A survivor jumps from a sailboat into the water Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, moments before being hoisted by the Coast Guard to an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. The Coast Guard hoisted four people from the trimaran after the sailboat’s sails sustained heavy damage in high winds off the North Carolina coast. U.S. Coast Guard video by Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina
WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued four people Saturday from a sailboat after the sailboat’s sails were damaged by high winds approximately 60 miles southeast of Bald Head Island.
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 5th District Command Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, received an alert at approximately 6 p.m. from an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon registered to the 40-foot, white trimaran Trio, homeported in Pensacola, Florida.
The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast and launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City.
The Navy responded by launching a helicopter crew from the USS George H.W. Bush.
Both helicopter crews arrived on scene at about 8:15 p.m. The Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted the people and transported them to Air Station Elizabeth City in good condition. No injuries were reported.
Rescued were vessel owner Frank W. Rawley, 55, Douglas Rider, 58, Lorette Medwel, 55, and a 14-year-old male. The survivors were sailing from Beaufort to Pensacola.
Both helicopter crews arrived on scene at about 8:15 p.m. The Coast Guard helicopter crew hoisted the people and transported them to Air Station Elizabeth City in good condition. No injuries were reported. Rescued were vessel owner Frank W. Rawley, 55, Douglas Rider, 58, Lorette Medwel, 55, and a 14-year-old male. The survivors were sailing from Beaufort to Pensacola.
