A sailboat has broken away from its anchor off the coast of Santa Barbara and come ashore in Montecito, marking the second such incident in a week. The vessel, named ‘Riches to Rags’, was spotted on the western end of Butterfly Beach, where another sailboat had drifted to the shore just a week prior.
The Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol responded to the scene, and the Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the non-profit Heal the Ocean have also been alerted. The boat could pose a maritime and environmental hazard if it breaks up on the rocks and releases debris and fluids, including diesel fuel and oil, into the ocean.
The owner of the boat could face a fine for violating regulations. It is unclear at this point whether the owner has insurance or a plan to retrieve the vessel.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
