I was competing in the WaterTribe Black Beard Challenge, a roughly 300-mile expedition sailing race run on small boats. By day three, we were pushing hard in heavy winds, trying to gain as much distance as possible and stay in the race.

A few hours earlier, we had already been forced to make a field repair to our rudder, but we were determined to keep moving. Conditions were challenging, but we were focused on continuing forward and managing the boat as best we could.

Then everything changed. The boat capsized.

We immediately began trying to self-recover. For around two hours, we did everything we could to right the boat and regain control of the situation. Despite our efforts, it became clear that the boat was not coming back up. It was taking on water and beginning to sink.

With no way to right her and the situation continuing to deteriorate, we knew we needed help. That was when we activated our ACR ResQLink AIS personal locator beacon.

The Coast Guard arrived about one hour and forty minutes later. I cannot describe how good it felt to see them coming toward us after everything we had been through.

Although the race did not end the way we had hoped, it was still an incredible experience. We are extremely thankful to the Coast Guard for responding, and to the ACR ResQLink AIS for helping bring them to us when we needed it most.