Valdez Sailor Rescued After Power Failure

Brianna Gibbs/KMXT
A boater was rescued from the 31-foot sailing vessel Etak Tuesday. A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter successfully hoisted the man from the vessel in the Gulf of Alaska, about 200 miles northwest of Sitka. The boater, who was not named by the Coast Guard, was transported to Sitka where he was met by medical personnel and reported to be uninjured.
The rescue comes after the man activated his emergency position indicating radio beacon, or EPIRB, when his vessel lost power Tuesday morning. The Coast Guard detected the EPIRB around 11 a.m., and after unsuccessful calls to the vessel, deployed the Jayhawk helicopter, as well as a HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Kodiak.
Due to the loss of power and weather at the time, the Coast Guard made the decision to hoist the lone boater, and leave the vessel. The Etak is currently adrift and unlit in the Gulf. A broadcast notice to mariners was issued, warning marine traffic in the area about the unmanned vessel. A self-located data marker buoy was placed on the vessel by the Coast Guard to track its location. Weather at the time was reportedly 30 mile per hour winds and 10-foot seas.