Rough Seas Beach Sailboat In Montecito

A sailboat named Siesta came to rest on the shore of Butterfly Beach this weekend.

“It was thrown up against the rocks that are down there and it would tip over into the ocean and come back up again,” said Delfina Mott of Montecito.

No one was on board when it ran aground on Saturday night.

“I feel very sorry for whoever the owners are for this boat,” Mott said. “It’s broken. It’s really in sad shape.”

Ryan Kelly with the Harbor Patrol said powerful winds and surf caused the vessel to snap loose from its anchor line.

Kelly said boaters need to watch the forecast closely this winter and make sure their boats are ready.

“If you have something out there in an unprotected anchorage, have sufficient ground tackle, monitor the conditions, and don’t leave it abandoned,” Kelly said.

The owner will have a few days to get the sailboat off of the beach.

Otherwise, the city will have to remove the boat before it breaks apart and they will try to recoup the expense from the owner.