US Coast Guard Performs Two Rescues off California Coast
An 86-year-old man and his dog were rescued on Wednesday, following a multi-day search approximately 460 miles off San Diego.
Coast Guard Pacific Area watchstanders received a report on Saturday, Oct. 24, about an overdue mariner aboard the sailing vessel Willow Wind. The vessel was en route from Astoria, Oregon, to Pago Pago, American Samoa, and had not been heard from since August 20.
A search was initiated, but with no success until Tuesday, October 27, when the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Center in Alameda received an alert from an emergency position-indicating radio beacon registered to Willow Wind. Watchstanders launched a C-27 Spartan air crew from Sacramento and diverted an HC-130 Hercules air crew and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward. They also requested assistance from nearby vessels.
The Spartan air crew located Willow Wind on Tuesday evening. The cargo ship Grand Orion responded to the USCG calls for assistance and arrived on scene at approximately 3:20 a.m. Wednesday. Due to the sea state, Grand Orion crew were unable to rescue the mariner and his dog until 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
On Thursday morning, a MH-60 Jayhawk air crew from Coast Guard Air Station San Diego hoisted the mariner and his dog from the Grand Orion, now located approximately 170 miles west of Ventura, California. The man and dog were transported to Coast Guard Sector San Diego and then on to Scripps Mercy Hospital for further evaluation.
At the time of the rescue Willow Wind had damaged sails and was left adrift. At this stage it is unknown what caused the damage.
Coast Guard Cmdr. Jason Nguyen, Southwest District command center chief, stated his thanks to the merchant mariners and Coast Guard crews “whose coordinated efforts brought this search to a successful conclusion.” Cmdr. Nguyen added, “This case highlights the importance of carrying emergency communication equipment and creating a float plan so someone ashore knows your voyage plans.”
In a separate incident, the US Coast Guard and a good Samaritan vessel rescued three people from a 32-ft powerboat that was on fire and taking on water approximately five miles west of Stinson Beach last Friday, October 30. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received a distress call at 11:58 a.m. from a good Samaritan who reported smoke coming from the vessel and a person aboard waving their arms. Watchstanders coordinated the launches of a 47-ft motor lifeboat crew and a Dolphin helicopter air crew. The good Samaritan vessel rescued all three boaters from the burning boat before the USCG crews arrived on the scene. The powerboat subsequently sank.
The three rescued boaters were then transferred to the motor lifeboat that had arrived from Station Golden Gate. After determining none of the survivors required medical assistance, the crew transported them to Pier 45, their original point of departure.
The sunken vessel’s captain reported that the vessel began taking on water rapidly through the stern engine compartment before sinking. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.
