Los Urrutias residents call for sunken yacht to be removed

The sailing boat has been lying just 20 metres from the shore for more than a week, blocking a passage residents created to reach the Mar Menor

For some residents of Los Urrutias, getting into the Mar Menor for a swim has become more difficult than it should be, with a small sailing boat now lying overturned just metres from the beach.

The sunken boat has reportedly been there for more than a week, coming to rest around 20 metres from the shoreline and directly across a narrow route used by residents to reach the water.

Locals created the passage themselves several years ago, gradually clearing a way through the seaweed, and now it provides the only practical access to the sea in this part of the beach. 

Residents have already tried to deal with the problem themselves, with around eight or ten people joining together to move the boat a few days ago. However, its position and weight meant they were unable to shift it and a more substantial removal operation appears to be needed.

The blockage is particularly difficult as many residents rely on this narrow route to reach the water because they cannot easily use other access points. The path has been maintained by the local residents over the years to give them a clear way through to the shore.

The Residents' Association has raised the issue with the authorities and says Capitanía Marítima has already issued an order for the boat to be removed. Despite this, the sailing boat was still in place when residents last reported the problem.

The incident comes after a difficult summer for bathing access in Los Urrutias. Emergency repairs were carried out on three of the town's five bathing platforms, while two at Punta Brava require more extensive work and are not expected to be addressed until 2027.

Residents are now pressing for the promised permanent bathing platforms to be installed, hoping to avoid another summer of delays and limited access to the Mar Menor.

Read also:! Los Alcázares Mayor speaks out against the proposed reform of the Mar Menor Protection Law

Image:C/C-B.N.Sanchez