PORT TOWNSEND — A diver from Seattle’s Global Diving & Salvage patched a hole in a sunken vessel’s wooden hull so it could be dewatered as it was pulled from the water on Monday.
The Goldfinch was floated to the Port of Port Townsend Boat Yard, where it was hauled out by the port’s 300-ton Travelift.
The Goldfinch was sailing from Seattle to Anacortes when the sea became rough and its owner contacted the port. The Goldfinch was not taking on water at the time, but it sank within 20 minutes of tying up on Feb. 22.
Eron Berg, the port’s executive director, said it was likely the Goldfinch would be demolished after it spent 10 days in the salt water.
The captain and his feline first mate are safe and doing well, Berg said.