COAST GUARD RESCUES 9, SEARCH FOR 4 MORE CONTINUES

COAST GUARD RESCUES 9, SEARCH FOR 4 MORE CONTINUES

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – After rescuing nine people Monday, Coast Guard crews continue to search today for a sailboat with four people on board.

Coast Guard crews have scoured about 5,440 nautical miles since Monday in the search for the sailboat Flying Colours. 

This is one of four rescue cases that Air Station Elizabeth City air crews flew on in the last 48 hours. Nine people were hoisted by helicopters from three sailboats Monday, when heavy storms created seas in excess of 30 feet.

Two Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., C-130 airplanes searched through the night for the Flying Colours. An Air Station Clearwater, Fla., C-130 was launched this morning to continue the search about 160 nautical miles southeast of Cape Lookout, N.C.

The 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Tampa has been en route to the 100 square-mile search area since Monday.

Coast Guard search and rescue coordinators received an electronic distress signal from the sailboat early Monday, but the signal stopped at about 4 p.m. It is possible that the crew pulled Flying Colours into port, and turned off the distress signal.

Anyone who has information regarding the Flying Colours is requested to call the Coast Guard Fifth District command center at (757) 398-6390.

The Flying Colours is believed to have been sailing from the Caribbean to the Anapolis, Md., area.

The 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Tampa battles heavy seas while en route to the sailboat Flying Colours search area May 7, 2007.  The Coast Guard rescued nine people from three sailboats of North Carolina Monday. A C-130 airplane crew is still searching a 100-square-mile area for the Flying Colours and its four-person crew.
U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy Coast Guard Cutter Tampa.

The 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Tampa battles heavy seas while en route to the sailboat Flying Colours search area May 7, 2007.  The Coast Guard rescued nine people from three sailboats of North Carolina Monday. A C-130 airplane crew is still searching a 100-square-mile area for the Flying Colours and its four-person crew.
U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy Coast Guard Cutter Tampa.

U.S. Coast Guardsmen and emergency service personnel unload rescuees from an HH-65A Dolphin helicopter at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., May 7, 2007, for transport to Halyburton Naval Hospital. A team of Coast Guardsmen rescued the three boaters off the coast North Carolina. DoD photo by Lance Cpl. David J. Blake, U.S. Marine Corps.

COAST GUARD RESCUES 9, SEARCH FOR 4 MORE CONTINUES

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – After rescuing nine people Monday, Coast Guard crews continue to search today for a sailboat with four people on board.

Coast Guard crews have scoured about 5,440 nautical miles since Monday in the search for the sailboat Flying Colours. 

This is one of four rescue cases that Air Station Elizabeth City air crews flew on in the last 48 hours. Nine people were hoisted by helicopters from three sailboats Monday, when heavy storms created seas in excess of 30 feet.

Two Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., C-130 airplanes searched through the night for the Flying Colours. An Air Station Clearwater, Fla., C-130 was launched this morning to continue the search about 160 nautical miles southeast of Cape Lookout, N.C.

The 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Tampa has been en route to the 100 square-mile search area since Monday.

Coast Guard search and rescue coordinators received an electronic distress signal from the sailboat early Monday, but the signal stopped at about 4 p.m. It is possible that the crew pulled Flying Colours into port, and turned off the distress signal.

Anyone who has information regarding the Flying Colours is requested to call the Coast Guard Fifth District command center at (757) 398-6390.

The Flying Colours is believed to have been sailing from the Caribbean to the Anapolis, Md., area.

The 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Tampa battles heavy seas while en route to the sailboat Flying Colours search area May 7, 2007.  The Coast Guard rescued nine people from three sailboats of North Carolina Monday. A C-130 airplane crew is still searching a 100-square-mile area for the Flying Colours and its four-person crew.
U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy Coast Guard Cutter Tampa.

The 270-foot Coast Guard Cutter Tampa battles heavy seas while en route to the sailboat Flying Colours search area May 7, 2007.  The Coast Guard rescued nine people from three sailboats of North Carolina Monday. A C-130 airplane crew is still searching a 100-square-mile area for the Flying Colours and its four-person crew.
U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy Coast Guard Cutter Tampa.

U.S. Coast Guardsmen and emergency service personnel unload rescuees from an HH-65A Dolphin helicopter at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., May 7, 2007, for transport to Halyburton Naval Hospital. A team of Coast Guardsmen rescued the three boaters off the coast North Carolina. DoD photo by Lance Cpl. David J. Blake, U.S. Marine Corps.