By Andy Boyle and Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writers
Thursday, August 26, 2010
REDINGTON BEACH — Authorities are trying to solve the mystery of the abandoned million-dollar yacht that ran aground.
The leads they were following on Thursday all pointed to Mexico.
The owner of the 48-foot yacht may be Arturo Millet Reyes of Mexico, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. He bought the vessel locally in 2008. Deputies said they were told the owner may have been taking the boat to Mexico.
But deputies are also following leads that the yacht was reported stolen from a marina somewhere near Yucatan, Mexico. Local authorities said they've been in touch with officials in Mexican about the boat.
The Sea Ray Sundancer was beached near 15648 Gulf Blvd. around noon Wednesday. Its motor was running and no one was aboard. Deputies searched the area, fearing someone might have fallen overboard.
The U.S. Coast Guard assisted, searching farther offshore. Wednesday's search was called off in the evening because of bad weather and darkness.
The yacht, Making Waves, is based in Jupiter and has an expired Florida registration. But it has current Delaware registration and U.S. documentation. A Mexican flag was flying at the bow, with a U.S. flag at the stern.
According to the Mexican newspaper Por Esto! (That's Why!), a 48-foot Sea Ray Sundancer was recently reported missing from a local marina. It was registered to Arturo Millet Reyes, the newspaper said. He may also be the president of the Mérida Fútbol Club, a professional soccer team which belongs to Liga de Ascenso, the second level of that nation's soccer league.
Deputies contacted the yacht's previous owner in Tampa, who told them he sold the boat to Reyes in 2008 and that he believed Reyes was taking it to Mexico.
But authorities have not found anyone who may have been onboard the boat.
Deputies will impound the yacht until the owner is found. They were waiting until the next high tide — at 1:27 p.m. Thursday — to move the boat.
Check tampabay.com for more updates.
Times researcher Natalie Watson contributed to this report. Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8472.
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