Yacht Mooring In Madison Receives Severe Damage From Large Waves

MADISON, CT — A full-keeled sailboat that had recently arrived from Barbados and was moored on an 800-pound seasonal mooring adjacent to Tuxis Island in Madison experienced severe damage after large waves impacted the anchor.

Steve Adkins, Madison’s Harbormaster, said on Aug. 24, Island Magic, the sailboat from Barbados, was checked at 1500 hours by a competent fellow sailor who provided photographs for the owner in Maine with Family.

During the night, winds increased to the expected 20 to 25 miles per hour from the south with large waves impacting the anchorage, which is exposed to the south with a 15-mile fetch to Long Island, Adkins said.

Sometime between midnight and 2 a.m., Adkins said a very large set of waves caused the yacht's bow to dive blow the pennants, fouling them on the two anchors on their bow rollers.

Sharp edges of the anchors caused extreme chafe, which parted the pennants separating Island Magic from the mooring. A strong incoming tide was running, which propelled the boat slightly westward, ultimately grounding at West Warf, directly in front of the Hotel, Adkins said.

Adkins said a guest and his wife noted the boat at 2 a.m. on the rocks near the West Warf Stone pier.

An early riser posted a picture on Friday at about 6 a.m. Adkins said he was shortly on the scene.

Large waves pounded the boat, and she was down by the bow, indicating water intrusion. Given her swamped condition and the large waves, Adkins said, rescue opportunity had passed.

Sea Tow completed recovery by Sunday, Aug. 27. The yacht was refloated by airbags and towed to Pilot’s Point South in Westbrook and hauled, showing severe damage and the loss of 90 percent of her keel, exposing the underside and interior systems, Adkins said.

As the pennants were severed very close to the soft barrel, Adkins said he was perplexed until they consulted with professionals who said it definitely chafe, which led them to match up the pennants with the anchors they matched to the chafe points, Adkins said.

This is an unfortunate end to a beautiful yacht, Adkins said.

Adkins said they’ll advise Madison boat owners that bow anchors should be removed while in Madison Harbor on a mooring.