Coast Guard helicopter rescue crews hoisted six boaters to safety Monday from their 48-foot sailing vessel, the Aurora, which ran aground on the rocks just off Coral Bay, St. John.
The three men and three women, all U.S. citizens, reportedly chartered the Aurora in Saint Thomas for a recreational sailing trip in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the Coast Guard report.
The Coast Guard did not provide the names of the rescued boaters or where they are from.
Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a distress "mayday" radio call Monday afternoon from the grounded sailing vessel. A Coast Guard boat crew from Boat Forces Saint Thomas responded.
Two Coast Guard MH-65D rescue helicopters from Air Station Borinquen were also launched to deliver rescue assistance, while National Park Service Rangers deployed to the area by land.
Heavy seas prevented the rescue boat crews from removing the distressed boaters from the rocks, as the Aurora was hard aground and taking six to seven foot waves from the stern.
The first Coast Guard helicopter moved in to recover the boaters. After closely assessing the situation, the Coast Guard helicopter crew deployed their rescue swimmer to assist the boaters, who were all wearing life jackets, into the water and away from the rocks and the grounded vessel.
Five of the boaters were hoisted via a rescue basket aboard the Coast Guard helicopter, while the rescue swimmer and the remaining boater were recovered by the Sea Tow vessel.
The Coast Guard helicopter transferred four boaters to National Park Service Rangers on land at the scene, while one of the boaters with a foot injury was transported to the airport in Saint Thomas, where she was received by awaiting Emergency Medical Service personnel.
The second Coast Guard helicopter recovered the rescue swimmer and remaining boater from the Sea Tow vessel and transferred the boater to National Park Service Rangers.
"This was an amazing showcase on Coast Guard search and rescue capability, team work and interagency coordination," said Lt. Cmdr. Lawrence Gaillard, Air Station Borinquen MH-65D Dolphin helicopter aircraft commander.
"Coast Guard rescue crews rescued six people from a damaged sailing vessel on the rocks, and rescue swimmer Petty Officer First Class Matthew Baynes did a great job in coordinating rescue efforts with two Coast Guard MH-65 aircraft."
