CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard rescued two men in southern Lake Michigan after their sailboat ran aground Monday evening.
The names of the men are not being released and there is no Coast Guard imagery or video associated with the case.
Just before 6:30 p.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan in Milwaukee received a mayday call over VHF-FM channel 16 from the men aboard a 37-foot white sloop. It was reported that their vessel had run aground on rocks approximately 100 yards east of Coast Guard Station St. Joseph, Michigan. The vessel was not taking on water.
Sector Lake Michigan watchstanders directed the launch of a Station St. Joseph boat crew, aboard a 45-foot response boat, and issued an urgent marine information broadcast which advises mariners of a situation, asks them to keep a sharp lookout, to report all sightings to the nearest Coast Guard unit and to assist if possible.
The rescue crew arrived on scene within minutes and assessed the situation. They found that the sailboat was not hard aground on the rocks, but instead stuck between two pilings. The rescue crew used lines to pull the grounded vessel free and then towed it to West Basin Marina in St. Joseph.
"As this rescue shows, having a reliable way to call for help is very important, said Mike Baron, the recreational boating safety specialist for the Coast Guard 9th District in Cleveland. "Because of their radio, the men were able to alert the Coast Guard and get help quickly."
No pollution or injuries were reported.