Photo Release: Coast Guard assists 5 boaters near Wachapreague, VA

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/05/2017 09:23 PM EDT

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 assists 5 boaters near Wachapreague, VA

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Callanan, coxswain from Station Wachapreague, tows a disabled vessel after it ran aground on Parramore Island, Virginia, Aug. 5, 2017. The Station Wachapreague crew responded using a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat after finding the distressed mariners during a routine patrol. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Brown/Released)

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard assisted five people after their boat ran aground on Parramore Island, Virginia, Saturday.

A Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Wachapreague, Virginia, notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads in Portsmouth at 3:50 p.m. that they had found a disabled and aground 18-foot sailboat with five adults aboard.

The RB-M crew returned to Station Wachapreague, switched to a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat, returned to the scene and took the grounded sailboat in a side tow.

The boat crew transported the sailboat and its passengers to Wachapreague Town Marina by about 5:50 p.m.

“One of the reasons we regularly patrol our area of responsibility is to keep an eye out for people in trouble,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Callanan, coxswain for the case. “We encourage all mariners to keep working communications equipment like radios and satellite phones on board their vessels. Don’t hesitate to call for help if you need it.”

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Callanan, coxswain from Station Wachapreague, tows a disabled vessel after it ran aground on Parramore Island, Virginia, Aug. 5, 2017. The 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water crew safely transported the boat and its five passengers to Wachapreague Town Marina. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Brown/Released)

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