Posted by on March 24, 2005 at 05:37:10:
In Reply to: Boat stolen from Santa Barbara habor, abandoned at Air Force base posted by on March 23, 2005 at 23:27:07:
Investigators continue their search for the person they say stole a million-dollar boat from the Santa Barbara Harbor early Wednesday morning.
While leaving the harbor, the "Conception," a 75-foot dive boat hit three other boats, including the "Slick Chick," which sunk. The Coast Guard located the boat just north of Point Arguello near Jalama Beach on Wednesday afternoon with no one inside and damage to the vessel unknown.
"Million bucks is gone or close to gone," says Sea Landing manager Chris Callahan. "We are keeping our fingers crossed that something is salvageable."
Larry Sisk, and experienced captain who has driven the "Conception," says that area of the coast is treacherous especially at night in rough seas on a boat with unfamiliar controls.
"You can't just steer the wheel," says Sisk. "You have to control both engines and reverse to turn in a tight area here."
An official with the Santa Barbara Police Department says someone was found trespassing on Vandenberg Air Force Base not far from where the "Conception" washed ashore, however it is unclear if he had anything to do with the stolen boat.