Coast Guard assists disabled sailboat 35 miles southeast of Georgetown

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville Office: 904-714-7606/7607 After Hours: 305-318-1864 PA Detachment Jacksonville online newsroom

Coast Guard assists disabled sailboat 35 miles southeast of Georgetown

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Coast Guard assisted a disabled sailboat Wednesday 35 miles southeast of Georgetown.

At approximately 7:43 p.m., Coast Guard 7th District Command Center watchstanders received an emergency position indicating radio beacon registered to the Bear of Bermondsey, a 40-foot sailboat.

A Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew launched at 8:23 p.m. and located the disabled sailboat adrift due to torn sails and engine failure. A Coast Guard Station Georgetown 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew launched to assist the sailboat after determining the two people aboard were not in immediate danger.

At 12:48 a.m., the RB-M crew arrived on scene and safely towed the sailboat to Georgetown Landing Marina.

“A properly registered EPIRB allowed our crews to locate the sailboat quickly and verify they were not in any immediate danger,” said Sean Shrum, the lead controller with Coast Guard Sector Charleston. “This is a great example of how having an EPIRB aboard can help you during an unexpected maritime emergency."

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