"Prepared" 2 Boaters Safe South of Sabine Pass

Coast Guard boat crew members from Station Sabine Pass assist two sail boaters aboard the 45-foot Response Boat - Medium, after their sailboat was battered in severe weather 16 miles south of Sabine Pass, March 21, 2013. The sail boaters used an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon device to notify the Coast Guard that they were in distress and required immediate assistance. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. j.g. Ryan McCue)

HOUSTON — Two boaters were rescued by Coast Guard members after their sailboat was caught in rough weather south of Sabine Pass, Thursday.

The boaters activated their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon at 10:52 a.m., to notify watchstanders at Sector Houston-Galveston that their sailboat had suffered extensive damage due to a sudden storm, 16 miles south of Sabine Pass. Coast Guard rescue crews were launched aboard a Station Sabine Pass 45-foot response boat and an Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter at 10:59 a.m.

A Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat - Medium navigated by boat crew members from Station Sabine Pass assist two sail boaters after their sailboat was battered in severe weather 16 miles south of Sabine Pass, March 21, 2013. The sail boaters used an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon device to notify the Coast Guard that they were in distress and required immediate assistance. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. j.g. Ryan McCue)

The rescue crews arrived on scene at 11:57 a.m., and transferred both boaters to the response boat. They were taken to Station Sabine Pass.

There were no reported injuries.

"These people were definitely prepared," said Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Mcclure, 8th Coast Guard District command center watchstander. "They had a device called a SPOT on board their boat that allows short messages and their GPS location to be broadcast to multiple agencies that could assist them. It's thanks to them being prepared and utilizing that emergency system that we were able to successfully conduct this search and rescue case with no problems. 


For more information on preparing yourself and your boat for the open waters go to http://www.uscgboating.org.