Coast Guard rescues sailors 260 miles off Cape Hatteras

The Coast Guard rescued five sailors Nov. 6 after their catamaran began taking on water 260 miles off Cape Hatteras, launching a helicopter crew from North Carolina and coordinating with the Navy so the crew could refuel at sea on the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center received a distress call from the crew of the 58’ charter sailing vessel Magic Bus, reporting their vessel was taking on water and all five people aboard were abandoning ship into a life raft.

The mayday was noted on social media reports that the Magic Bus was sailing barehanded from its Stonington, Conn., homeport to Nassau, with the port hull taking on water and both engines out.

The Coast Guard diverted the 154' Sentinel-class cutter Angela McShan and launched an Air Station Elizabeth City HC-130 Hercules aircraft crew and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew. The Hercules crew located the life raft, with all five people aboard, established communications, and confirmed everyone was stable and in good condition.

Because of the long distance from shore, the Coast Guard coordinated with the carrier George H.W. Bush to provide fueling support for the Jayhawk crew while they were enroute to the rescue.

The Jayhawk crew arrived on scene and recovered all five individuals from the life raft in good health. The helicopter crew returned to the aircraft carrier for further refueling.

The helicopter crew and Magic Bus crew flew back safely back to Elizabeth City.