CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard rescued two people off of a sailing vessel taking on water seven miles east of Racine, Wis., in Lake Michigan early Wednesday
At about 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, a search-and-rescue controller, from Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, received a distress call on VHF-FM marine radio channel 16 from the sailing vessel Dick and Jane. The captain stated that their propeller shaft was broken and that they were taking on water.
A rescue boatcrew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium, from Coast Guard Station Kenosha, Wis., launched at 12:07 a.m. Wednesday, and arrived on scene with the distressed boaters at 12:30 a.m. The rescue boatcrew immediately inserted a wooden wedge into the hole and securing it with a length of oakum, a common practice used to plug holes on vessels taking on water.
After slowing the incoming water and getting the water level aboard the sailing vessel to an acceptable level, the boatcrew towed the sailing vessel to the Pugh Marina in Racine and moored it at about 2:30 a.m.
The Coast Guard reminds boaters of the importance of having a VHF-FM marine band radio aboard your vessel just like these two rescued boaters. Using the radio, they were able to reach out for help when they needed it and were able to receive immediate assistance.