A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew rescued two boaters yesterday, after their 30-foot sailing vessel became disabled approximately 40 miles west of Tarpon Springs.
The boaters were in stable condition and safely transferred to Air Station Clearwater.
The aircrew located the boaters on their de-masted sailing vessel in 4 to 6-foot seas and 20 knot winds at 4:49 a.m. The crew deployed a rescue swimmer and hoisted both boaters.
A Coast Guard Southeast District watchstander received a distress notification at 3:24 a.m. and coordinated the launch of the helicopter crew.
“The distress alert was vital in providing us critical information to rapidly deploy a helicopter crew to assist,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Aybar, a search and rescue controller at Southeast District command center. “Having reliable communication equipment and necessary safety equipment can make all the difference when seconds matter on the water.”
The owner is coordinating the vessel’s recovery with commercial salvage and the cause of the de-masting is unknown.
The original announcement can be found here.