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Press Release | Dec. 13, 2024

MULTIMEDIA RELEASE: Coast Guard rescues 3 mariners 154 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard rescued three mariners Thursday morning from a sailing vessel beset by weather 154 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras.

At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector Charleston notified watchstanders at the Fifth Coast Guard District Command Center that the 59-foot sailing vessel TIME-AUT was caught in heavy weather and at risk of capsizing.

The mariners aboard the vessel initially stated that they were not in distress, however early Thursday morning the mariners aboard the TIME-AUT requested to abandon their vessel, prompting watchstanders to direct the launch of an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, and the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Snyder crew.

The Hercules and Jayhawk crew arrived on scene at 9:30 a.m. with the Jayhawk crew successfully hoisting all three mariners from their vessel at 10 a.m. No injuries were reported.

The vessel was equipped with life jackets, life rafts, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, and Starlink communications.

The weather on scene was reported at 17-23 mph winds with seas of 6-10 feet.

-USCG-

USCG sar North Carolina Air Station rescue Fifth District

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