Coast Guard assists grounded Canadian boaters near Wachapreague, Va.

News Release

Nov. 08, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 5th District Mid-Atlantic Contact: 5th District Public Affairs Office: (757) 398-6272 After Hours: (757) 434-7712

Coast Guard assists grounded Canadian boaters near Wachapreague, Va.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard assisted two people after their boat ran aground near Wachapreague Tuesday.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Wachapreague received notification at about 4:40 p.m. that a 37-foot yacht ran aground near Wachapreague Inlet with two Canadian citizens aboard.

The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew launched from Station Wachapreague to assist. The crew arrived on scene to discover the yacht aground just inside Wachapreague Inlet, but could not reach the vessel with the RB-M due to shallow water.

The crew returned to the station to switch boats and returned in a 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat. The crew helped the two people free their vessel and anchor it for the night. The Coast Guard took the boaters to Wachapreague.

"The water depth in many parts of our area of responsibility makes it especially dangerous for unfamiliar mariners," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Perry Clifton, response boat coxswain for the case. "There are many places we can't reach due to shallow water. We were glad to be able to help these folks after they ran aground in the dark, in unfavorable weather conditions."

 

 

-USCG-