Mariners from the 34-foot sailing vessel Malia stand with Petty Officer 2nd Class Erich Klinger, a rescue swimmer at Air Station Barbers Point, following their rescue near Honolulu, Feb. 16, 2017. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
HONOLULU — The Coast Guard rescued a mariner in distress near the Kalaupapa Lighthouse off Molokai early Friday morning, less than 12 hours after rescuing six boaters from a grounded sailing vessel off Oahu.
A Coast Guard MH-65 dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point safely hoisted the 52-year-old man from his homemade 22-foot fiberglass vessel the Harmony B.
“We are very pleased to have brought seven people to safety overnight,” said Petty Officer 1st Class William Cusic, a watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu. “This is what our crews train for and their dedication to our search and rescue mission paid dividends.”
Watchstanders from the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu command center received a mayday call at 1:43 a.m.from the master of the Harmony B hailing on VHF channel 16.
The master believed his anchor was no longer holding and was concerned that the weather conditions would push his vessel onto the nearby rocks.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Honolulu issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched the dolphin crew and crew of Coast Guard Cutter Kiska.
At 3:08 a.m., the dolphin aircrew was on scene safely hoisting the man aboard and took him back to the air station. No injuries were reported.
On scene weather was reportedly 18 mph winds with 7-foot seas. The master will work with Sector Honolulu personnel to develop a salvage plan.
In a separate case hours earlier, six people were rescued by a dolphin aircrew Thursday evening after their 34-foot sailing vessel, Malia, grounded while entering the Keehi Channel off Honolulu.
