Coast Guard Rescues Man, Dog From Disabled Sailboat

Photo/Coast Guard

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard rescued a man and his dog Wednesday after his sailboat became disabled in the northwest branch of the Back River approximately half a mile northwest of the Bell Isle Marina in Hampton.

The 41-foot sailboat was disabled, adrift and dragging its anchor.

Towboat U.S. notified Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders of the disabled sailboat at 10:15 p.m. Monday. Towboat U.S. reported that due to weather conditions, they could not safely approach the sailboat and requested additional assistance from Sector Hampton Roads.

Sector watchstanders dispatched a crew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat - Medium from Coast Guard Station Cape Charles and the Poquoson Fire Department aboard Fire Boat 1 also responded to assist.

Once on scene, the Coast Guard crew transferred the man and his dog from the 41-foot sailboat to their boat at approximately 2:00 a.m. Tuesday and took them to the Langley Air Force Base marina.

"This is a great example of how the Coast Guard and our partner agencies work together to assist mariners in need," said Capt. John Little, the captain of the Port of Hampton Roads. "Partnership and team building are some of the primary objectives we're building upon this week at our search and rescue forum in Hampton."

There are no reports of injuries and Towboat U.S. is scheduled to salvage the sailboat.