$1 Million Bail Set for Alleged Yacht Thieves: Two from Aptos

Bay City News Service

Three people who were arrested on Monday after being pulled from a stolen luxury sailboat that ran aground off the Pacifica coast are being held on $1.01 million bail, the district attorney said today.

The steep bail amount set for Leslie Gardner, 63, Dario Mora, 54 and Lisa Modawell, 56, was based on the value of the alleged stolen property, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

The 82-foot sailing vessel "Darling," was apparently made by British yacht manufacturers Oyster Yachts, and similar models are offered for sale by online boat merchants for between $2 million and $3 million.

The yacht thieves boarded the Darling and used the boat's keys which were left in the cabin to start the boat's engine and cruise away. It appeared that they had a party since authorities found the boat cabin littered with drained beer bottles and empty pizza boxes.

After the boat was recovered early Tuesday morning, it was discovered that among the damages were a cracked keel and a leak in the hull. The rudder on the boat also appeared to be damaged.

The 700-gallon diesel fuel tank also appears to have leaked a small amount of fuel into the water, according to Pacifica police. The amount was so small, Coast Guard officials told police, that it could not be recovered.

In an odd coincidence, Belmont Patch editor Joan Dentler took a photo of the yacht in Sausalito before the theft.

Additional reporting by Christa Bigue

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