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Photo Release

Date: December 9, 2010

Contact: 5th District Public Affairs

(757) 398-6272

Coast Guard aircrew assists in rescue of two off Nantucket, Mass.

 

BOSTON - A mast of the 88-foot sailing vessel Raw Faith protrudes from the water as the boat sinks in approximately 6,000 feet of water about166 miles southeast of Cape Cod, Mass., Wed., Dec. 8, 2010. The crew of the Kittery, Maine, Coast Guard Cutter Reliance remained on scene until the vessel sank. Coast Guard photo by Coast Guard Cutter Reliance crew.

CAPE COD, Mass. -- U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Randall Rice help a rescued mariner remove his submersion suit at Air Station Cape Cod, Dec. 7, 2010. The mariners were rescued after the sailing vessel Raw Faith became disabled 100-miles southeast of Nantucket, Mass. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Luke Clayton.

CAPE COD, Mass. -- U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Randall Rice escorts rescued mariners from a HH-60 Jay Hawk Rescue Helicopter at Air Station Cape Cod, Dec. 7, 2010. The mariners were rescued after the sailing vessel Raw Faith became disabled 100-miles southeast of Nantucket, Mass. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Luke Clayton.

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — An Air Station HC-130 Hercules aircrew provided surveillance and served as a communications platform during the rescue of a disabled sailing vessel 100 miles southeast off Nantucket, Mass., Dec. 7-8.

The aircrew stayed on scene throughout the night for the Raw Faith, an 88-foot sailing vessel that had two people aboard and departed Salem, Mass., for Bermuda.

The Coast Guard 1st District Command Center received notification Dec. 6, via an emergency position-locating beacon signal from the Raw Faith. The Coast Guard launched multiple aircraft to search for the distressed vessel. Along with the crew from Elizabeth City, three Coast Guard rescue helicopter crews and a Coast Guard HU-25 Falcon jet from Air Station Cape Cod, Mass., participated in the multi-day case of the Raw Faith.

Upon locating the Raw Faith, a rescue helicopter crew from Cape Cod attempted to deliver additional safety gear to the crew, as the vessel only had one survival suit and two life rafts onboard. Weather conditions consisting of 25-30 knot winds and ocean wave heights of 10-15 feet proved too difficult for the gear transfer.

The Coast Guard Cutter Tybee and Coast Guard Cutter Reliance arrived on scene with the Raw Faith. The crew of the Reliance assessed the ship and determined that the hull was buckling. The crew abandoned the sinking vessel and was hoisted from the water by one of the helicopter crews from Air Station Cape Cod at 2:20 p.m. Dec. 8. After the rescue, they were taken back to Air Station Cape Cod.

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