Yacht is stuck on popular Outer Banks beach after running aground at 1 a.m., park says

One of the popular beaches along Cape Hatteras National Seashore is now sporting a 55-foot yacht as a tourist attraction.

Named the Vivens Aqua, the yacht ran aground overnight near the south end of Ocracoke Island in North Carolina, according to the National Park Service.

It is the latest in a series of vessels to become mired in the park’s shifting sands in recent months. However, most tend to be banged up fishing trawlers.

“The grounding occurred at approximately 1 a.m. (Jan. 25), according to the yacht’s owner,” the park said.

“The National Park Service is consulting with the U.S. Coast Guard and working with the owner to have the vessel removed from the beach.”

In a Jan. 28 update, NPS officials said efforts to pull yacht off the beach had been unsuccessful, and the owners had come up with a plan to drain the fuel.

“Once the fuel oil is removed and the vessel becomes lighter in weight, there may be an opportunity to refloat and tow it from the beach,” the park said.

“Cape Hatteras National Seashore will work together with U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina and the owner of the vessel to consider the most appropriate removal methods after the fuel oil is removed.”

Investigators did not say what caused the mishap, but experts say engine trouble is typically blamed for boats straying too close to shore.

It is the third vessel to run aground at the park since November, including the fishing vessel Jonathan Ryan and a 37-foot sail boat named the Alhambra, officials said. Both have been removed.

Among the best known vessels to ground at the park is the Ocean Pursuit, which became a tourist attraction after getting stuck in 2020 and remaining for more than a year.

It was removed in November after settling in the sand up to its deck. The vessel became so popular, the park had to put up signs telling visitors to stay out of its flooded cabins.

This story was originally published January 25, 2022 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Yacht is stuck on popular Outer Banks beach after running aground at 1 a.m., park says."