Sailboat Knocks Out Power In Florida Keys

KEY WEST, FL -- A sailboat knocked out power to all 28,000 customers of Keys Energy Services for nearly two hours late Tuesday afternoon, according to utility officials.

"Say hello to the sailboat that triggered the system-wide outage today at 5:04 p.m.," utility officials said in posting a photo of the sailboat on social media. "The boat was cleared from the lines and power restored to all affected customers by 6:47 p.m."

The sailboat struck the power lines 12 miles south of Tavernier, according to the utility.

The utility imports nearly all of its power supply but has the capability to activate local generation as an emergency back-up.

"Local generation did not need to be utilized," officials said.

Florida Keys Electric Co-Op crews worked to clear the sailboat from the lines.

Keys services customers from from Key West to the Seven-Mile Bridge.

"The perils of powering paradise," utility officials added in describing the sailboat incident on social media.