We had a licensed and experienced captain (with over 40 crossings) taking our Boston Whaler 370 Outrage from Key Largo to Marsh Harbor, Bahamas.  He hit a turtle and lost the cowling of the propellers, leaving the vessel powerless in a rapidly approaching storm.  One anchor had failed, and the second was barely holding the vessel’s position as the wind and seas tossed the powerless vessel toward a rocky and uninhabitable coast. As an experienced captain, the operator deployed all knowledge and resources to repair and secure the vessel as we worked from land to contact Sea Tow, Boat US, area captains, friends, and dock masters in the hope that someone could retrieve the captain or tow in our beloved Sugar Magnolia. After hours of desperately dialing for aid and all rescue attempts had aborted due to the rapidly deteriorating sea conditions and the storm that was now battering the Abacos with wind and high seas, we instructed the captain to deploy the EPIRB.

The USCG contacted us and gave us the vessel location and coordinates as they contacted their Bahamian counterpart and guided us in the decision not to deploy the life raft, as the most likely landfall would involve traversing dangerous rocky outcroppings and miles of uninhabited wilderness.  Local authorities could not reach the vessel or deploy resources.  They made calls to local fishing vessels throughout the night as we continued to facilitate rescue boats from the local harbor.  It was now well after midnight and as all rescue attempts were thwarted by the stormy seas, we prayed and were thankful for the beacon.

Thanks to the EPIRB, we were able to monitor the vessel’s location to ensure it was not being dragged onto the rocky shoals throughout the night, and a local resident kept eyes on the beacon from a vantage point on land until daybreak.  The captain remained on board and used the VHF and cell to maintain communications with a local captain throughout the night.  As dawn broke, the storm subsided for a moment, and a local vessel was able to make it out to rescue the captain.  The boat remained at sea as the storm resumed, and the rescue vessel did not have ample power to tow the Whaler to port.  The captain was eventually able to return to the vessel with parts to complete the repair and bring the boat to port under its own power.