San Francisco Bay Yacht Search Called off Leaving 4 Sailors Missing after being hit by a Rogue Wave

A search for four sailors, missing since a powerful wave smashed into their boat that killed a fifth member of their crew, has been called off.

The Coast Guard yesterday launched a rescue mission near San Francisco and three people's lives were saved after being washed from the 38-foot Low Speed Chase.

They had been taking part in a yacht race from San Francisco Bay around the Farallon Islands when their craft ran aground.

Seas were running high at 10-12 feet when the Low Speed Chase was hit by a larger wave and the four were washed overboard, Coast Guard Petty Officer Levi Read said.

'They turned the boat around to go rescue those people and they got hit by another wave,' sending the boat onto rocks, he said.

It was the first known fatality in the 143-year history of the San Francisco Yacht Club, which managed the race for the Offshore Yacht Racing Association. Read More