The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two boaters Sunday after their vessel lost its sail off the coast of southwest Florida during Debby, according to officials.
The boaters were found 73 miles off of Boca Grande around 5 p.m. after their friend reported they missed a check-in while sailing from Key West to Tarpon Springs.
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According to the USCG, there were 15-foot to 20-foot waves in the area, with low visibility and winds at almost 60 miles per hour.
“Some of the most important factors in any search and rescue case is accurate information and safety equipment,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Hooper, a search and rescue mission coordinator at Coast Guard District Seven, in a statement. “We received an updated satellite position from the boaters’ friend, which led to them being successfully located. This rescue was a collaborative effort between District Seven and Sector St. Petersburg while Tropical Storm Debby crossed the region.”
At the time, Debby was a tropical storm heading toward the Big Bend region. No injuries were reported in this rescue.
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