Coast Guard assists four boaters aboard disabled vessel near Oregon Inlet, North Carolina

News Release

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

Coast Guard assists four boaters aboard disabled vessel near Oregon Inlet, North Carolina

OREGON INLET, N.C. — The Coast Guard assisted the crew of a disabled sailing vessel east of Oregon Inlet Wednesday evening.

Sector North Carolina watchstanders received a distress call via VHF-FM radio at approximately 6 p.m. from the crew of the Puffin reporting that their 70-foot sailing vessel had become disabled in heavy seas 30 miles east of Oregon Inlet.

The crew activated their on-board emergency position indicating radio beacon to help provide the vessels location to the Coast Guard aircrews. An Air Station Elizabeth City MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew was launched along with an HC-130J Hercules aircrew.

The Hercules aircrew arrived on scene to establish visual confirmation of the vessel. The Jayhawk helicopter aircrew arrived and transported all four boaters to Air Station Elizabeth City where they were met by emergency medical services personnel.

"All boaters are strongly encouraged to check weather conditions before departing a port," said Stephen Sawyer, the search and rescue mission coordinator at Sector North Carolina. "This can greatly decrease the risk of getting caught in dangerous conditions on the water and becoming disabled." 

There were no reported injuries to the boaters.

-USCG-