Sailboat Found Adrift With No One Aboard

A 34-foot sailboat, apparently stolen from its dock in Long Beach, was found adrift with no one aboard near San Clemente Island on Tuesday, and the Coast Guard will continue searching today for one or more boaters who might have fallen overboard.

The owner of the boat, Thure Gustafson, 37, of Los Angeles, said Tuesday night that he last sailed on the Kristin on Sunday and that he had given no one permission to take his boat.

“Unfortunately, sailboats are fairly easy to get on board, and other than that I have no idea” how it was stolen, he said. “I’m anxious to see the boat. . . . Until I see something, I’m stumped.”

According to the Coast Guard, the boat was found 12 miles west of the north end of the island by a routine Navy patrol about 4:30 p.m. in waters that are restricted because the island is Navy property.

No Distress Call Heard

Coast Guard Petty Officer Leo Kay said the Navy sent an inflatable boat to investigate and found no one aboard. No distress call had been heard, he said.

The Coast Guard searched a 420-square-mile area between San Clemente Island and Catalina Island with a jet and helicopter until darkness fell. The search was continued by three Navy helicopters and one Navy jet until about 8:30 p.m., a Coast Guard spokesman said.

Gustafson’s boat was towed by the Navy to the island’s ordnance pier, Kay said.

Gustafson said the Coast Guard at first was unable to reach him. “When the Coast Guard called I wasn’t here,” he said. “They thought I was on it.”

He was told the boat is in good condition and shows no damage to indicate problems at sea. Gustafson said the Coast Guard believes that whoever took the boat either set it adrift or was knocked overboard.

It was not known what course the boat was on or how many people were aboard, the Coast Guard said.