By Andy Boyle, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 30, 2010
REDINGTON BEACH — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has verified with Mexican authorities that the abandoned yacht found Wednesday was the same one reported stolen from a Cancun marina.
The vessel, called Makin Waves, was stolen Aug. 21. It came ashore Wednesday afternoon with its motor running but no passengers.
The 48-foot yacht, a Sea Ray Sundancer, sells for about $1 million new.
Detectives searched the boat with drug dogs and found no evidence that the yacht was used for criminal activity, deputies said.
The yacht has been impounded since it was freed late Thursday. The owner, Arturo Millet Reyes, has been in touch with sheriff's deputies via e-mail. Mexican authorities are actively investigating the theft, but Pinellas officials say they have closed their case.