Three dead, one missing in yacht race

LOS ANGELES - Agence France-Presse

AP Photo

Three people were dead and one missing after a US sailboat taking part in a race apparently sank off the coast of Southern California, officials said.

The US Coast Guard said rescuers from the United States and Mexico were searching for the last remaining crew member from the yacht that was reported missing early Saturday near Mexico's Coronado Islands.

"Three other crewmembers from the vessel were found deceased Saturday afternoon," the Coast Guard said in a statement. "One was recovered by a Coast Guard helicopter crew and two others by a civilian crew." The Aegean was taking part in a race from Newport, California, to Ensenada, Mexico.
 
Debris from the yacht was reported in the vicinity of the Coronado Islands.

The Newport Ocean Sailing Association said in a statement that "it appeared the damage was inflicted by a collision with a ship much larger than the 37-foot vessel." The cause of the incident will be investigated, the Coast Guard said.