Sinking sailboat ‘secured’ near Penetanguishene’s Discovery Harbour

Emergency crews respond to a sinking sailboat near Discovery Harbour in Penetanguishene, Ont., on Fri., May 15, 2026. (Source: Town of Penetanguishene/Facebook)

The Town of Penetanguishene and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) provided updates on Friday about a marine incident near Discovery Harbour.

In a Friday social media post, the town advised that the CCG, Penetanguishene Fire Department, the OPP and the County of Simcoe were all part of a coordinated response to the incident.

The CCG confirmed to CTV News it responded to a report of a sunken sailboat near the harbour and ‘no visible pollution was spotted’ after an aerial assessment of the area.

“We recognize that some members of the public have raised questions about the response,” said the Town of Penetanguishene in its social media post. “Situations involving vessels in the water fall under federal jurisdiction, and the Canadian Coast Guard is playing a lead role in managing marine safety, environmental protection, and vessel removal. The Town’s role is to support this coordinated response and help ensure community safety.”

The town confirmed that the vessel has been secured and the CCG installed lighting to keep it visible overnight.

More removal operations are expected to continue on Saturday and the town says protection measures are in place along the shoreline to mitigate potential contamination.

“We also want to reaffirm that the health, safety, and well-being of the individual involved remains a top priority,” continued the town. “Appropriate supports continue to be provided, and first responders are ensuring they receive the care and assistance required.”

The occupant has reportedly been living aboard the sailboat possibly since the summer of 2024.