Coast Guard, partner agency rescue 6 people after boat capsizes near Davenport

MH-65 Dolphin from Air Station San Francisco. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jordan Akiyama (archive).

A Coast Guard Santa Cruz 29-foot Response Boat-Small boatcrew and Santa Cruz Harbor Master rescued six people from the water after their boat capsized near Davenport, Calif., Sept. 1, 2019. The Station Santa Cruz boatcrew and Santa Cruz Harbor Master recovered all six individuals, taking three survivors each, and transported them in stable condition to emergency services in Santa Cruz, Calif. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Coast Guard and Santa Cruz Harbor Master rescued six people from the water Sunday after their boat capsized near Davenport.

At 11:13 a.m., Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received multiple 9-1-1 relay calls about a 21-foot recreational boat taking on water with six people aboard near Davenport. None of the individuals were reported wearing a life jacket.

Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Santa Cruz 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew at 11:17 a.m.

The boat capsized and all six people entered the water at 11:41 a.m.

The Station Santa Cruz boatcrew and Santa Cruz Harbor Master arrived on scene at 11:58 a.m. and retrieved all six individuals, taking three survivors each.

A Coast Guard Station Santa Cruz 29-foot Response Boat-Small boatcrew approaches six individuals on their capsizing vessel near Davenport, Calif., Sept. 1, 2019. The survivors were treated for hypothermic symptoms and transported to Santa Cruz, Calif., where all six were transferred in stable condition to emergency services. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo)

The survivors were treated for hypothermic symptoms and transported to Santa Cruz where all six people were transferred in stable condition to emergency medical services.

“We encourage all mariners to have life jackets, as situations can change quickly on the water and wearing a flotation device can be a life-saving decision," said Capt. Howard Wright, the Sector San Francisco deputy commander. "Thankfully, the quick response and excellent coordination of Station Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Harbor Master, the Sector San Francisco Command Center and Air Station San Francisco saved six lives and was a great success." 

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Coast Guard rescues 2 from vessel taking on water near Año Nuevo Island

A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew rescued two people from a 57-foot Chris-craft taking on water approximately 3 miles off of Año Nuevo Island, California, April 18, 2019. The Dolphin crew hoisted two people into the helicopter and had to make an emergency landing at a parking lot in Santa Cruz due to low fuel, where emergency medical services met the crew. (U.S. Coast Guard video)

SAN FRANCISCO​ —​ The Coast Guard rescued two people from a sinking boat approximately three miles off the coast of Año Nuevo State Park, Thursday.

The owner of the 57-foot Chris-craft, Never Say Never, contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders at approximately 5:30 p.m., reporting that his boat was taking on water.

The command center watchstanders diverted a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Golden Gate 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew to the reported location of the boat.

The Dolphin helicopter crew arrived on scene approximately 10 minutes after they were notified, but had difficulty locating the Never Say Never through the dense fog.

The aircrew, using VHF channel 16 radio direction-finding equipment, was able to locate the Never Say Never.

The aircrew hoisted the two people aboard the Dolphin and departed en route to Watsonville airport. However, due to low fuel, the aircrew landed in the parking lot of the Sky View Flea Market in Santa Cruz, California.

Watchstanders coordinated with local police and emergency services to meet the aircrew as one of the survivors reported that they were experiencing chest pain.

Both rescued mariners​ were transferred to Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz.

“The most challenging part about this rescue was the dense fog offshore,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Dubinksy, the aircraft commander of the rescue helicopter. “This is a harsh reminder of the dangerous conditions we see this time of year near the coastlines. The sunshine can be very inviting, but the water is still very cold and the marine layer can surround you within minutes, making it very difficult to navigate back to shore.”

The Coast Guard reminds mariners that a VHF radio or an emergency position-indicating radio beacon are the best ways for mariners to communicate a distress to the Coast Guard.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jordan Akiyama (archive).

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Coast Guard rescues 2 boaters in Suisun Bay

SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard rescued two boaters in Suisun Bay Saturday, after their 21-foot vessel ran aground and began taking on water.

Vessel Assist personnel contacted Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders around 4 p.m., reporting the boaters had run aground in shallow water and their vessel was taking on water.

A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Vallejo 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew were dispatched to the scene.

Due to the shallow depth of the water, the Coast Guard and Vessel Assist boat crews could not reach the stranded vessel.

The Coast Guard helicopter crew lowered a rescue swimmer and hoisted both stranded boaters. The Dolphin crew transported the boaters to Buchanan Field Airport in Concord with no reported medical concerns.

The helicopter crew consisted of Lt. Samuel Hafensteiner, pilot; Lt. Paul Kraft, co-pilot; Petty Officer 3rd Class Steve Santoyo, rescue swimmer; and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jesus Hernandez-Rivera, flight mechanic.

“The crew performed exceptionally well,” said Hafensteiner. “With practiced precision, Petty Officers Santoyo and Hernandez-Rivera executed a difficult, 80-foot hoist from a 21-foot boat to successfully rescue these two individuals.”

The Coast Guard continues operations authorized by law that provide for national security or that protect life and property during partial government shutdowns; however, there are some impacts to our day-to-day operations. The Coast Guard stops or curtails mission activities that do not fall into those categories. Coast Guard uniformed personnel will continue to perform their duties during a partial government shutdown and will provide essential services such as search and rescue, port and homeland safety and security, law enforcement and environmental response.

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