Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer David Weydert
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received a 911 relay distess call from two men who reported they were clinging to a capsized Hobe Catamaran, approximately three miles east of the St. Petersburg Pier at 4:56 p.m. Sunday.
A Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg 25-foot Response Boat Small (RBS) boat crew was diverted to assist, arriving on scene at 5:07 p.m. The two men from St. Petersburg, Steven Ellis, and another unidentified man, were taken aboard the RBS and safely transported to Demons Landing.
Sector St. Petersburg has issued a hazard-to-navigation warning to mariners which will be broadcast until the disabled catamaran has been salvaged.
The Coast Guard reminds boaters to always file a float plan with a friend or family member, have a VHF-FM radio and electronic indicating radio beacon on board, remain vigilant and observe safety and security zones while on the water. An electronic float plan can be filed at the following website: http://www.floatplancentral.org/
