SILVER DOVER

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Tanker rescued single hand sailor

The US Coast Guard and the 'Silver Dover', en route from Limetree Bay, assisted an 80 year old single hand sailor in distress in the morning of Feb 4, 2023, in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 57 nautical miles southeast of Puerto Rico. His 44-foot sailing vessel 'Tao' had lost steering and the boater lost the ability to simultaneously access the vessel’s compass and emergency tiller. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan were notified by the skipper at 1:45 a.m., reporting the distress and requesting assistance. Coast Guard watchstanders established a communication schedule with the boater and issued an MARB for any vessel in the area that could render assistance. Later the communication with the sailing vessel got lost. With expected sea state conditions deteriorating by the hour, watchstanders proceeded to transmit an UMIB to advise nearby vessels of a possible distress and directed the launch of an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from the Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen to locate the yacht. The 'Silver Dover' responded to the UMIB and diverted to render assistance. As the Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene, the tanker came alongside the 'Tao' and embarked the boater. The Coast Guard aircrew then proceeded to deploy a rescue swimmer aboard the yacht and activate a Self-Locating Datum Marker Buoy to maintain awareness of the vessel’s position and advise vessel traffic to be on the lookout for the unmanned sailing vessel. The 'Silver Dover' reported the boater to be in good health and that he would remain aboard the ship it reached its destination in Houston, Texas, on Feb 11. Report with photo: https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-crews-tank-ship-assist-boater-near-puerto-rico/