Coast Guard probing cause of tall ship’s sinking

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — The Coast Guard is investigating the sinking of a tall ship off the coast of North Carolina during Hurricane Sandy.

Rear Adm. Steven Ratti said Friday the review will focus on what caused the sinking of the HMS Bounty off Cape Hatteras.

One crew member died and the captain is missing after the ship went down Monday. The search for 63-year-old Robin Walbridge of St. Petersburg, Fla., was suspended late Thursday.

Claudene Christian, 42, died as the crew evacuated the ship. The investigation will also consider whether any failure of equipment or personnel contributed to her death.

The investigation is expected to take several months.

The ship was built for the 1962 film “Mutiny on the Bounty” starring Marlon Brando, and was featured in several other films.