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March
28, 2003
NEWS
From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatUS News Room at www.BoatUS.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
BoatUS RENTAL
EPIRB ASSISTS IN RESCUE OF
STRICKEN SAILING VESSEL OFF FLORIDA COAST
A rented EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) from the BoatUS
Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water’s EPIRB Rental Program
contributed to the safe return early this morning of a 42’ sailing
vessel stricken with mechanical difficulties during gale-force weather
off the Florida coast.
With five aboard, the 42-foot sloop PatentColorado.com was 15 miles
into a 42-mile Miami to Bimini crossing yesterday when a tornado-laden
weather front struck the vessel. Forced to drop sail and start motoring,
the vessel tossed in heavy seas killing the engine. Clogged fuel filters
were suspected.
“Things went from bad to worse quickly,” said BoatUS
member and skipper, Rick Martin. “With a change in wind direction,
temperatures dropped 10 degrees, visibility went to zero in minutes,
the seas turned nasty and three crew rapidly fell ill to seasickness,” said
Martin. Electrical problems also began to effect the boat.
With no engine and an uncontrollable
vessel in dangerous seas, Martin raised the U.S. Coast Guard on his
VHF radio. When he was unable provide
GPS coordinates, the Coast Guard asked him to activate the EPIRB. Activation
allowed rescuers to easily locate the vessel and arrive on scene. It
was later towed safely to harbor by a private tower. Back at the docks
this morning, Martin commented, “The BoatUS EPIRB helped save
the day.”
“The BoatUS Foundation makes these $900 life-saving devices
available for $50 a week as a public service,” said Ruth Wood,
president of the BoatUS Foundation. The program is funded by the
voluntary contributions of 535,000 members of BoatUS For more information,
call 888-663-7472 or visit http://www.BoatUS.com/foundation/epirb.
The mission of the Foundation
is to promote safe and environmentally sensitive boating, reduce accidents
and fatalities, and increase stewardship of our water resources. The Foundation
also operates the only accredited, free, online boating safety course,
a free Kids Life Jacket Loaner program, and awards grants to non-profit
groups for boating safety and environmental projects.
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