Island man swims from foundering lobster boat

PENOBSCOT BAY – A resident of Lasell Island, located south of Islesboro, swam to shore Tuesday night when his lobster boat sank.

The Coast Guard reported Thursday that Robert Kimball, 57, was unharmed. Bos’n Mate Jeremy Gourde said the Coast Guard did not learn of the incident until Wednesday night.

With the approaching storm, Kimball decided to move his 20-foot lobster boat to a more protected mooring in Gilkey Harbor between Islesboro and Seven-Hundred Acre Island, Gourde said. Kimball followed a friend’s boat to the harbor, but the friend lost sight of Kimball’s boat as they approached the harbor.

The friend stopped his boat and turned off the engine to listen for Kimball, and heard its engine fade away in the distance. The friend assumed Kimball decided to return to Lasell Island, where he lives, Gourde said.

The friend did not inquire about Kimball again.

In fact, Gourde said, Kimball turned off course to relocate some of his lobster traps to reduce the chance of their being lost in the storm. The boat then struck a ledge, began to take on water and finally sank.

Kimball swam to Lasell Island and returned to his home.

Kimball’s son was concerned about him, Gourde said, and reported him overdue to the Maine Marine Patrol on Wednesday evening. The Coast Guard used its 47-foot cutter and a helicopter to search the area at first light on Thursday, he said.

The caretaker of Lasell Island took a boat to the island Thursday morning and spotted Kimball walking around the shore at 7:35 a.m., Gourde said.

Mariners are required to report the sinking of a boat, Gourde said, particularly if a large quantity of fuel could be spilled, but no charges are expected to be filed against Kimball, he said.

“They’re going to try to salvage the boat,” he said.