John Wayne s former yacht, the Norwester, is slowly sinking near San Juan Islands
The vessel sustained damage to its hull in mid-April. The owner is now working to salvage the vessel. Author: KING 5 Staff Updated: 8:49 PM MDT May 10, 2021
SAN JUAN COUNTY, Wash. A historic yacht, which saw service in World War II and was later owned by John Wayne, has sunk in Washington s San Juan Islands.
On April 17, the 76-foot
Norwester sustained heavy damage to hull when it struck submerged rocks near Prevost Harbor on Stuart Island, Coast Guard officials said. The eight people on board were rescued. It would later be determined that there was in a fact a one-foot-by-four-foot hole in the hull, said Petty Officer Michael Clark of the U.S. Coast Guard. Water pumps aboard the vessel were unable to keep up with the flooding.