Refurbished yacht sinks on owner's birthday

May 15 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

A YACHT worth £40,000 that had just been refurbished sank on its owner’s 60th birthday.

Trevor Shirley, from Warrington, had spent the winter refitting the yacht, Hindsight, to a “gleaming” condition.

He launched the yacht on Friday from Beaumaris and sailed in the Puffin Island area before mooring her opposite the Gazelle hotel in Menai Strait.

As a birthday treat Mr Shirley and his wife were staying at the hotel where the boat could be seen in all her glory.

Hotel owner Mary Brain said: “It was launched on Friday and must have gone down on Saturday night or Sunday morning.

“The couple were devastated when they realised that the mast sticking out of the water was the vessel that was their pride and joy.”

A salvage team from Beaumaris Marine Services were able to pump the water out of the boat’s hull and are hoping to refloat her on the next high tide.