Two Rescued from Vessel Aground North of Cuba

Two American sailors whose vessel ran aground approximately 25 miles north of Gibara, Cuba, were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 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 (EPIRB) began transmitting. The signal was determined to be from the 39-foot sailing vessel Boxer.

A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter aircrew was immediately launched to the scene and discovered the sailboat was hard aground and had sustained significant damage.

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

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