Stolen sailboat may be heading to the Caribbean

Sunday, January 18, 2004

CHARLESTON, USA: A 57-foot luxury sailboat stolen last week from a slip at Charleston's City Marina may be heading for the Bahamas or the Caribbean.

FBI Special Agent Robert Derr said someone reported seeing the $750,000 yacht near Hope Town on Elbow Cay in the Bahamas. That sighting hasn't been verified, but Derr didn't sound hopeful that it was the boat authorities are seeking.

"I think it's farther along than that by now," Derr said.

But he said that's about the best tip authorities have received so far.

"I don't know whether it's a real sighting or not," he said. "That's about the only sighting we've gotten so far."

The French-made Beneteau sailboat belongs to Atlanta physician Glen McIntosh, who bought the vessel one week before it disappeared the night of Jan. 7 or early Jan. 8. Investigators say they have few clues and no suspects.

The Coast Guard and Charleston Police Harbor Patrol searched for the yacht the day it was reported missing, but no trace was found. Investigators say they are almost certain the yacht, which has a 75-foot-tall mast and weighs more than 47,000 pounds, is on its way to the southern hemisphere.

Fishing and sailing charters have been asked to be on the lookout, advisories have been posted on sailing-related Web sites, ham-radio operators are spreading information about the boat's description, and reward posters are popping up all over the world.

"We'll just wait and see if anyone spots it," Derr said. "That's about all we can do."

The Beneteau 57 is a rare model and was the only one owned so far in North America. McIntosh's boat was the second hull of its class produced. Only 50 of the 57-foot class have been built. The blue-hulled boat with mahogany staterooms was featured prominently in several sailing publications when it arrived in Charleston in May.

Lt. J.E. Williams of the Charleston Police Department said the boat, which can travel as much as 250 miles a day, could be almost anywhere, but investigators are focusing on the Caribbean and Bahamas for now.

"The longer it doesn't show up, the farther away it could be," he said. "One theory is that it's on its way to Brazil or even farther south."

McIntosh's insurance company is offering a $10,000 reward for information that can help authorities locate the sailboat.  

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