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The Coast Guard rescued two men Friday from their sinking boat 35 miles east of Kaneohe Bay.
The Coast Guard’s MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Barbers Point got to the two men at 2:34 a.m., and a rescue swimmer helped to hoist them from the vessel. They were flown back to the air station.
The captain of the 82-foot pleasure craft, Point Harris, notified the Coast Guard at 12:40 a.m. by VHF Channel 16 that the vessel was taking on water in its two forward compartments.
The men turned on their emergency positioning-indicating radio beacon and prepared to abandon ship, the Coast Guard said, adding that they could not get the water pumps to work.
The Coast Guard also sent an HC-130 Hercules plane at 1:50 a.m. and the helicopter at 1:58 a.m. The cutter Ahi was also sent.
The plane first arrived on scene at 2:09 a.m., assessing the situation, followed by the helicopter. The swimmer assessed that the vessel was no longer safe.
The winds was blowing
20 mph, and seas were 5 to
8 feet.
The vessel owner will work with the Coast Guard to salvage the vessel.