[PUP] Offshore NC Rescues

[Ron Rogers]

I am posting this because one of the rescued crews told the CG Swimmer that
their anchor had broken loose and proceed to puncture their sailboat's hull
repeatedly.

Although I fervently hope that none of us gets caught in 34 foot seas and 74
mph winds (in the Gulf Stream) I do believe that even lesser whole gale
conditions could have done the same thing. So, we should all examine how our
anchors are secured and consider extra lashings when voyaging off-soundings.

That sailboat (the "Lou Patinni" enroute to Boston) was 160 miles off Cape
Hatteras. The other sailboat was 50 miles off NC and that 3 person crew was
also rescued by a USCG helicopter. Hypothermia was serious one crew was taken
to Marine Corp Airstation Cherry Point for treatment - they were the closest
facility.

A CG C-130 is out looking for two other vessels in distress and further
offshore. She dropped a raft to one of the sailboats.

Ron Rogers
Snug in my flooding slip in New Bern, NC in moderate winds.