PELICAN STATE

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Tanker assisted distressed yacht

The Coast Guard Cutter "Manowar" and crew arrived at the yacht "Money Maker" on Oct 31, 2015, at 8:28 p.m. and started towing the disabled sailboat, with two men aboard, to Freeport after their sail was torn by weather in the Gulf of Mexico. The wife of one of the men called Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders at about 2 p.m. on Oct 30, after receiving a distress signal from her husbands SPOT satellite distress device aboard his sailboat, Money Maker. The signal position was about 110 miles off Rockport, outside the range of most land-based communication. Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders launched the crew of the Corpus Christi based Coast Guard Cutter "Steelhead", an Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane to respond to the possible distress. The HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew arrived on scene within the hour and made communication with the men. They reported no injuries and expressed their desire to stay with the sailboat. A life raft was deployed to the men from the aircraft as a precautionary measure and they were requested to signal with the SPOT every two hours until they were safe. The cutter and helicopter returned to Corpus Christi after finding they were not in need of immediate assistance. The crew of the "Pelican State" was passing by the sailboat at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday and made contact via VHF marine band radio. They stayed on scene for a couple hours to relay the men's status to Coast Guard watchstanders and help ensure their safety. Report with photo: http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2620654/