Coast Guard assists in rescue of Oregon-bound boaters
The Coast Guard picked up four boaters from Oregon who were rescued by a Hong Kong-based cargo ship over the weekend after their vessel ran into trouble between California and Hawaii.
The crew of the 30-foot sailboat sent out a distress call Friday after it hit a submerged object, causing the boat to spring a leak and damaging its rudder. It mishap took place about 665 miles southwest of San Diego during a voyage from Mexico to Oregon, the Coast Guard said.
The cargo ship OOCL Guangzhou responded to the distress call and launched a small boat to assist. The sailboaters and their pet cat abandoned their vessel and took refuge aboard the cargo ship. The sailboat sank, the Coast Guard said.
On Sunday, the boaters were transferred from the Guangzhou to the Oahu-based Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island about 12 miles south of Oahu. The boaters were brought to Honolulu, where they caught a flight home, the Coast Guard said.