Coast Guard rescues captain who fell off yacht

The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:

(MIAMI) — The captain of a 95-foot yacht was rescued by a Coast Guard air crew after he reportedly fell overboard from his vessel 10 miles northeast of Nassau, Bahamas.

While returning to Miami from a deployment, the crew of a Coast Guard Air Station Detroit MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter, forward deployed to Great Inagua, Bahamas, overheard a mayday call from the vessel Contessa.  

The air crew relayed the information to watch standers at Coast Guard 7th District Command Center in Miami, who contacted the Royal Bahamian Defense Force and launched an Air Station Clearwater, Fla., MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter based out the Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Center in the Bahamas.  

The Jayhawk crew located the captain, hoisted him to safety, treated him for minor injuries and transported him to Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau.

By Professional Mariner Staff