Couple sailing from Hawaii to Washington rescued by Coast Guard

Couple sailing from Hawaii to Washington rescued by Coast Guard
Published: Jun. 17, 2018 at 1:48 PM HST|Updated: Jun. 17, 2018 at 10:48 PM HST
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(Image: USCG) Coast Guard rescues couple from sailing from Hawaii to Washington
(Image: USCG) Coast Guard rescues couple from sailing from Hawaii to Washington

WARRENTON, OR - A husband and wife sailing from Hawaii to Washington had to be rescued by the Coast Guard after rough waters derailed their sailing trip on Saturday.

The couple, Jim and Joy Carey, was found 180 miles off the coast of Grays Harbor in Washington around 9:30 a.m. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew with the coastguard hoisted the couple from the vessel and transported them to the Coast Guard station in Oregon.

In 1991, the pair began a journey to sail around the world in the boat they've called home for nearly 30 years. They covered 70,000 miles and were one day away from completing their 25-year-old goal when choppy seas threw a wrench in their plans.

The Coast Guard District 13 Command Center in Seattle says that it received an EPIRB alert at 5:46 a.m. from the 46-foot sailing vessel Kelaerin.

The sailors were reportedly transiting between Hawaii and Bellingham, Washington, when they ran into rough weather and seas.The helicopter aircrew and a crew aboard a C-27 Spartan aircraft from Air Station Sacramento were launched to assist.

The helicopter crew arrived on scene at 9:33 a.m. and lowered a rescue swimmer to assess the situation.

The aircrew conducted the hoist at the request of the vessel owners because of health concerns.

The rescue helicopter landed at Sector Columbia River at 11:50 a.m. and transferred patient care to awaiting emergency medical services who treated the couple for symptoms related to hypothermia.

A marine information broadcast is being sent out to notify vessel traffic of the adrift sailing vessel. The Coast Guard says attempted salvage of the vessel will be at the owners discretion.

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