The capsized 121-foot mega yacht Love Bug was intentionally run into shallow waters near the Chesapeake Bay’s West River last week after it began taking on water. A witness on hand, Tim Hardman, who owns Tour Boat Annapolis, reported that he saw the yacht listing and as he got closer he could hear the high water alarms ringing.
“As we tried to figure out what part of the boat we were looking at, we realized it slowly started to list and lean over to one side,” Hardman said. “I would say within four to five minutes the boat was consumed and the captain had made the determination that they needed to abandon ship.”
A tow boat nearby was able to pull two survivors from the water and Hardman was able to rescue the captain who had jumped off the yacht’s stern.
Hardman asked the skipper if he intentionally ran the Love Bug aground and he replied that he was headed to the shallows to try to keep the yacht from sinking.
The Love Bug is usually based at the Annapolis Yacht Club and if often chartered. It still is lying on its side in shallow water as a salvage plan is worked out.
