6 Rescued From Sinking Sailboat Near Cape May
CAPE MAY, N.J. (CBS) -- The Coast Guard rescued five adults and one child early Thursday from a 68-foot sailboat 25 miles off shore from Cape May, New Jersey.
An emergency position-indicating radio beacon alerted Coast Guard watchstanders that the vessel was in distress around 10:46 Wednesday night.
A crew member aboard the boat confirmed the boat was taking on water in several locations. Each person on board was wearing a life jacket.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from the Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City and a response boat from Coast Guard Station Cape May responded to the sinking boat.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Wise, an aviation maintenance technician aboard the rescue helicopter said, "The sailing vessel looked very low in the water as we got on scene."
After unsuccessful attempted to dewater the boat, the six people aboard were transferred onto the RB-M around 2:30 a.m. Thursday and taken to the Coast Guard station in Cape May.