Police

Coast Guard: Dead boater’s sailboat sank in the Sound

Emergency responders at Iron Pier Beach in Northville on Sunday. (Credit: Grant Parpan)
Emergency responders at Iron Pier Beach in Northville on Sunday. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

The day after the body of a Selden man was found in the Long Island Sound, a Coast Guard spokesman said that the sailboat he was on has been considered sunk.

“The vessel is listed as being sunken,” said petty officer Frank Iannazzo-Simmons, of Coast Guard sector New York out of Battery Park. “There have been no reports of debris or pollution in the area as well.”

Ciro Stellges, 59, was found shortly after 8 a.m. Monday after he called for help early Sunday afternoon, saying at the time that his boat was taking on water. Shipping off from Mattituck in his 26-foot fiberglass sailboat, “MAC,” Mr. Stellges was at first believed to have been close to Wading River Beach, though authorities later shifted their search area to the Jamesport-Mattituck area.

After a 19-hour search, Mr. Stellges’ body was found just east of Mattituck Inlet. He was wearing a life jacket when he was found, officials said. A cause of death will not be released to the public through the county’s Medical Examiner’s Office, according to a spokeswoman.

Mr. Iannazo-Simmons said on Tuesday morning that there is no longer an active search for the MAC, as it has been considered sunken. However, if anyone notices anything that may prove helpful to authorities, he suggested that they call the Long Island Sound Coast Guard office at: 203-468-4401.