The US Coast Guard rescued a man from a disabled sailboat approximately 145 nautical miles west of Sitka, Alaska on October 11.

Incredibly, the weather conditions were observed to be 70-knot winds and 30-foot seas with overcast skies.

A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka arrived on scene at 5:21 p.m. and hoisted a man from his 33-foot sailing vessel, Ananda, and transported him to Yakutat, where they were met by local EMS.

Coast Guard Seventeenth District watchstanders launched the Coast Guard Air Station Sitka helicopter crew, and a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130 Hercules crew at approximately 3:15 p.m.

Seventeenth District watchstanders received an alert from the survivors’ emergency position indicating radio beacon at 3:00 p.m. The EPIRB registration information indicated the vessel was sold, had an expired registration, and indicated the batteries were low.

Watchstanders contacted the previous vessel owner who reported the new owner intended to leave his homeport in Seward, Alaska and travel to the Philippines with possibility of going to Seattle beforehand.

“This is a prime example of how having boating safety equipment, like an EPRIB, can save your life,” said Petty Officer First Class Dustin Lake, Seventeenth District operations unit watchstander. “It also shows why keeping your EPIRB registered with the correct information is crucial.”

Story courtesy of USCG. More info available at KTOO.org. 

Sitka USCG