CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard assisted two men in Fairport Harbor, Fairport, Ohio, after the 16-foot catamaran they were on capsized and efforts to re-right the vessel failed, Tuesday afternoon.
A watchstander at Coast Guard Station Fairport, in Grand River, Ohio, received notification over VHF-FM marine radio channel 16, from a good Samaritan, of two people who were trying to re-right a capsized catamaran 200 yards west of the Fairport Harbor light house.
Station Fairport issued an urgent marine information broadcast over VHF-FM channel 16 to notify boaters in the area of the situation.
A rescue boatcrew aboard a 25-foot Response Boat-Small launched from Station Fairport. It arrived on scene with the two people in the water, who reported they were not in distress and would continue to try to re-right the capsized catamaran.
Both men were wearing life jackets, and there were no injuries reported at the time.
The rescue boatcrew continued to stay with the two people and monitor the situation. After 30 minutes, the people in the water became exhausted and asked to be taken onto the RB-S and have a commercial salvage company tow the catamaran.
One of the people rescued reported becoming seasick.
The rescued people were transported to the marina in Fairport Harbor where their vehicle was parked, and they declined medical services.
The rescue boatcrew returned to the capsized catamaran and continued to monitor the vessel until a commercial salvor was able to re-right the catamaran and tow it to safety.
“The two people on the catamaran were not expecting to capsize but dangerous situations come unexpectedly and it is good that they were wearing life jackets,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class James Bozeman, officer-of-the-day at Station Fairport.
“The Coast Guard recommends that all people wear a life jacket while boating. This a perfect example of how it is easier to wear a life jacket than to put one on during an emergency.”
