U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Paige Hause.
HOUSTON — The Coast Guard assisted 13 boaters from sailing vessels in two separate cases near Freeport, Texas, Friday.
In the first case, Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report of a 46-foot sailing vessel, with a family of six along with a dog and cat aboard, taking on water approximately five miles south of Freeport.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a Coast Guard Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew and a Station Freeport Response Boat-Medium boat crew to the scene.
The Station Freeport boat crew arrived on scene, embarked the family and pets, and took the sailboat in tow. While towing the vessel back to Freeport, the flooding became progressive and the vessel sank. The vessel rests in approximately 33-feet of water two miles south of the Freeport jetty entrance. The Coast Guard has issued a safety marine information broadcast alerting mariners to the sunken vessel.
In the second case, Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report of a disabled 30-foot sailing vessel that lost its rudder and was unable to maneuver with seven people aboard, three of them children, approximately seven miles southwest of Freeport.
Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched a Station Freeport Response Boat-Medium boat crew to the scene. The Station Freeport boat crew arrived on scene and towed the vessel to Bridge Bait Marina.
-USCG-
