Bellingham man drowns in Blakely Island marina

Divers discovered the body of Donald Mierzeski, 42, at the bottom of the marina near where his 35-foot sailboat was moored. Mierzeski moored his sailboat at the marina in anticipation of the Saturday's annual "Round the County" sailboat race.

November 13, 2011 4:11 pm

A Bellingham man drowned after he went missing at a Blakely Island marina shortly before the start of Saturday’s countywide sailing race, according to local authorities.

Divers discovered the body of Donald Mierzeski, 42, at the bottom of the marina near where his 35-foot sailboat was moored. Mierzeski moored his sailboat at the marina in anticipation of the Saturday’s annual “Round the County” sailboat race. He was last seen walking the docks of the marina shortly after midnight, on Friday, according to San Juan County Sheriff Rob Nou.

Deputies searched the area of the marina without success in the predawn hours of Saturday. Mierzeski’s body was found by members of the Sheriff’s dive team Saturday, at about 3:30 p.m.