USCG San Juan Rescues SV Windward 35 NM North of Fajardo, Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Coast Guard Station San Juan crew and the crew of the research vessel Neil Armstrong assisted the distressed sailing vessel Windward in the Atlantic Ocean Thursday, approximately 35 nautical miles north of Fajardo, Puerto Rico.

Assisted were a man, 63, and a woman, 57, U.S. citizens, after the man, who was the master of the 48-foot Stonewall, Texas registered sailing vessel, suffered a laceration in his arm while trying to repair the Windward’s disabled engines.

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a VHF Channel-16 radio transmission from the sailing vessel Windward at 3:59 a.m. Thursday reporting the distress.

Watchstanders directed the launch of a Station San Juan 45-foot Response Boat Medium to the Windward’s reported position.  They also transmitted an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to advise marine traffic in the area to be on the lookout. 

The research vessel Neil Armstrong responded to the the callout, arrived on scene and dispatched a medical team along with an engineer aboard the sailing vessel Windward.  The medical team was able to stabilize the man’s injured arm, while the Coast Guard boat crew arrived on scene.

After completing the 40-mile transit, the Coast Guard boat crew came alongside the sailing vessel Windward to assess the situation.  The boat crew established a tow line with the vessel Windward in five to seven foot seas and transited 30 nautical miles, over five hours, until they reached safe harbor at “Puerto del Rey” Marina in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.  A Sea Tow vessel took over the tow, while the Coast Guard boat crew transferred the injured mariner to awaiting Emergency Medical Service personnel.  Following the towing evolution, the Coast Guard boat crew conducted a post-search and rescue boarding of the Windward with no findings.

“Overall, the crew did an amazing job assessing the situation,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Coates, Boat Station San Juan coxswain for the case. “All we had to do was bring the people we were helping to safety, luckily they had everything they needed.  They had and unfortunate situation, and we’re glad we were able to help them out.”

Christened after the legendary astronaut, the Navy’s 238-foot long research vessel Neil Armstrong is homeported at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Mass.