HOUSTON — The Coast Guard assisted a disabled sailing vessel with two people aboard near Bolivar Peninsula, Thursday.
Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report from the captain of the sailing vessel Under Siege at approximately 9 a.m., stating that the rudder of his sailing vessel had become fouled, and the sail boat was adrift. He then stated he was going to enter the water to assess the condition of the rudder.
While the captain was in the water, the sailing vessel drifted away. The remaining person aboard the sailing vessel contacted the Coast Guard and stated that the captain had been in the water for approximately 20 minutes and needed assistance.
Coast Guard Station Galveston launched a 25-foot Response Boat-Small and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium rescue crew and Coast Guard Air Station Houston diverted an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue crew from a routine patrol.
The helicopter crew located the captain in the water and directed the RBS crew to his location.
The RBS crew located, recovered and transported the captain back to the sailing vessel and contacted a tow boat to assist.
The RBS crew stayed with the sailing vessel until the tow boat was able to assist them.
“The Coast Guard works hard every day to be America’s maritime first responder,” said Lt. j.g. Thomas Matthews. “Thanks to the hard work and training of our command center watchstanders and helicopter and boat crews, we were able to successfully locate and assist the captain of the disabled sailing vessel.”
