Firefly dismasted

 
Firefly, the 45′ Chuck Paine-designed, Morris Yachts-built racer cruiser lost its mast in a squall about 50 miles east of St. Augustine, Fla. The accident occurred at on Friday May 19 at about 9:30 PM EST. Aboard the vessel were Cuyler Morris, president of Morris Yachts, his wife Cindy, and three children, Sophie, Thomas and Sam. An unidentified female crew member was also aboard the yacht. The crew quickly cut away the rig and headed for St. Augustine under power. There were no injuries and all aboard are safely ashore in Florida.

This accident follows a string of weather-related sailing casualties over the last week that included the loss of the sailing vessel Flying Colours after an extensive Coast Guard search.

By Ocean Navigator