Two men were rescued off the Galveston Jetties by a US Coast Guard aircrew after their sailboat became lodged on the rocks Monday morning.
The men called Sector Houston/Galveston watchstanders at 6:05 a.m. and reported they had run aground at the tip of the south jetty. Station Galveston boatcrews arrived at about 6:45 a.m., but were unable to rescue the men since they were on the rocks.
The watchstanders deployed an Air Station Houston MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew, which arrived on scene at 7:41 a.m. They were able to hoist both the men off the rocks and deliver them to an awaiting EMS crew at Scholes International Airport. One of the men was treated for minor injuries by EMS and they were released.
The sailboat drifted off the rocks and began sinking. It came to rest on the bottom just after 9 a.m., about 250 yards south of the north jetty at position 29°20’37.4″N 94°40’54.4″W. The mast is sticking out of the water about 10 feet, but it is outside the ship channel.
[mappress] Press Release, October 14, 2014; Image: USCG