ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A boater was rescued by Coast Guardsmen after his 30-foot sailboat began to drift into the Cortez Road Bridge Thursday.
While on patrol, a 45-foot Response Boat — Medium boatcrew, from Coast Guard Station Cortez, received a distress call at 10:30 a.m. from a boater stating he was drifting uncontrollably.
The boatcrew arrived on seen at 10:36 a.m. to find the vessel dragging three anchors due to the high winds from Tropical Storm Andrea. The boatcrew placed the vessel in tow, cut the anchor lines and towed the vessel away before it received any damage or was forced under the bridge.
The mariner was towed to Coquina boat ramp, and no injuries were reported.
“Boaters should take necessary precautions to ensure their personal safety due to strong, gusty winds associated with the outer weather bands of tropical storms,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Russell Akerman, the executive petty officer at the station. “Heavy seas, significant rain and damaging winds may accompany storms and present serious dangers to boaters. Rescue and assistance by the Coast Guard and other agencies may be degraded as storms approach.”
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