Coast Guard Completes 28-hour Tow of Disabled Sailboat

Photo/ US Coast Guard

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard completed a tow of the disabled 54-foot sailboat Zulu at approximately 9 p.m. Saturday.

Coast Guard assets towed the Zulu more than 150 miles over a 28-hour period.

The captain aboard the Zulu initially contacted Sector North Carolina watchstanders via satellite phone at 11:30 p.m. Thursday, reporting the sailboat was disabled and adrift with three people aboard approximately 100 miles east of Oregon Inlet, N.C.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Block Island arrived on scene Friday morning, but due to heavy weather conditions could not take the Zulu into a tow until approximately 5:30 p.m.

The Block Island towed the Zulu to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, where a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Little Creek took up the tow and moored the vessel at Cobb Marina in Norfolk.

"This multi-day response illustrates the absolute dedication of Coast Guard crews to the safety of mariners in distress," said Capt. John Little, commander of Sector Hampton Roads.

No injuries were reported. 

Submitted:
U.S. Coast Guard