Jacksonville, Florida – This is something you rarely see on Jacksonville Beach. A large wrecked sailing ship is stranded on a sandy beach.
The scene over the past 24 hours has reminded beachgoers and even boat owners of the TV show “Gilligan’s Island.”
The sailboat’s owner, Luke Rehberg, told News4JAX on Tuesday that he lives on the vessel and that it was involved in a series of incidents that led to it running aground.
Rehberg said boats were floating off the coast last weekend to watch the sky and sea show. However, the anchor broke, the engine failed, and the waves pushed the ship onto the beach.
“Engine failure. After the engine failed, I was anchored and it broke. I lost the anchor and the whole setup for it and slowly drifted ashore here on the beach,” he said.
Rehberg said he’s been sailing most of his life, but this is the first time he’s ever been in a situation like this, one he can look back on and joke about. He even introduced himself as “Gillian” on a “three-day tour.”
“It’s a beautiful boat, but I don’t want to see it run aground like that,” said Timothy, who was visiting from Boston.
“It’s something you don’t normally see here,” said Jacks Beach resident Lisa Maurer. “Not at all. It’s sad, but also beautiful.”
Higher tides may free boats from the sand, but they could also make things worse.
Even if the sailboat were to escape, the owner fears damage to the rear of the vessel could cause it to flood.
“When the rudder and driveshaft are pulled out, all those seals are broken, so we have to be ready to take in water quickly,” Rehberg said.
If that happens, the ship will begin to sink and there is a risk that your home will be submerged at sea.
Rehberg estimated damage to the boat at about $10,000. He also estimated that removing the boat would cost about $10,000.
Basically, a fun weekend at the beach turned into an unexpected and expensive situation.
WJXT News4JAX Copyright 2023 – All rights reserved.
