SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Halibut, homeported in Marina Del Ray, Calif., assisted a stranded sailor Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 100 miles off the coast of southern California. The boater was sailing his 44-foot sailboat to California from Hawaii when he ran out of fuel.
The boater was able to use a HAM radio to contact another HAM radio operator in Florida, who then contacted the Coast Guard in California. CGC Halibut departed from Marina Del Ray shortly after 12 a.m. October 14, 2008. The crew of CGC Halibut towed the vessel closer to shore where it was then transferred to a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Channel Islands who towed the vessel safely to port.
The Coast Guard urges boaters whether they are on day trip in coastal waters or on an extended trip to file a Float Plan (http://www.floatplancentral.org/) with a responsible party. If the boater will be beyond the range of VHF marine communications alternate means of reliable communications must be considered, such as a satellite telephone. It is also highly recommend that the boater be equipped with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs).
