THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 18, 1996 TAG: 9606180305
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 39 lines
A Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft from Elizabeth City, N.C., flew more than 1,600 miles into the Atlantic Monday to reach a sailboat damaged by an electrical fire five days earlier.
Three people aboard apparently were not hurt, but were unable to make much headway in the 39-foot sailboat because of a damaged mast, little electricity and no auxiliary engine.
``They are smack in the very middle of the Atlantic Ocean,'' said Petty Officer Al Bennett, a spokesman for the 5th Coast Guard District in Portsmouth. ``They couldn't be more in the middle.''
The sailboat, named Tiberias, is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Its last port of call was Bermuda and it was headed for the Azores.
The Rescue and Coordination Center in Falmouth, England, and the Coast Guard at St. John's, Newfoundland, received a mayday call from the Tiberias about 12:30 a.m. Monday, but had not heard from the vessel since.
The C-130 crew located the vessel about 8:30 a.m. Monday but had communications problems of its own and was unable to contact the Tiberias, said Bennett.
``Apparently, the sailing vessel managed to get enough power to radio a mayday,'' he said. ``But it only has line-of-sight radios aboard and can't make contact with us.''
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Fort George of the United Kingdom was coordinating the search efforts with the 5th District headquarters. The Fort George was en route to the scene and expected to meet the Tiberias on Monday night.
Another yacht, the schooner Borkum Riff, was nearby and expected to reach the scene earlier Monday.
The plan was to either tow or escort the Tiberias toward the Azores, 700 miles east, said Bennett.
Meanwhile, the C-130 crew flew to the Azores for fuel and rest. The crew is expected to return to Elizabeth City on Wednesday. by CNB