The 50-foot sailboat Old School sits in 8-foot seas after a Coast Guard crew rescued two boaters Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, near Boca Grande, Florida. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued two boaters from a 50-foot sailboat in 8-foot seas near Boca Grande, Wednesday.
This is the second Coast Guard marine rescue in the Fort Myers Beach area due to Hurricane Michael impacts.
At 9:43 p.m. Tuesday, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watch standers received a mayday call via VHF-FM channel 16 from the captain aboard the sailboat, Old School. He stated the sailboat was beset by weather and needed emergency assistance.
A Coast Guard Station Fort Myers Beach 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew was launched, and transferred the two people from the sailboat to Station Fort Myers Beach. There were no reported injuries.
“We cannot reiterate it enough – this storm is dangerous,” said Cmdr. William Walsh, the deputy commander for Sector St. Petersburg. “Even though the hurricane passed, mariners must monitor the weather and take small craft advisories seriously.”
On Tuesday, Station Fort Myers beach rescued two boaters and their dog, after the boat took on water from crashing waves.
The Coast Guard reminds boaters to heed all local watches and warnings.
