WEST, Philip

WEST, Philip (1924-1970)[SS#385-14-4104], Superior Court judge from Santa Barbara who was presumed drowned in the wreck of his sailboat at Anacapa Island on April 11. Also lost was Hugh Gallagher.

In the News~

April 14, 1970 [Desert Sun]: “High winds wreak havoc. Ventura — Gale force winds kicking up sea swells of 15 feet, ripped boats from their moorings Monday, including a 465-foot former cruise ship, and stranded boatmen off the Southern California coast. As winds gusts up to 60 knots an hour continued through the night, Coast Guard officials were still receiving reports of boats being washed ashore or carried out to sea. The 465-foot vessel La Janelle was blown aground near the entrance to the Channel Islands Harbor Marine with two persons aboard. The ship, anchored a half-mile off the Marina near Port Hueneme, tipped over in the huge breakers after a Navy helicopter lifted the two men to safety... Meanwhile the search for a Superior Court judge and prominent attorney missing since Saturday and presumed drowned continued off Anacapa Island. Judge Philip West and Hugh Gallagher were last seen in life jackets after West's 21-foot sailboat broke up on the rocks off the island 11 miles from the mainland...”