The Coast Guard successfully rescued two boaters on Sunday after their 34-foot sailing vessel lost its sail 73 miles off Boca Grande. No injuries were reported.
The rescue operation began on Saturday when a friend of the boaters contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg after the boaters missed their scheduled check-in while sailing from Key West to Tarpon Springs.
An Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew located the disabled vessel around 11 a.m. on Sunday. An Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew then hoisted the boaters to safety and transported them to Air Station Clearwater.
“Some of the most important factors in any search and rescue case is accurate information and safety equipment,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Hooper, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard District Seven. “We received an updated satellite position from the boaters’ friend, which led to them being successfully located. This rescue was a collaborative effort between District Seven and Sector St. Petersburg while Tropical Storm Debby crossed the region.”
The rescue crews faced 15 to 20-foot seas, 50-knot winds, and low visibility during the operation.
The Coast Guard urges all mariners to file a float plan with a loved one before heading out on the water.
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