Dozens of onlookers gathered Friday, September 2 near Point Independence to watch a crew dig out a boat that was ripped from its mooring and ran aground during Tropical Storm Irene.

One of the onlookers was the owner of the 43-foot yacht, Dennis Dexter of Onset, who was in good spirits despite the situation.

“It could have been worse,” he said. “There doesn’t look like there’s too much damage.”

Dexter said local marinas told him it was too late to remove the boat when he called three days prior to the storm’s arrival.

Dexter estimated it would cost $5,000 to get the boat off the beach. He said he plans to see if his insurance company will cover it.