San Diego man mourned after sailboat-race death

Crew members are mourning the death of a San Diego man killed over the weekend during a sailing race co-sponsored by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

Craig Thomas Williams, 36, was one of six crew members aboard the Uncontrollable Urge, a 32-foot vessel participating in the fourth annual Islands Race that began Friday in Long Beach and ended Saturday in San Diego.

The sailboat issued a distress call around 9 p.m. Friday after its rudder failed and the craft drifted toward the rocky shoreline of San Clemente Island, authorities said. Coast Guard officials said the Uncontrollable Urge was in small-craft-advisory weather, with 8-foot swells and 10-knot winds.

Initially, the crew turned down a rescue attempt by the Coast Guard or other boats in the race, but as waves pushed the craft closer to the island, the sailors were forced to abandon ship, officials said

Williams was found unresponsive in the water by Coast Guard rescue personnel. "He was recovered from the water and death was confirmed without medical intervention," the San Diego County medical examiner said.

The five other crew members were rescued, hoisted aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter that had been dispatched from the Coast Guard's San Diego station.

Body found in San Pedro's Sunken City

A woman who may have been fatally injured in a fall was found dead Sunday evening in the Sunken City area just east of Point Fermin in San Pedro, Los Angeles firefighters said. 

Rescuers received an emergency call about 5:20 p.m. and discovered the body after searching the site from the ground, air and water, said Erik Scott, a Fire Department spokesman.

Scott said the body was removed by helicopter, and police are investigating to determine whether there was foul play.

Coroner's officials said the identity of the woman will not be released until next of kin are notified.

The Sunken City is an old residential neighborhood that has collapsed into the sea because of unstable ground. It began slipping into the ocean in 1929 and was a point of interest for decades until it was fenced off for safety reasons.

-- Dan Weikel

Death during sailboat race leaves yacht club in mourning

A San Diego man died over the weekend during a sailing race co-sponsored by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, officials said.

Craig Thomas Williams, 36, was one of six crew members aboard the Uncontrollable Urge, a 32-foot vessel participating in the fourth annual Islands Race that began Friday in Long Beach and ended Saturday in San Diego.

The sailboat had issued a mayday call around 9 p.m. Friday as its rudder failed and the craft drifted toward the rocky shoreline of San Clemente Island. Initially the sailors turned down a rescue attempt by the Coast Guard or other boats in the race, but as waves pushed the craft closer to the island, the sailors were forced to abandon ship.

Williams was found unresponsive in the water by Coast Guard rescue personnel. "He was recovered from the water and death was confirmed without medical intervention," the San Diego County medical examiner said.

Five other crew members were rescued. The survivors were hoisted aboard the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter which had been dispatched from the Coast Guard's San Diego station.

Coast Guard officials said the Uncontrollable Urge was in small-craft advisory weather containing 8-foot swells and 10-knot winds.

The Islands Race route is 139 nautical miles and rounds both San Clemente and Catalina islands. The San Diego Yacht Club co-sponsors the race with the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

The Uncontrollable Urge, owned and skippered by James Gilmore, was from the Silver Gate Yacht Club in San Diego, according to the San Diego Yacht Club's website.

San Diego man killed in sailboat accident off San Clemente Island

Craig Thomas Williams, 36, of San Diego, was killed in the crash of a 32-foot sailboat onto the rocky shoreline of San Clemente Island, the San Diego County medical examiner said Saturday.

Williams was found unresponsive in the water by Coast Guard rescue personnel. "He was recovered from the water and death was confirmed without medical intervention," the medical examiner said.

Four other crew members were rescued. Their boat, the Uncontrollable Urge, was taking part in the Islands Race hosted by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club.

The sailboat had issued a mayday call about 9:30 p.m. Friday as the boat's rudder failed and the craft began drifting toward the rocky shore of the island. Initially the sailors declined assistance from the Coast Guard and other boaters.

But about 11 p.m., as the sailors attempted to anchor the vessel, its anchor would not catch, and the vessel drifted even closer to shore. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter from San Diego and the cutter Edisto was diverted to the scene.

Finally, the sailboat entered the surf line and was broken apart by waves, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. Six sailors were hoisted into the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and taken to a hospital, where one man was pronounced dead, the Coast Guard said.

The accident occurred amid 8-foot swells and 10-knot winds.

--Tony Perry in San Diego

One dead, five rescued in San Clemente Island sailboat accident

One person is dead and five others were rescued after a sailboat accident at San Clemente Island during a sailing contest called the Islands Race, the Coast Guard said Saturday.

The 30-foot sailboat Uncontrollable Urge issued a mayday call about 9:30 p.m. Friday as the boat's rudder failed and the craft began drifting toward the rocky shore of the island. Initially the sailors declined assistance from the Coast Guard and other boaters.

But about 11 p.m., as the sailors attempted to anchor the vessel, its anchor would not catch and the vessel drifted even closer to shore. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter from San Diego and the cutter Edisto was diverted to the scene.

Finally, the sailboat entered the surf line and was broken apart by waves, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. Six sailors were hoisted into the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and taken to a hospital where one man was pronounced dead, the Coast Guard said.

The accident occurred amid eight-foot swells and 10-knot winds.

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Video credit: U.S. Coast Guard

Coastal panel rejects Navy plan to increase underwater explosions

The California Coastal Commission voted Friday to reject the Navy’s plan for increased use of sonar and underwater explosions as part of increased training and testing off the coast.

The Navy requested that the commission find the plan consistent with the Coastal Commission’s charge to protect the coast and the offshore area, but it was opposed by several environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Greenpeace.

Michael Jasny, senior policy analyst and director of the marine mammal project at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the Navy’s plans would disrupt the foraging and breeding of whales and kill many of the mammals. Jasny also criticized the Navy for refusing, in the past, to follow mitigation suggestions from the Coastal Commission.

Commission members blasted the Navy for purportedly providing shoddy science to support its view that the damage to marine mammals will be marginal. Members were also upset that Navy officials, in advance of the vote, said the Navy did not plan to follow the mitigation measures suggested by Coastal Commission staff members such as putting certain areas off-limits to training.

Commission member Dayna Bochco said the Navy’s plan “seems like an extraordinary increase [in sonar and other training] when we’re at peace, in most places.” Commission member Martha McClure, a supervisor from Del Norte County, said the Navy “needs to understand the importance of the California coast in relationship to the entire world.”

Boat with drugs crashes on beach near Vandenberg AFB

Authorities on Thursday were investigating the crash of a boat loaded with narcotics on a beach near Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Base officials said they would release more information shortly about the crash, which reportedly occurred just north of Wall Beach.

It was not immediately clear if there were any injuries or arrests.

But authorities said Vandenberg officials had "secured the area" and were continuing to investigate and "search for potential suspects."

Officials did not discuss the quantity or type of narcotics found on the craft. Base personnel were told to avoid the area and contact base security right away if they see suspicious people or activity.

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Now beach bonfires could be restricted statewide

This post has been corrected. See note at bottom for details.

The flames may have been turned up higher in the debate over whether dozens of fire rings – nostalgic to some, bothersome to others – should be removed from two popular beaches in Balboa and Corona del Mar.

While the California Coastal Commission agreed Wednesday to delay its vote on the fate of the fire rings, state air quality officials indicated that they will take up the bonfire issue later this spring as part of a debate that could affect the future on beach bonfires along the entire California coastline.

Residents in Newport Beach, with the support of the city, said the fire pits have become a public nuisance and that the smoke billowing from the beach campfires can be choking.

But Coastal Commission staffers have recommended keeping the fire rings, which they see as a free attraction for beach goes and a symbol of full public access. Some commissioners on Wednesday seemed to reject the city’s proposal to install volleyball courts, playgrounds and covered picnic areas as a tradeoff.

“This is really a way of controlling the public,” said Commissioner Esther Sanchez. “The suggestions that have been made about what kind of recreation activities that could be put in place are really geared toward local residents.”

The debate over beach fires, though, may be on the cusp of going statewide.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District said this week that it will meet in May to consider whether fire rings should be more heavily restricted.

State delays fate of Newport Beach fire rings

Newport Beach residents who are holding their breath about the fate of the city’s beach fire rings will have to wait a bit longer to exhale.

The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to put off a decision on the city’s application for a permit to remove its 60 fire rings at Corona del Mar State Beach and around the Balboa Pier.

The delay was requested after it came to light that the South Coast Air Quality Management District will consider whether fire rings should be more heavily restricted in May.

“We don’t want to get at odds with public health, even if it’s at odds with access,” commission Chairwoman Mary Shallenberger said of the commission’s sister agency.

Although a staff report recommends that the commission reject the city’s application because the removal of the fire rings would eliminate a free form of recreation, thus limiting public access to the beach, the city has contended that smoke from the rings poses a significant public health risk.

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-- Jill Cowan, from San Diego

Photo: A beachgoer tends to the blaze in one of the fire rings at Big Corona  in Newport Beach. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Coastal Commission to decide fate of Newport Beach fire rings

The California Coastal Commission is expected to vote Wednesday on whether Newport Beach may remove the fire rings where generations of beachgoers have held summer barbecues.

The city's request was prompted by complaints from nearby homeowners about smoke wafting from the concrete rings, which they say is unhealthy, especially for those with respiratory problems.

An online petition to save the rings has drawn nearly 6,000 signatures, including from some who cited memories of the rings dating to the late 1940s and early 1950s, when they were installed.

Newport Beach has 33 fire rings near Balboa Pier and 27 at Corona del Mar State Beach.

The commission's staff has filed a report recommending that the rings stay in place.

The panel's meeting is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. at the Bahia Resort Hotel in San Diego, and is to be viewable live on the commission's website.

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Photo: James Hughes adds fuel to a blaze in a fire ring at Corona del Mar State Beach. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times