Navy and Coast Guard rescue woman and girl from doomed sailing boat

A woman and her seven-year-old daughter were rescued from a French-flagged sailboat 925 miles east of Honolulu last week after being stranded in the Pacific for several days following the death of the captain.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the woman and girl were caught in Hurricane Gilma. Officials said a Coast Guard aircraft spotted the sailboat after learning of a distress call on Aug. 24. The crew of the Hercules aircraft was unable to make direct contact with the woman, but saw her light two distress flares as the sailboat was caught in the hurricane's waves and wind.

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The Coast Guard said it requested assistance from the U.S. Pacific Fleet and U.S. Third Fleet, which diverted the crew of the USS William P. Lawrence. The Seri Emperor, a 754-foot Singapore-flagged liquid natural gas tanker, was also diverted following a Coast Guard request.

On the morning of August 25, the Hercules crew attempted to make contact with the woman. Later that evening, the Seri Emperor crew arrived on the scene but were unable to safely disembark the woman and child due to deteriorating weather conditions, the coast guard said.

On the morning of August 26, a crew from the Navy ship William P. Lawrence arrived and was able to rescue the woman and girl with the help of a small boat crew. The Coast Guard said there was a dead man on board the sailboat, but his body could not be recovered.

“I am extremely proud of the crew's professionalism in planning and executing the safe recovery of two people from a disabled vessel under deteriorating conditions,” said U.S. Navy Commander Bobby Wayland, commanding officer of the William P. Lawrence. “My boat crew – especially the helmsman – demonstrated skilled boatmanship and good judgment as they approached the stricken vessel and removed the survivors from the boat. I also appreciate the remarkable coordination and intelligence provided by the USCG throughout the operation – it is very cool to see how smoothly the Navy and Coast Guard team works together.”

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The woman and the girl arrived “safely” in Honolulu on August 28. The Honorary Consul of France provided assistance to the family.