The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(MONTEREY, Calif.) — The California Maritime Academy training ship “Golden Bear” assisted the Coast Guard with the rescue of two sailors off the coast of Monterey yesterday. Both the mariners and their boat were recovered safely and were reported to be in good condition.
At 1:08 p.m. on Sunday, the Coast Guard received a distress call from the “Blue Chip,” a 17-foot skiff with two passengers on board, saying they were disabled and adrift 80 nautical miles west of Point Pinos. The Coast Guard issued a Marine Assistance Request Broadcast, asking any vessels in the area to divert to the skiff’s location and assist the disabled vessel, if possible. The Coast Guard launched the 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat “Hawksbill” to respond to the situation.
At approximately 4 p.m., the training ship “Golden Bear” responded to the radio broadcast, and agreed to assist, diverting 48 nautical miles from their intended track to reach the disabled craft. Upon arrival on scene, the training ship deployed their rescue boat, and brought the two sailors safely onboard at 9:55 p.m. The crew of the training ship then used their cargo crane to hoist the disabled vessel onboard, and resumed their transit to San Francisco.
The 424-foot “Golden Bear” is returning from a two-month international training cruise, as part of the cadet professional development program at the California Maritime Academy.
The Coast Guard strongly advises mariners to ensure that their boat is outfitted properly, and used only for its intended purpose. This includes having properly functioning navigation, communication, signaling, and safety equipment, as well as being mindful of the risks associated with taking a small boat offshore. Additionally, all boaters are highly encouraged to leave a “float plan” with a responsible party prior to departing, making sure to include information about intended route, the names and land-side contact information for all persons onboard, the return date and time, and vessel description.
To view photos of the rescue, visit: http://cma-virtualftv.org/?p=7695
