Two injured when mast breaks on 127-foot charter schooner

The Coast Guard assists passengers and crew of the 127-foot double-masted charter sailing vessel Zodiac, Sept. 25. Its main mast broke in half, injuring two passengers. - Richard Walker
Richard Walker
The Coast Guard assists passengers and crew of the 127-foot double-masted charter sailing vessel Zodiac, Sept. 25. Its main mast broke in half, injuring two passengers.

September 28, 2010 · Updated 6:45 AM 

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Two people were injured when the main mast broke on the 127-foot charter sailing vessel Zodiac, Sept. 25.

The double-masted schooner was sailing in the strait between Orcas and Lummi islands when its main mast broke in half. Coast Guard Station Bellingham responded to the scene with two 33-foot response boats, along with an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, Wash.

One passenger received a concussion; the other passenger had an injured arm. The injured passengers were transferred to one of the Coast Guard boats and transported to Gooseberry Point, where they were met by awaiting emergency medical services. The remaining passengers were transferred to a nearby Good Samaritan boat, which took them directly to Bellingham Bay.

The incident occurred at about 2 p.m. The cause was not known Sept. 27.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Terrapin towed the Zodiac to Bellingham Bay. A Coast Guard vessel inspector and marine casualty investigator were dispatched from Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, Wash.

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