Photo Release: Coast Guard rescues sailor, dog 30 miles off Horseshoe Beach
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 04/27/2017 09:10 PM EDT
Photo Release |
April 27, 2017 |
Photo Release: Coast Guard rescues sailor, dog 30 miles off Horseshoe Beach
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YANKEETOWN, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued a 50-year-old man and his dog Thursday after the man's sailboat became disabled near Horseshoe Beach.
Rescued was Jim Baxter, 50.
At 11:25 a.m. Thursday, watch standers at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received notification from Baxter via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 stating he was low on water and his 27-foot sailboat, Kittywake, was disabled. Baxter stated he was out at sea for three days.
A 27-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown launched to assist.
The boat crew arrived on scene at 4 p.m and rescued Baxter and his dog, Freddy. The boat crew placed a beacon on the disabled sailboat to alert mariners transiting the area and transported Baxter and Freddy to Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee.
No injuries were reported.
"Mariners should always file a float plan with a responsible person and ensure they have some type of communication capability during their voyage," said Kevin Coyne, command duty officer at Sector St. Petersburg. “When a planned voyage takes a vessel outside of cell phone coverage and VHF-FM marine band radio coverage, the captain needs to ensure they have an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or satellite phone to alert authorities if they encounter a serious problem."
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