76-Foot Motoryacht Sinks Off Puerto Rico, Crew Escapes in Liferaft

U.S. Coast Guard photos.

The crew of a Coast Guard helicopter rescued four men from a liferaft Sunday morning after they were forced to abandon a sinking motoryacht, approximately 25 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Rescued were four U.S. citizens from Boston and Florida, in their 20’s and 30’s, who were the only persons traveling aboard the 80-foot Clam Chowder, when the vessel began taking on water and started sinking.

One of the survivors cut his fingers while releasing the life raft from the Clam Chowder, according to the Coast Guard.

At 5:22 a.m. Sunday, watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a VHF radio Channel 16 distress call from the Clam Chowder, reporting the vessel’s stern was mostly under water. Despite having multiple pumps energized, the crew could not keep up with the flooding. The Clam Chowder additionally reported losing power and listing to starboard at which point the captain ordered the crew to abandon the vessel.

Watchstanders directed the launch of the Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered (WPC-1104) to search for and rescue the boaters. Watchstanders also issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast  to alert marine traffic in the area. The Malta-flagged 680-feet container ship Calais Trader received the call and remained on scene during the rescue monitoring the situation and ready to provide rescue assistance.

The Coast Guard helicopter arrived on scene and located all four men safely aboard the liferaft. The Coast Guard aircrew completed multiple hoists using a rescue basket to bring the survivors safely aboard the aircraft. 

“This rescue highlights the importance of having proper survival gear and the thorough preparation by the crew of the Clam Chowder,” said, Lt. Carlos Gonzalez, MH-65 Dolphin helicopter co-pilot for the case. “Having lifejackets, VHF radios and a raft helped save four lives today.”

The survivors were transported to Air Station Borinquen where they were transferred to awaiting Customs and Border Protection and emergency medical personnel.