Coast Guard crews rescued a boater more than a week after his family lost contact with him following his departure from New Jersey in a sailboat bound for Bermuda. (U.S. Coast Guard)
(Tribune News Service) — Coast Guard crews rescued a boater more than a week after his family lost contact with him following his departure from New Jersey in a sailboat bound for Bermuda.
The man left Jersey City for the more than 600 mile trip, but his family reported they lost contact with him on Nov. 6, according to the Coast Guard. He was considered overdue at his destination as of Nov. 14, officials said.
Operators of the sailing vessel Time Bandit heard an alert about the missing craft and encountered a boat adrift with tattered sails and a missing boom that matched its description last week, the Coast Guard said.
The good Samaritans made contact with the occupant of the other boat, but the Coast Guard warned against a boat-to-boat transfer because of ocean conditions.
The crew of the Cape May-based Coast Guard cutter Lawrence Lawson arrived at the scene, about 270 miles off Hatteras, N.C., on Nov. 15 and rescued the man from his disabled boat.
He was taken in stable condition to the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, where he was reunited with his family, officials said.
In announcing the rescue, an Coast Guard official stressed the importance of mariners carrying emergency beacons.
“We are pleased that this case resulted in a family reunion,” said Cmdr. Wes Geyer. “The search area for this case was nearly twice the size of Texas and the seas are very unforgiving. We urge all mariners venturing offshore to carry a properly registered Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). This device can help pinpoint your exact location should the unthinkable ever happen.”
Coast Guard airplane and helicopter crews based in North Carolina and Massachusetts assisted in the search and rescue effort.
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The crew of the Cape May-based Coast Guard cutter Lawrence Lawson arrived at the scene, about 270 miles off Hatteras, N.C., on Nov. 15 and rescued the man from his disabled boat. (U.S. Coast Guard)
