News - Local News

POSTED: Monday, Jun. 08, 2009

Rudder of capsized sailboat found near Little Squalicum Beach

The rudder of a sailboat that capsized in a sudden windstorm last week, apparently killing two Whatcom County men, was found Sunday afternoon, June 7, near Little Squalicum Beach.

A friend of the missing men, identified as Sean Mansfield of Maple Falls and Gunther Frank of Bellingham, found the rudder while searching the beach, said Hollie Huthman, a friend Frank's.

The sailboat capsized near Chuckanut Bay shortly after midnight Friday morning, and was found beached south of Post Point that morning.

The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office declared the men missing and presumed drowned Friday, although friends continue to search, Huthman said.

The friend who found the rudder had worked on the boat and recognized it when he saw it, Huthman said. He was searching in that stretch of beach because it's known as an area where debris from the bay washes up, Huthman said.

The find was reported to a sheriff's deputy who was in the area checking for car break-ins, and friends combed more stretches of beach until the tide came in Sunday evening, Huthman said.