Coast Guard Rescues Man In Rowboat 20 Miles Off Barnegat Light

PHILADELPHIA — A Coast Guard boat crew rescued a man from a rowboat in 8.5 foot seas about 20 miles east of Barnegat Light on Monday morning.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay were notified by the operator of the rowboat Sleipnirat about 11:20 p.m. that he was caught in bad weather while trying to row from New York to Scotland, according to a Coast Guard release.

A Coast Guard crew launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB) crew from Station Barnegat Light and sent out an "Urgent Marine Information Broadcast."

The rescue was made in 8.5 foot seas with 21-mile-per hour winds.

The Coast Guard boat crew plucked the 52-year-old man from the rowboat and transferred him to the rescue lifeboat.

“It was great to use my skills as as surfman to navigate the heavy seas and wind, and my crew did an outstanding job making this a successful rescue,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric Thornton, the coxswain on the MLB.

The National Weather Service warned of a high risk of rip currents and heavy seas on Sunday and Monday.

“We highly recommended always checking the weather before departing on any ocean excursion because conditions can change instantly," Thornton said. "Thankfully the operator was well prepared and hailed us on his VHF marine radio on channel 16. We were able to pinpoint his location by using our Rescue 21 radio system, and that saved his life.”

Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard