VENTURA, Calif, – Late last night the Coast Guard responded to a report of the Sailing Vessel COOL RUNNINGS taking on water 9 miles west of Ventura. The solo sailor reportedly had abandoned ship into his 9 foot inflatable raft.
A Coast Guard HH-65C rescue helicopter from Air Station Los Angeles and a Coast Guard rescue boat from Station Channel Islands were dispatched to the scene. Vessel Assist boat, Retriever, also responded to the Urgent Marine Broadcast.
The sailor was rescued by Vessel Assist and then transferred to the Coast Guard rescue boat and transported back to Ventura Harbor. The sailing vessel ultimately sank in 195 feet of water.
Last year Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach (which is responsible for 320 miles of shoreline from the San Diego/Orange County Lines north to the San Luis Obispo/Monterey County Lines) executed more than 415 search and rescue cases.
