The Coast Guard saved three mariners aboard a disabled sailing vessel more than 50 miles east southeast of Cape Lookout on Saturday evening, December 29.

At 9:45 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector North Carolina received notification of the 36-foot disabled sailing vessel Cloud from Sea Tow. All persons aboard the sailing vessel had donned their life jackets and there were no injuries or medical concerns aboard.

The Coast Guard launched Coast Guard Cutter Richard Snyder to assist and diverted an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City to establish communications with the vessel.

Once the Richard Snyder arrived on scene, the crew of the Richard Snyder towed the vessel overnight to Beaufort Inlet and transferred the tow to a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat from Coast Guard Station Fort Macon.

During the transfer of the tow, Coast Guard crewmembers noticed the sailing vessel had taken on water and commenced dewatering the vessel.

The mariners of sailing vessel Cloud then requested commercial salvage and the Coast Guard transferred the tow to commercial salvage.

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