A broken anchor line reportedly caused a 72-foot sailboat to drift toward shore and run aground early yesterday off the Sheraton Waikíkí, state officials said.

The owner of the Momentum may try to free the sloop during today's 4 a.m. high tide, the state said.

The yacht ran aground at about 2:15 a.m. yesterday, 100 yards offshore at the surfing spot known as "Pops." The owner and two passengers swam ashore and were not injured.

Officials with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources spoke with the Momentum's owner yesterday afternoon and said he was awaiting word on which salvage company will be used in the attempt to move the vessel.

The owner told DLNR officials that he and the passengers were anchored off Waikíkí and were sleeping when the anchor line broke.

He said he woke up when he heard a thumping noise on the hull.

With moderate winds and waves of one to two feet, the Momentum was not in imminent danger of breaking up as it lay on its side in about 3 feet of water, DLNR officials said.

The boat owner has a temporary mooring permit in the Ala Wai small boat harbor, according to the officials.

PENCO Pacific Environmental Corp. was hired yesterday to remove any hazardous material from the vessel.

The company removed a portable fuel tank and some batteries, the DLNR said.