
Coast Guard members around the nation practice their craft daily to remain Semper Paratus, Always Ready.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Stephen Lehmann.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard rescue four sailors approximately 98 nautical miles offshore Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, from a sinking sailing vessel.
The sailing vessel crew was composed by three adults and a 15-year-old teen, and the search and rescue mission was conducted Thursday.
The sailors from the 41-foot sailboat Rojodan contacted with Coast Guard Sector North Carolina requesting the rescue operation at approximately 6 p.m. Wednesday from a long distance offshore, stating that they had lost the use of both their engines and jib. The Coast Guard maritime crews was unable to tow the vessel because of the distance from shore and weather conditions with wind gusts up to 40 knots and sea swells up to 8 feet.
A Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City MH-60T Jayhawk Medium-Range Recovery Helicopter aircrew was launched to rescue the sailors offshore front Cape Hatteras. Once on the scene the rescue helicopter aircrew deployed the rescue swimmer and hoisted the four mariners from the vessel that had begun taking on water.
«These mariners were sailing prepared with a satellite phone which made way for a successful rescue,» said Stephen Sawyer, U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina command duty officer. «Vessels that travel over 20 nautical miles offshore should ensure they have an alternate method of communication equipment beyond a VHF radio, such as an HF radio or satellite phone.»
The mariners were transported to Air Station Elizabeth City where they were given dry clothing and transportation to a local hotel. There were no reported injuries.
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–USCG–
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