UPDATE from Maui News.

"The commercial sailing catamaran Kiele V was about one mile offshore of Kahana Beach..."

"...back right side of the boat was submerged and sinking when the Teralani arrived...passengers wearing life vests were huddled on the opposite end of the boat..."

"...windy and rough conditions may have contributed to the mast breaking."

"The wind was just blowing out there, and that may have been too much for the sail."

My house is about a quarter mile up from Kaanapali Beach. We were seeing gusts into the 30s yesterday. If the cat was a mile offshore from Kahana then they were out beyond the windline and into the tradewinds. I doubt they were that far north but it was still pretty windy at Kaanapali.