Portsmouth, Va. – The Coast Guard and crew of the Navy destroyer USS Cole rescued three people today from the disabled 38-foot sailboat Wings approximately 210 miles offshore of North Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean.
Coast Guard Fifth District watchstanders received a call Friday from a commercial towing company who relayed a request for assistance on behalf of the Wing’s crew. The crew reported they had lost their rudder but were not in distress and had plenty of provisions.
At 8 a.m. this morning, the crew of the Wings contacted Coast Guard watchstanders to discuss options and despite bad weather conditions, the decision was made to conduct a rescue.
Watchstanders sent crews aboard an HC-130 Hercules airplane and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from the Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, NC. The Navy was also contacted, who diverted the USS Cole toward the location of the Wings.
At 10 a.m., the crew of the Jayhawk was able to hoist three people from the Wings and dropped them off on the USS Cole. The Jayhawk then headed to another distress call that was determined to be a non-distress situation.
Upon returning to the USS Cole, the Jayhawk retrieved the three rescued people and took them to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, NC.
No injuries have been reported.
