A Coast Guard 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Quillayute River in La Push, Wash., arrives on scene to assist a Canadian sailing vessel in distress southwest of the Quillayute River entrance on Friday. Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard

The Coast Guard rescued a Canadian sailor in distress about eight miles southwest of the Quillayute River entrance near La Push on Friday.

Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle received a distress call from the 30-foot sailing vessel at around 10:30 a.m., with one person onboard. The sailor reported engine trouble and difficulty sailing in the 14-foot swells.

Sector Puget Sound launched a lifeboat crew from Coast Guard Station Quillayute River and diverted an already airborne helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles.

Both crews arrived on scene to assess the situation. The lifeboat crew took the sailing vessel in tow. An additional lifeboat crew from Station Quillayute River was launched and arrived on scene to assist.

A lifeboat crew from Station Neah Bay was launched complete the tow, due to restricted bar conditions at Quillayute River.

One of the Quillayute River crews transferred the tow to the Neah Bay crew approximately six miles west of Cape Johnson, Wash.

The crew from Station Neah Bay towed the sailing vessel safely to Makah Marina in Neah Bay, arriving at approximately 7:15 p.m.

About Deborah Bach

Deborah Bach is the editor and co-founder of Three Sheets Northwest. She is an avid sailor and long-time professional journalist. You can find Deborah aboard Three Sheets, an Island Packet 38, with her husband Marty and their cat Lily.

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