The Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of two adults and one child aboard a disabled sailboat which sank 280 miles northeast of Hilo on Wednesday. The three arrived in Honolulu today, Thursday, aboard the rescue vessel.
Mitchell James, his brother Bradley James, and Bradley’s son West, 9, all of Edmondton, Alberta, Canada, were aboard their 39-foot sailboat Liahona. They contacted the Coast Guard Cutter Kiska Tuesday at 5:26 p.m. after becoming disabled in seas of 6-to-13 feet and winds of 34 mph. The vessel reportedly suffered damage to its top forestay and its engine overheated. Mitchell was on top of the mast trying to repair it when it cracked and he was thrown into the water. Bradley got him back onto the boat. They attempted to rig a makeshift sail but completely lost its mast in the extreme conditions.
Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu contacted the 800-foot container ship Horizon Reliance to request assistance under the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue Program. The Horizon Reliance was 149 miles northeast of the Liahona’s location
At 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning the Horizon Reliance reached the disable vessel. As the Horizon Reliance approached the vessel, the Coast Guard report says a swell caused the sailboat to capsize and sink, throwing the three passengers into the sea. Mitchell West says the high seas smashed the Liahona into the Horizon Reliance, causing the hull to crack and then the Liahona to capsize. Mitchell ended up on one side of the Reliance, with Bradley and West on the other.
The Horizon Reliance maneuvered and lowered a Jacobs’s ladder to conduct the rescue. Mitchell, 29, was rescued at 2:30 a.m. by the crew. Bradley, 32, and West drifted away. Bradley said he just kept comforting West, reminding him the rescue boat was close, and could see them. Both were rescued at 3:20 am. All passengers aboard the sailboat were wearing lifejackets with strobe lights, which enabled rescuers to keep them in sight.
All three rescued are reportedly in good condition and have been taken to Honolulu aboard the Horizon Reliance.
The Liahona was traveling from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Hilo.
The Kiska is a 110-foot patrol boat based in Hilo.
AMVER, sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, is a unique, computer-based, and voluntary global ship reporting system used worldwide by search and rescue authorities to arrange for assistance to persons in distress at sea. With AMVER, rescue coordinators can identify participating ships in the area of distress and divert the best-suited ship or ships to respond. There’s more information about the system at www.amver.com.
