ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard rescued a Canadian sailor in distress approximately eight miles southwest of the Quillayute River entrance near La Push, Wash., Friday.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, located in Seattle, received a distress call from the 30-foot sailing vessel at approximately 10:30 a.m., with one person on board. The sailor reported engine trouble and difficulty sailing in the 14-foot swells.
Sector Puget Sound launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Quillayute River and diverted an already airborne HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, Wash.
Both crews arrived on scene to assess the situation. The 47-foot motor lifeboat crew took the sailing vessel in tow. An additional 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Quillayute River was launched and arrived on scene to assist with the tow.
A 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Neah Bay, Wash., was launched to take and complete the tow due to restricted bar conditions at Quillayute River.
The Quillayute River crew transferred the tow to the Neah Bay crew approximately 6 miles west of Cape Johnson, Wash.
The 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Neah Bay towed the sailing vessel safely to Makah Marina in Neah Bay, arriving at approximately 7:15 p.m.
