capsize. In his conversation with Hardman, the captain denied running aground and confirmed they were taking on water. For a yacht of that size, it’s equipped with alarms to alert if there’s water inside. So, what went wrong?
Authorities are now investigating the cause of this nautical mishap. Cpl. Christopher Neville of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police emphasized the importance of salvaging the vessel to uncover clues about the incident. “The biggest thing now is just to get the vessel salvaged so that we can hopefully get some clues as to what happened,” he said.
The Lovebug, an Italian-made yacht previously named Anastasia M, features jet ski storage, a small pool, and can host 11 guests and seven crew members.
After it capsized, first responders set up barriers around the yacht to prevent a potential fuel leak, though authorities don’t believe any fuel spilled.
This could have been a lot worse, folks. Thanks to the calm and clear communication of everyone involved, the situation was handled efficiently. Trevor Hardman, the hero of the day, credited the successful rescue to the composed actions of the crew and first responders.
What a day on the water, right? This incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of the sea and the importance of staying calm in emergencies.
