2 Americans Rescued North of Cuba

 

A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter crew rescued two American sailors whose vessel ran aground approximately 25 miles north of Gibara, Cuba, Friday.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 7th District command center were first notified of the emergency Friday morning when a distress signal from the vessel's Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, commonly referred to as an EPIRB, began transmitting. The signal was determined to be from the 39-foot sailing vessel Boxer.

A Coast Guard aircrew was immediately launched to the scene and quickly discovered the sailboat was hard aground and had sustained significant damage.

The aircrew safely embarked the men and transported them to Matthew Town, Great Inagua.

"This case highlights the tremendous importance of having the proper life saving equipment onboard," said Lt. Cmdr. Gabe Somma, Coast Guard 7th District public affairs officer. "This critical piece of boating equipment likely saved the lives of these two sailors."

The sailboat had departed Puerto Rico May 18th en route to Key West, Florida, before running aground in Bahamian waters.