NEW YORK - Coast Guard crews coordinated in the rescue of two mariners in distress near Fire Island Inlet, New York, Friday. At 1:23 p.m., Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound command center received a call from a 28-foot Albin sailing vessel via VHF-FM channel 16 reporting their vessel disabled and requiring Coast Guard assistance.Sector Long Island Sound watchstanders diverted two Coast Guard Station Fire Island rescue boatcrews to the scene. Rescue crews were unable to pass a tow line to the vessel in distress due to the cycle of the seas. “Coast Guard Station Fire Island crews made multiple approaches to the anchored vessel and tried to throw lines over to tow,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Jordan, a boatswain’s mate at Station Fire Island. “With the wind and sea state, we determined it would be too dangerous to try and connect a line to their boat and the weather continued to deteriorate.”A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City arrived on scene, hoisted the two mariners to safety and transported them to Coast Guard Station Fire Island.Both mariners were wearing lifejackets and no injuries were reported.
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