USCG Rescues Sailor, April 21

The Coast Guard came to the aid of a distressed sailor just north of Port Townsend, Wash., Saturday.  Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound watchstanders received notification from a boater at approximately 12:45 p.m., who had witnessed a small sailboat capsize with one person aboard, approximately six miles north of Port Townsend.  Sector Puget Sound diverted a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Port Angeles, Wash., launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles and issued an urgent marine information broadcast.  The Coast Guard response boat crew arrived on scene to find that the sailor had managed to right the overturned sailboat and was on board. The RB-M crew threw a line to the distressed sailor, helped him aboard the response boat and took his sailboat in tow. The Dolphin crew remained on scene to offer assistance if needed.  Both the man and 19-foot, homemade sailboat were transported safely to the Point Hudson Marina in Port Townsend.  The man was wearing his lifejacket. No injuries were reported.