Coast Guard Rescues Bermuda Bound Sailors
A father and son sailing to Bermuda were recently stranded after getting caught in a large storm, requiring the United States Coast Guard to rescue them in “near hurricane-force winds” on Sunday [Feb 15].
Coast Guard crews responded to an offshore distress call from the 43-foot sailing vessel Sedona, which was disabled and adrift in a winter storm about 150 miles south of Nantucket.
The operator of the Sedona reported the vessel was without power and its sails were torn in the storm. He requested he and his father be removed from the vessel due to the degrading weather, with a report in Australia’s Herald Sun agreeing, saying, “Relatives of the pair, aged 65 and 38, revealed that the yacht had lost power and had its sails torn off in the howling snowstorm.”
Coast Guard helicopter crew returns from the rescue:
Another online report says, “Prior to the U.S. Coast Guard rescuing the father and son duo, their plan was to go towards Bermuda before setting sail southeast to the “tip” of South Africa and across the Indian Ocean to Australia.
“The 43-foot ship named Sedona lost all power in the midst of the violent winter climate. A beacon signal from Sedona went off around 4:50 a.m. Sunday that reached the First Coast Guard District command center in Boston. Their boat had lost power, but they were able to communicate with the command center via satellite phone.
“Officials say that a Cape Cod Coast Guard air station dispatched a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew that made it to the Sedona in about four hours. The vessel was discovered in 25-foot seas, according to the report.
“The Coast Guard was able to rescue the father and son by hoisting them from the water onto the helicopter in 60 mph winds. Once they returned to safety, they were taken to the air station in Cape Cod for medical examination. No injuries were reported.”
Coast Guard Petty Officer evaluates one of the sailors after he was rescued:
“According to Herald Sun, the father-son team are Australian and have been identified as Reg McGlashan and Jason McGlashan.”
The Newport Daily News said, “Jason McGlashan said the plan is to leave Narragansett Bay and sail south to Bermuda, a trip that should take about four days if the wind is right. After a brief stay there, head further south, round the tip of South Africa and take a straight shot home across the Indian Ocean.
A Coast Guard spokesperson said, “Watchstanders at the command center directed an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod to launch.
“Faced with worsening storm conditions, the aircrew launched successfully, but due to ice and low visibility the HC-144 Ocean Sentry support plane was unable to launch.
U.S. Coast Guard rescues sailors on February 15, 2015:
“Meanwhile, the command center issued an emergency request broadcast to ships in the area. The crew of the 600-foot motor vessel Maersk Katalin, about 40 miles away at the time, set a course toward the scene and agreed to provide communications support.
“After navigating through low visibility and near hurricane force winds, the aircrew arrived on-scene at 8:48 a.m., and hoisted the men to safety. They landed safely at Air Station Cape Cod at 10:50 a.m., and transferred both men to local EMS to be evaluated for cold weather injuries. None were reported.
“Given the severity of this storm, this rescue was a major effort and we are all relieved it ended as it did,” said Lt. j.g. Tyler Dewechter, MH-60 pilot and public affairs officer at Air Station Cape Cod.
“We are glad we were prepared for this storm and could render aid — and also continue to urge mariners to stay safe and heed the cautions and advisories of winter storm warnings.”
- Photos and video courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard
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Category: Accidents and fires, All, News
This pair buys the boat on Ebay, goes & takes delivery of it, then sets off in the N Atlantic at about the worst time of year with one storm after another forming.
What could possibly go wrong?
The USCG should bill them for rescue costs plus some for putting crews in danger unnecessarily.
I agree they left in a terrible storm, with other storms coming, these dumb and dumbers should pay the coast guard back
A bargain ocean-going purchase on eBay – as TD says, what could possibly go wrong!!!!
As they say in Australia, these two have a “kangaroo loose in the upper paddock!”
Why were they 150 miles off Nantucket this time of year in a small sailboat? Do these Aussies know it’s winter in the northern hemisphere this time of year?
Too bad these morons have reproduced. The gene pool could do without this kind of (apparently genetic) stupidity.
Wow – the Atlantic ocean is pretty unforgiving even in the summer months let alone during repeated winter storms with high winds. Another one for the “What the hell were they thinking” crowd.
I’d stick to sailing the Great Barrier Reef! Closer to home.
Straight from the new report.
“We’ve never done anything like this. Dad’s not even a sailor, but he’s a quick study,” said Jason McGlashan in his Australian accent. “We’ve got plenty of food, plenty of booze, good sails and all the safety gear you could ever need, so we’re going to be OK.””
Obviously they were prepared for it…
SMH…
“Plenty of booze” that’s all you need to know about these clowns. They’re lucky to have so far outlived their intellect, but thank goodness their stupidity has not yet cost others their lives. If the USCG had left them to their own devices, I’d have had no problem with that, particularly as one who pays for the Coasties through my federal taxes.
These guys are only slightly less brainless than the fool trying to run to Bermuda from Miami in the bubble. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in a boat in the HARBOUR on Sunday or Monday past. Another storm is due to hit us tomorrow. Crazy.
G’day,fair dinkum mate,these two are idiots!
Nut Cases!
From the report they were still 80 miles from the Gulf Stream, then it would have gotten really interesting.