Photo Release: Coast Guard rescues 2 from water off Cape Charles, VA

united states coast guard 

Photo Release  

August 05, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic
Contact: 5th District Public Affairs
Office: (757) 398-6272
After Hours: (757) 434-7712

Photo Release: Coast Guard rescues 2 from water off Cape Charles, VA

Coast Guard Petty Officers 2nd Class Christofer Brown (middle left) and Michael Gibson (middle right) pose for a photo with the men they rescued from the water off Cape Charles, Virginia, Aug. 5, 2017. Brown, Gibson and the rest of the 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Station Cape Charles pulled the men from the water after their 14-foot sailboat capsized. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Francisco Garcia/Released)

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard rescued two people from the water off Cape Charles, Virginia, Saturday.

Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders in Portsmouth were alerted at about 2 p.m. that a 14-foot sailboat  with two people aboard was taking on water and had run aground in the vicinity of Cape Charles Coastal Habitat Natural Area Preserve.

The 70-year-old man and his 34-year-old son had re-launched their sailboat when an already-underway 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Coast Guard Station Cape Charles diverted to assist.

The sailboat capsized and the two men entered the water, both wearing life jackets.

The RB-S crew arrived on scene and rescued the men, took the sailboat in tow and transited to Cape Charles Marina by 3:10 p.m.

“Weather conditions can change unpredictably on the water,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Christofer Brown, coxswain for the case. “It’s important to wear your life jackets at all times and stay prepared for the unexpected, as these gentlemen were.”

 

A 70-year-old man and his 34-year-old son wait for the Coast Guard’s assistance after re-righting their capsized sailboat in the water off Cape Charles, Virginia, Aug. 5, 2017. A Coast Guard 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Station Cape Charles arrived on scene, pulled the men from the water, took the sailboat in tow and brought them safely ashore. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Francisco Garcia/Released) A Coast Guard 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew from Station Cape Charles, Virginia, takes a sailboat in tow after rescuing two boaters from the water off Cape Charles, Virginia, Aug. 5, 2017. The sailboat started taking on water, ran aground, was re-launched, and then capsized. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Francisco Garcia/Released)

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