Archive image: A U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew flies through the sky during training in Sand Key, Florida, August 13, 2025.
U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District units train regularly to stay “semper paratus” or always ready year round.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski.
CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew conducted the rescue of two sailors after their 30-foot sailing vessel became disabled approximately 40 nautical miles west of Tarpon Springs. Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
The boaters were in stable condition and safely transferred to Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater.
The MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew located the sailors on their de-masted sailing vessel in 4 to 6-foot seas and 20 knot winds at 4:49 a.m. The rescue helicopter aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer and hoisted both sailors.
A Coast Guard Southeast District watchstander received a distress notification at 3:24 a.m. and coordinated the launch of the Air Station Clearwater MH-60T Jayhawk MRR Helicopter aircrew.
“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 (SAR) 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 Coast Guard Southeast District watchstanders maintain a continuous watch and direct coordination with partner agencies to deploy Coast Guard assets at a moment’s notice for emergent search and rescue cases.
–USCG–
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