Stephen Tait
The Daily News of Newburyport
May 13, 2008 11:00 am
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The U.S. Coast Guard officially called off its search late last night for a missing lobsterman whose ship capsized off the Isle of Shoals. The search included local waters after debris from the ship washed up on Salisbury Beach yesterday.
Christopher Tobey of Kittery, Maine, who owned the 40-foot long Sav-a-buck, went missing sometime Sunday when his boat capsized with his 16-year-old son and 21-year-old crewman also aboard. The son and crewman both were able to swim to Duck Island, a part of the Isles of Shoals, where they spent the night.
Tobey didn't make it to the island, although Coast Guard officials believe all three were able to make it off the boat. Coast Guard crews made 13 searches in an area covering about 270 square miles in an attempt to find Tobey.
Two life preservers, a buoy from a lobster trap and a flotation device washed up on Salisbury Beach yesterday afternoon, prompting local authorities to search the beach for additional debris or even Tobey's body.
The Coast Guard is still investigating the cause of the accident.
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