Coast Guard assists disabled sailing vessel with three people onboard off of Avon

On Tuesday morning, March 7, the U.S. Coast Guard Station Hatteras Inlet was notified of a 25’ disabled sailing vessel located approximately three nautical miles off of Avon, with three people onboard.

The station’s 47’ ft. Motor Lifeboat CG47244 was launched and began making its way toward the sailing vessel. Due to the deteriorating weather conditions, an MH-60 Jayhawk from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City was also dispatched to assist in the rescue.

Once on the scene, the surfmen on board made the determination that towing the vessel south towards Hatteras village would prove difficult due to the rough ocean conditions. In addition, a tow north would have been a 30 NM tow to Oregon Inlet, where conditions would have deteriorated along the way, leading to an attempt at crossing a breaking bar at night with gale conditions.

As a result, Station OIC, in concurrence with Sector NC and District 5, believed the safest course of action would be a helicopter evacuation.

The CG47244 maintained its position as the rescue swimmer retrieved each person from the water one at a time and hoisted them onto the helicopter. Once all mariners had safely been retrieved, the helicopter departed the scene and the CG47244 began making its way around the Diamond Shoals and back to the Hatteras station. Efforts are underway to recover the sailing vessel.

“[This was] a great coordination of assets to get the outcome we always want, the safety of lives at sea,” stated U.S. Coast Guard Station Hatteras Inlet in an online update. “Bravo Zulu to all involved!”