Septuagenarian Rescued from Grounded Sailboat
The Coast Guard rescued a 76-year-old man after his sailboat ran aground in Crystal River, Monday. Rescued was Jack Baird, 76, from Dunnellon. At 11:32 a.m. Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a report of a disabled and aground 45-foot sailboat near the Crystal River navigational marker 2A. Baird reported he was unable to communicate with a local commercial salvage company and needed assistance. A Station Yankeetown 24-foot Special Purpose Craft - Shallow Water boatcrew was launched with Nature Coast Emergency Medical Services aboard. Baird reported suffering a hand injury and seasickness symptoms. The boatcrew transferred Baird to River Haven Marina, Homosassa. Baird was met by his wife at the marina. "Mr. Baird did the right thing," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason R.
Five Mariners Reunite With Their Rescuers
Five mariners rescued April 15 by the U.S. Coast Guard reunited with their rescuers Thursday in Clearwater, Fla. Various members from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Station Yankeetown and Air Station Clearwater attended the reunion, shook hands with the mariners and swapped stories about the rescue. “It’s not that often that we get to meet the folks that we were able to render assistance to,” said Cmdr. Randall Brown, the search-and-rescue mission coordinator for the April 15 rescue. At 11:04 p.m. April 14, watch standers from Sector St.
CG Stops 4 Unsafe Passenger Vessels
Boarding team members from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown stopped four unsafe passenger vessels operating on the Crystal River, Fla., and in the vicinity of Homosassa, Fla., Dec. 29, through Dec. 31, 2008. During random safety boardings, crewmembers discovered two commercial vessels operated by Stadt Aquatic Adventures operating with more than their maximum allowable passengers. Additionally, Yankeetown crews discovered that the captain of the second vessel failed to properly report a marine casualty involving one of its main engines. The Coast Guard terminated both voyages for the safety infractions and will seek civil penalties against Stadt Aquatic Adventures. The Coast Guard will also pursue action to suspend the captains’ licenses for failing to comply with proper safety procedures.
Two Rescued, One Dead After Boat Capsizes
Two people were rescued and one died after their 16-foot skiff boat capsized Tuesday in the vicinity of the Crystal River power plant. Edward Calcani, 71, of Beverly Hills, Fla., was located deceased on the north side of the power plant channel by the crew of an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater around 4 a.m. this morning after searching for eight hours. The Jayhawk crew located Edward Calcani Jr and Larry Dates clinging to the hull of their capsized vessel about 2 a.m. this morning. A boat from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that was assisting a Coast Guard Station Yankeetown rescue boat in the search transferred the survivors to the 40 boat ramp on the Withlacoochie River for further transfer to EMS.
