Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville received notification of the disabled sailing vessel, Second Wind, with three adults aboard at 10:26 p.m. Friday and immediately placed the mariners on a communications schedule, checking in with them every 30 minutes, and broadcast a request for other boaters in the area to assist.
The boaters were able to remain in contact with Coast Guardsmen and direct the rescue crews to their approximate location due to their VHF-FM marine radio.
Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Mayport, Fla., aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium were searching for the source of a flare in another location and diverted from that search at 12:59 a.m. Saturday to assist the sailors. The boatcrew arrived on scene at 1:23 a.m. and brought the three boaters aboard the RB-M.
The sailors were transported to Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville with no injuries reported.
"Due to the deteriorating weather conditions and 5-to-6-foot seas, the Coast Guard's response was paramount in ensuring the safety of these boaters," said Sector Jacksonville watchstander, Petty Officer 1st Class Omar Colon.
Coast Guard boat and air crews saturated the area surrounding where the flare sighting was reported and found no signs of anyone in distress. The search was suspended Saturday morning.
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