One person is dead and five others were rescued after their boat drifted into the surf and broke apart near San Clemente Island during a sailboat race Friday night.<\/p>\n
Authorities said the crew issued a mayday call at around 9:30 p.m., after the sailboat\u2019s rudder failed and the boat began drifting toward San Clemente Island during the Islands Race.<\/p>\n
The crew initially said they didn’t need help and declined assistance from both the U.S. Coast Guard and other boaters involved in the race.<\/p>\n
The sailors attempted to anchor the vessel just after 11 p.m., however the anchor would not catch and the vessel drifted closer to the island.<\/p>\n
The boat entered the surf line and was broken apart by the waves, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel.<\/p>\n
A Coast Guard helicopter was called to assist.\u00a0 The crew hoisted the six sailors and brought them to Coast Guard Headquarters in San Diego.<\/p>\n
One of the sailboat crew members died in the wreck, but five others were taken to area hospitals.<\/p>\n
There was a small craft advisory in effect and the swells were about 8 feet.<\/p>\n