Coast Guard rescue man from sailboat 200 miles southeast of New Jersey

Coast Guard aircrews rescue man from sailboat 200 miles southeast of New Jersey. MH-60 Jayhawk Air Station Elizabeth City. — Archive image: a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter sits at Air Station Elizabeth City in preparation for Hurricane Dorian Response, Sept. 5, 2019. The aircraft must be thoroughly checked and maintained before enduring the harsh conditions of a hurricane.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald Hodges.

Cape May, N.J. — The Coast Guard rescued a man from a sailboat approximately 200 miles southeast of Cape May, New Jersey, Friday evening.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay’s command center were notified by a crewmember on the tanker vessel Hellas Poseidon at 5:15 p.m., via satellite phone, that they overheard a distress call on VHF-FM radio channel 16. After seeing black smoke approximately two miles from their location, the crew of the Hellas Poseidon quickly located the disabled 25-foot sailboat Serena. The crewmember on the Hellas Poseidon reported that there was one person aboard the Serena and that the sailing vessel was taking on water and had damaged communications following an electrical fire in heavy seas.

Coast Guard aircrews rescue man from sailboat 200 miles southeast of New Jersey — A U.S. Coast Guard aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter rescue a man from a sailboat approximately 200 miles southeast of New Jersey, April 10, 2020. The man was initially spotted by crewmembers on the tanker vessel Hellas Poseidon, who contacted the Coast Guard and stayed with them until they arrived.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Sector Delaware Bay.

The crew of the Hellas Poseidon could not assist the man on the Serena due to poor weather conditions, but agreed to stay with him until responders could arrive.

Aircrews aboard a HC-130 Hercules airplane and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina launched to assist the stricken sailboat.

Once on scene, the aircrew decided that the weather conditions made it too dangerous to lower a rescue swimmer and equipment directly onto the sailboat. The aircrew instructed the man to enter the water with a lifejacket and meet the rescue swimmer. The rescue swimmer quickly recovered him and they were safely hoisted onto the helicopter.

Coast Guard aircrews rescue man from sailboat 200 miles southeast of New Jersey. HC-130 Hercules Air Station Elizabeth City. — Archive image: Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., personnel unload the last of their gear from the last HC-130J Hercules to return Sept. 7, 2008, that was evacuated for Tropical Storm Hanna. Six Hercules and six HH-60J Jayhawk helicopters are based in Elizabeth City. Two of each aircraft remained at the air station for search and rescue operations if needed. The last Jayhawk is scheduled to return within a few hours of the last Hercules.
U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Kendrick.

The man later reported that he was en route from North Carolina to New York and was caught in a storm that caused flooding and an electrical fire.

There were no reported injuries.

“We would like to applaud the crew of the Hellas Poseidon,” said Chief Warrant Officer Dan Capestany, command duty officer during the case. “They not only quickly reported the distress call, but were able to locate the sailboat and make sure the man was safe until we arrived. The actions of the Hellas Poseidon undoubtedly saved the man’s life. This sailor was lucky that someone heard his distress call since he was so far out in the open ocean. It demonstrates the need for proper safety equipment, amongst which are a registered EPIRB and life raft.”

-USCG-

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