LAND, WHOA! Crews try to save luxury sailboat from pounding waves (PHOTOS)

Gulf resident Russ Day became a temporary land-dweller Thursday when his 41-foot Morgan Out Island sailboat was beached on the Air Force side of the East Pass jetties.

While attempting to sail into the harbor late Thursday night, stiff winds and rough seas disoriented Day. Fighting the helm, he didn’t see the jetties, which he said are jet black and blend in with the open sea at night. He ended up veering off course and landing on the beach.

“Normally it’s my prime rule not to sail into and out of harbors at night,” Day said. “But I ended up getting in late and tried to get into the harbor to anchor for the night.”

Originally from New England, Day began sailing in 2005 when he bought his sailboat, valued at about $400,000.

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For more photos from the effort, click here.

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Having no ties to the area, Day sold his house in New England at the peak of the real estate market and left the comforts of home to set sail. His residence is now his boat, and he has been anchoring in the Destin harbor for about a year.

“For years I toyed around with the idea, and then everything came together,” Day said. “Everyone thinks I’m nuts, but they also seem to be a little bit jealous.”

While he lacks a few luxuries such as air conditioning, he has everything he needs on his boat. He said he plans to spend five years on the sea, sailing from place to place, anchoring in harbors that attract his interest.

“I liked Destin so much, I said I’d stay awhile,” Day said. “I might spend another winter here.”

Day’s plans to stay in Destin seemed set when after beaching he realized he could not afford to have Sea Tow pull him back into the water. But when the Log visited him on the beach, the crew of the Hired Gun was working for free to get the vessel ready to be pulled back out into the Gulf.

“It’s very important for all seamen to help anyone on the sea, because that might be you one day,” Captain Bill Waitzman of the Hired Gun said. “We’re gonna get him off the beach one way or another.”

Captain Waitzman said that the boat is ready to be pulled off the beach after his crew, including Mikey and Christian Myers, spent the better part of a day working. As soon as the tide and wind are right, he’ll drive the Hired Gun into the area and pull the sailboat back out into the Gulf.

“They’re out here out of the goodness of their hearts,” Day said. “Boaters stick together.”

The old sailboat, which Day said is “built like a tank,” did not sustain any damage despite his abrupt landing and spending some time on the beach. However, he said he plans to make some improvements, including purchasing a chart plotter that will pinpoint his location and an auto pilot that will enable him to leave the helm when he’s fatigued.

“As long as it has a happy ending – and I think it will – this will be healthy for me,” Day said. “It will get me to invest in some things to make sure this will never happen again.”