One Assist One Save

Just in from a on Ewing, Salty Paws 37VT66

Jeanne and I are moving our new 37 Lord Nelson Tug from MD to ME. This morning we left Port Jefferson at 7:30 headed for Block Island. We hadn't left the harbor when we spotted a 20 something foot boat in distress banging on the east side jetty. I felt it was not safe to maneuver close enough to assist so we notified Coast Guard Long Island. Luckily another smaller boat got them a line and pulled them off. 

At around 9:49 I was sitting in the pilot house scanning the horizon when I saw an odd looking buoy which appeared off the port side. It looked peculiar so I picked up a pair of binoculars to take a look. It was a blowup rubber inflatable the kind you buy for the beach. We were 7 nautical miles off shore and there it was with a man on board. I advised Jeanne that we were going to see if assistance was needed. The man started waving a orange wind breaker. At this point I again called Coast Guard Long Island and told them what we found and it was our intention to bring him on board. We came along side and Jeanne went to work securing his flimsy raft to the side of out tug. Winds were very strong gusting to 25 with 2 to 3 foot seas. Everything was rocking. Between the two of us we were able to hoist the man onboard. He told us that he had been in the raft for two days. 

We reported to Coast Guard that the man was on board and that he was some what alert. Jeanne let me know, as I was at the helm, that medical assistance was needed. Coast Guard dispatched a fast boat from New Haven CT and we were asked to steam toward New Haven so Jeanne and I had to hoist the 10 foot inflatable on board and secure it to the back of the tug. We headed for New Haven at 7.5 knots and met up with Coast Guard. They pulled along side while underway and made the transfer after removing the inflatable from our stern, in order to access our rear companionway. His medical condition was hard to tell as he was in and out for a while becoming more coherent as time went on. We treated him as one would for shock or hyperthermia just in case.

I made Coast Guard aware that I'm a member of 10-20 they seemed very appreciative and I was contacted by there Public Relations staff.


Bob Ewing