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UPDATE: Coast Guard Continues Search for Missing Captain of HMS Bounty

The HMS Bounty docked in Newport last summer during the tall ships festival.

 

Update: Tuesday, 1:38 p.m.

The Coast Guard continues its search Tuesday for the missing captain of the HMS Bounty, a 180-foot sailboat, approximately 125 miles southeast of Hatteras, N.C.

Missing is Robin Walbridge, 63, and deceased is Claudene Christian, 42.

The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Elm, a 225-foot buoy tender homeported in Atlantic Beach, N.C., arrived on scene at approximately 7:15 p.m. Monday and began searching for Walbridge. The crews aboard the HC-130 Hercules aircraft and the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., secured their searches for the night at approximately 7:30 p.m. Monday.

A crew aboard an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., began a four-hour search at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, and a Hercules aircrew from Air Station Clearwater began a morning search at approximately 7:15 a.m.

The Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin, a 378-foot high-endurance cutter homeported in Charleston, S.C., is en route.

The Coast Guard's is searching an area approximately 1,350 square nautical miles.

Update: Monday, 9:01 p.m.

The Coast Guard recovered the body of a woman and continues to search for a man missing in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, N.C., Monday.

Recovered was:

  • Claudene Christian, 42

Missing is:

  • Robin Walbridge, 63

5:30 p.m. A crew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., located Christian who was unresponsive, hoisted her into the helicopter and took her to Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City

The Coast Guard rescued 14 people from life rafts in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, N.C., Monday, and two remain missing.

Coast Guard Sector North Carolina initially received a call from the owner of the 180-foot, three mast tall ship, HMS Bounty, saying she had lost communication with the vessel's crew late Sunday evening.

Newport hosted the HMS Bounty during last summer's Ocean State Tall Ships Festival.

Rescued were:

  • Daniel Cleveland, 25
  • John Svendsen, 41
  • Matthew Sanders, 37
  • Adam Prokosh, 27
  • Douglas Faunt, 66
  • John Jones, 29
  • Drew Salapatek, 29
  • Joshua Scornavacchi, 25
  • Anna Sprague, 20
  • Mark Warner, 33
  • Christopher Barksdale, 56
  • Laura Groves, 28
  • Jessica Hewitt, 25
  • Jessica Black, 34

Missing are:

  • Robin Walbridge, 63
  • Claudene Christian, 42

The 14 people were flown to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., where they were met by awaiting emergency medical services personnel at approximately 10:15 a.m. with no life threatening injuries.

Crews aboard a C-130 Hercules and an MH-60 Jayhawk continue to search for the two missing crewmembers. Crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Elm and the Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin are en route to assist with the search.

The vessel is reportedly sunk, but the mast is still visible.

The Coast Guard 5th District command center in Portsmouth subsequently a signal from the emergency position indicating radio beacon registered to the Bounty, confirming the distress and position.

An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City launched aboard an HC-130 Hercules aircraft, which later arrived on scene and established communications with the Bounty's crew.

Watchstanders dispatched crews aboard two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City.

The first Jayhawk crew arrived on scene at approximately 6:30 a.m. and hoisted five people into the aircraft, and a second helicopter arrived and rescued nine.

The 16 people donned cold water survival suits and life jackets before launching in two 25-man lifeboats with canopies.

The vessel was reportedly taking on water and without propulsion.  On scene weather was reported to be 40 mph winds and 18-foot seas.

Related Topics: HMS Bounty and Hurricane Sandy

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