USCG Tows Disabled Yacht into Jacksonville

Crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback are towing a 70-foot motor yacht Wednesday and are scheduled to arrive at the entrance to the St. Johns River at approximately 9 p.m.

There, the tow will be transferred to a 45-foot Response Boat - Medium from Station Mayport, Fla., and the Belle Amie will be brought to St. Johns Boat Company.

Five people aboard the Belle Amie were in distress approximately 50 miles east of Fernandina Beach, Fla., while the yacht was taking on water following a fire aboard Wednesday morning.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center were notified of the situation at 8:47 a.m. Wednesday.

At 9:40 a.m., the five adults aboard extinguished the fire but the vessel continued to take on water. All five people had reportedly donned life jackets as a precaution. The mariners reported the vessel had lost all power and was dead in the water.

Coast Guardsmen from Station Mayport responded, along with the crew of the 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Diamondback. Two Coast Guard helicopter crews were also launched and arrived on scene at 10:30 a.m.

A Good Samaritan aboard the 56-foot vessel Tippe Canoe was on scene providing assistance to the five mariners and remained there until the Coast Guard arrived.

Two of the Belle Amie boaters were transferred to the Station Mayport boat and taken to Station Mayport Wednesday afternoon to begin making arrangements for the Belle Amie. Two Coast Guardsmen from Station Mayport are staying on the Belle Amie with the three remaining boaters while the yacht is being towed.

uscgnews.com