A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater rescued two boaters early Wednesday after their 30-foot sailing vessel became disabled about 40 miles west of Tarpon Springs.
The boaters were in stable condition and safely transferred to Air Station Clearwater.
The aircrew found the boaters on their de-masted vessel amid 4 to 6-foot seas and 20 knot winds at 4:49 a.m. They deployed a rescue swimmer and hoisted both individuals to safety.
According to a press release, a Coast Guard Southeast District watchstander received the distress call at 3:24 a.m. and launched the helicopter crew.
“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 controller at the Southeast District command center.
The vessel’s owner is working with commercial salvage to recover the boat, though the cause of the de-masting remains unknown.
Coast Guard Southeast District watchstanders maintain a continuous watch and coordinate with partner agencies to deploy assets quickly for search and rescue missions.
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