The U.S. Coast Guard rescued four Canadian mariners on Saturday after their luxury yacht the Moon Dragon capsized about 140 miles from Wilmington, North Carolina.
On Saturday afternoon, around 12:18 p.m., the Coast Guard Command Center in Portsmouth, Virginia received an emergency signal from the Moon Dragon, a yacht that charters between the Mid-Atlantic and the Virgin Islands, USCG said in a new release.
A rescue operation was immediately launched and when rescue teams arrived on scene, they spotted the overturned 60-foot catamaran and a covered life raft. All four passengers were found safe and uninjured in the raft, said the USCG, adding that they had used a radio to contact and request assistance.
A Jayhawk helicopter was sent from Elizabeth City, North Carolina to retrieve the stranded mariners. Once on scene, the Jayhawk crew safely hoisted all four people aboard and took them back to Elizabeth City, where they underwent medical assessment.
Video footage from the rescue shows a crew member pulling up a passenger on a "basket" back to safety.
What happened to the Moon Dragon?
The rescued mariners said that their vessel's port and starboard side hatches broke causing water to enter the catamaran and cause catastrophic flooding, which forced them to abandon ship. Winds were reported to be at 35 mph and seas at 11 to 12 feet.
USCG said that the Moon Dragon remains partially submerged and that the Coast Guard is "issuing a hazard-to-navigation" safety broadcast to notify mariners transiting in the area.
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Being prepared on sea
“The ocean is unpredictable and unforgiving, and this case represents perfectly the value of being prepared at sea,” said Petty Officer First Class Austin Lang, said in a statement.
Lang emphasized the importance of the Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB) – devices that alert rescue authorities and indicate your location – a proper radio, and a functional life raft in saving the catamaran's passengers and ensuring the success of the rescue.
“These sailors had the right gear on board, it worked, they knew how to use it, and it’s because of that we were able to find them and bring them home safely,” said Lang.
What is the Moon Dragon?
The Moon Dragon is a charter catamaran, which is a watercraft with two parallel hulls of equal size. Moon Dragon has six luxury cabins with room for 10 passengers, according to Ocean Getaways, a “boutique” yacht charter company.
The luxury yacht boasts natural teak hardwood flooring, quartz walls in the shower, several fridges and freezers, ice makers, lounging areas, and multiple entertainment options. Prices started at $58,000 per week, according to Ocean Getaways.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.
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