Coast Guard Rescues 2 People, Dog Off Norcal Coast

MCKINLEYVILLE (CBS / AP) -- Two people and their dog are OK after being rescued from a sinking sailboat off the Northern California coast.

U.S. Coast Guard officials say after receiving a mayday call, then losing contact, they were eventually able to make contact again Friday morning with two people on a sailboat that was taking on water in heavy seas.

The Coast Guard sent a helicopter from Sacramento to try to rescue the couple from the 58-foot sailboat, which was about 130 miles off the coast of Cape Mendocino.

But because of the distance and rough conditions, the Coast Guard also sent a larger helicopter from Oregon.

When the second helicopter arrived on scene Friday afternoon, crew members rescued Chuck Fleer and Taz Kai, both of Tacoma, Washington, and their puppy called "Sadie."

A Coast Guard spokesman says Fleer, Kai and the dog did not need medical attention.