QUARTZ

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Catamaran sank near Virgin Islands

US Coast Guard and Virgin Islands SARunits rescued the three crew members of the sailing catamaran 'Quartz' near Horseshoe Reef, approximately six nautical miles southeast of Anegada, British Virgin Islands, on March 7, 2024. They were forced to abandon the vessel after it had struck rocks and began taking on water. At approximately 4:25 a.m., Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a Mayday VHF Channel 16 radio communication as well as a 406Mhz transmission from the EPIRB. The boaters relayed to watchstanders that they were planning to abandon the sailing vessel and embark the vessel’s dinghy. Watchstanders directed the launch of a 33-ft-boat of the Coast Guard Unit St. Thomas and an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from the Air Station Borinquen to find the boaters, and they also notified Virgin Islands SAR authorities of the ongoing distress. Shortly thereafter, a Virgin Islands Search and Rescue marine unit arrived on-scene and recovered all three boaters from the dinghy. All three were wearing lifejackets when rescued and were then transported to Tortola, British Virgin Islands. where they were assisted by the Virgin Islands SAR and local authorities. No medical emergencies were reported. Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3700057/coast-guard-virgin-islands-search-and-rescue-rescue-3-boaters-from-sinking-sail/