Couple riding out storm in raft 950 miles to north

Advertiser Staff

The Coast Guard last night was preparing a rescue this morning of two people in a liferaft riding out a storm 950 miles north-northwest of O'ahu.

The two, a husband and wife in their 60s, were in a covered raft in 25-foot seas and winds of nearly 60 mph, Coast Guard officials said. They are believed to be from the 32-foot sailboat Azure, a single-masted vessel that left Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua'i on Nov. 6, bound for Long Beach, Calif.

The Coast Guard received a signal from the Azure's emergency beacon before daybreak yesterday. A Coast Guard C-130 patrol aircraft from Barbers Point found the raft and spotted two people moving around inside, Petty Officer David Mosley said.

The fixed-wing plane dropped emergency gear, including a radio.

A commercial ship was routed by the Coast Guard to the scene and was expected to reach the raft about 6 this morning, Mosley said. The Coast Guard also was considering flying military parajumpers from California to assist those on the raft, Mosley said.

A Navy P-3C Orion patrol plane from Kane'ohe and a Coast Guard C-130 were on station in the area through the night.