Portsmouth, Va. – The Coast Guard rescued two people Friday after both of their sailboats became disabled approximately five miles west of the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel near Hampton. That’s according to a release from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads received a call from Hampton Police dispatch at approximately 3:50 a.m., who informed the Coast Guard of a 911 call from a man aboard one of two disabled sailboats.
The watchstanders called the boater via cell phone and were informed that both sailboats were at anchor five miles west of the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel. Communication was limited to cellphone, for neither of the boats had working marine radios or GPS.
A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) crew from Coast Guard Station Little Creek was dispatched to search for the two boats, officials say.
The RB-M crew located the first sailboat and medevaced a man in medical distress at approximately 5:50 a.m. The Coast Guard crew ensured the man’s boat was well-lit and the anchor was holding before leaving to assist the second boater. The RB-M crew returned to the scene with the second sailboat at approximately 6:10 a.m. and towed it to Fisherman’s Cove near Station Little Creek.
Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders have issued a safety marine information broadcast, warning mariners of the first sailboat near the York Spit Channel.
A second RB-M crew from Little Creek is scheduled to tow the sailboat away from the York Spit Channel later this morning.
