ST. IGNACE, Mich. — The United States Coast Guard rescued a 65-year-old woman on Tuesday morning, after her sailboat ran aground near Round Island in the Straits of Mackinac.
They received the call at around 4:30 a.m. that the woman — the skipper of the 35-foot boat — had gotten stuck while taking part in the Chicago to Mackinac Solo Sailing Challenge.
A rescue boat was dispatched to assist, but the waters were too shallow to get close enough. An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Traverse Citywas called in to help, but when they arrived shortly before 8:00 a.m., the helicopter suffered mechanical problems and had to divert.
A second aircrew then flew in, arriving at around 9:40 a.m. The pilot dropped off a rescue swimmer onto a nearby beach. Petty Officer Third Class Nick Trimpe waded through the shallow water, made it to the stranded woman on-board her boat, and carried her to shore. The victim was then hoisted up into the helicopter and taken to the hospital for evaluation.
