Sailboat sinks 230 miles south of Cold Bay

U.S. Coast Guard aircrews combined efforts on Sept. 28 for an early morning rescue of two men aboard a sinking sailing vessel some 230 miles south of Cold Bay.

Coast Guard officials at Juneau had received notification on the evening of Sept. 27 from the Coast Guard in Honolulu that an amateur radio operator had established communications with the 35-foot sailing vessel Rafiki.

Coast Guard 17th District watchstanders in Juneau issued an urgent marine information broadcast, requested launching of a Hercules transport aircraft and a MH-60 Hayhwak helicopter, and diverted the Rising Sun, an Automated Mutual assistance Vessel Rescue System vessel, to assist.

The crew of the Rafiki was directed to activate their emergency position indicating radio beacon and to remain with the vessel as long as possible.

When the Hercules aircrew arrived on scene, they dropped survival suits to the two men and remained on scene until the men were safely hoisted aboard the Jayhawk.

Weather at the time was reported as seven mile an hour wins and six-foot seas.

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Coast Guard officials reminded boaters making long transits in Alaska waters to have survival suits and life jackets for each person on board, a life raft, a communications device such as a satellite phone, flares and an EPIRB.

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