BALTIMORE — The Coast Guard rescued four people Friday from a sailing vessel that was taking on water in the vicinity of Brandywine Light in the Delaware River, Pennsylvania.
A person aboard the sailing vessel, Pegasus, used a cell phone to call Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders early Friday morning and report the Pegasus was hit by another vessel and taking on water. The person said there were four people aboard the sinking boat.
A Coast Guard Station Cape May 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew, that was already underway conducting boardings, diverted to the incident.
Once on scene, the response boat crew disembarked the four people from the vessel and assisted in dewatering efforts. The vessel was reported to have a four-foot gash on its starboard bow.
The Coast Guard response boat crew took the four people to shore where their care was transferred to emergency medical services personnel. The people are reported to have minor injuries.
"This case was successful due to the crew's dedicated training and quick emergency response," said Lt. Dan Nelson, the commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Cape May. "Fortunately, the people aboard the sailing vessel Pegasus were able to contact Sector Delaware Bay for assistance, and the boat crew was in the right place at the right time to quickly rescue the four individuals."
Commercial salvage is establishing a vessel recovery plan for the sailing vessel, which sank as it was being towed into Anglers Marina, in Lewes Delaware.