Coast Guard rescues sailor 160 miles off San Diego

[Brian D]

The Coast Guard on Saturday located a sailor and his damaged sailboat about 160 miles southwest of San Diego, off the coast of Mexico.

The sailor left San Diego on Tuesday reportedly bound for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Petty Officer Pam Boehland said. Late Friday, the sailor’s friend contacted the Coast Guard and reported getting a phone message with a distress call.

Crews in San Diego issued an urgent broadcast for vessels in the area to keep a lookout for anyone in distress. About 8 a.m., the sailor’s friend called the Coast Guard to report his friend had called with his position, Boehland said.

Aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento flew south to assist and located the sailor.

The plane remained on scene until a 378-foot high-endurance cutter arrived. A small-boat crew from the ship reached the sailboat and found its boom damaged and the engine gone, Boehland said.

The sailor, who was not injured, was working with the Coast Guard on Saturday night to determine how he should be brought to shore, Boehland said.

“It’s going to take a while,” she said. “They have a long way to transit.”

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/05/coast-guard-rescues-sailor-160-miles-san-diego/

 

[Scott B]

found its boom damaged and the engine gone

Engine gone???? gone where?

 

[RECESS]

I was looking at a sailboat to purchase several years ago. The add had an outboard but when I got there he had already sold the outboard seperate. When I asked about the outboard he said a real sailor does not need a motor. This sailor appreciates one.

 

[gpdno]

Engine gone???? gone where?

Maybe an outboard that was torn off by the storm?

 

[sailaway78]

Every time

Every time I read one of these stories, I end up with more questions than answers.

 

[JoeWhite]

And here is my question. Why not use the jib to sail back to shore. There was no life in danger - why call the Coast Guard.

 

[Steve Dion]

Engine gone???? gone where?

Gone at sea is usually Dave Jones Locker!

As usual these stories are usually half baked. More about nothing later.

 

[JohnS]

Is it just increased media focus, or are there actually more sailboat rescues occurring lately. This is the third one I've come across in the past couple weeks, and I don't generally track them.

 

[Ross]

Sound at first blush like an accidental gybe damaged the boom. But jury rigging a mainsail is certainly an option.
I do know some boaters that sail without extra lines. They don't want to clutter up the boat.

 

[Captpedro]

And here is my question. Why not use the jib to sail back to shore. There was no life in danger - why call the Coast Guard.

But he didn't call the coast guard either , he called some friend .

The coast guard is the LAST line .

Puzzling

 

[seadaddler]

Panic

What I would ask is has anyone asking what happen is did you ever go sailing offshore miles off shore with nothing but water and than the shit hits the fan the weather turns against you and things get broken and panic sets in and maybe you think you are going to die so you call for help from the guys who are trained to rescue sailors in trouble.
What i am saying is we were not there and realyy don't know what really happen and what was the captain thinking ??????? so many unanswered questions for sure.
Nick

 

[Ross]

Re: Panic

All of this reflects varying levels of experience. It takes a very cool customer to not panic at least a little when it seem that everything is going bad at the same time. With age and experience we learn to get our head down and assess the situation. Is the boat still right side up? have I broken anything? on me? is the boat flooding? Do I need to call for help? Has something like this happened before? what did I do then?

 

[zeehag]

would love to know more details. like what kind of boat did this soul go sailing in....the weather grows intense in pacific --storms were expected down cali coast--one just passed recently-- seas grow huge in these storms--and winds can be to 90 kts.
very intersting that this sailor went out in that kind of weather....

 

[txtowman]

Could be they mistakenly said boom instead of mast.

Lost in translation maybe?