Coast Guard rescues 4 off Long Island

Yikes. Glad they made it.

Coast Guard rescues 4 boaters from 12-foot waves off Fire Island, report says

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer pulled four boaters to safety after their sportfishing yacht was overwhelmed by 12-foot waves off Fire Island Saturday evening, according to Newsday.

greaterlongisland.com

What the heck are these people doing out in 12-foot seas in early April? If the CG rescue boat could not get out to assist them, they had no business putting everyone in such danger!

Damn lucky the Helicopter was able to reach them in time.

What the heck are these people doing out in 12-foot seas in early April? If the CG rescue boat could not get out to assist them, they had no business putting everyone in such danger!

Damn lucky the Helicopter was able to reach them in time.

Oh, but they must have passed their NY Safe Boating Course...

What the heck are these people doing out in 12-foot seas in early April? If the CG rescue boat could not get out to assist them, they had no business putting everyone in such danger!

Damn lucky the Helicopter was able to reach them in time.

Those were my first thoughts too. What the heck were they doing out there in weather that the Coast Guard would not go out in.

Common sense appears not to be too common.

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Here’s a video of the Coast Guard airlifting Captain Retard and 3 of his passengers off the boat. I’m giving the benefit of the doubt to the passengers that only the “captain” was a retard.

Agreed. If Captain Crunch decides to go out despite protests your options are only to jump overboard or stage a mutiny. And if you're an unknowing passenger, well... it's too late to take the class.

Mucho credit to Charlie Golf for their work.

Last news release I saw said the boat was left adrift, so what happens to the boat, doesn't look like a fishing boat.

Last news release I saw said the boat was left adrift, so what happens to the boat, doesn't look like a fishing boat.

There are Salvage Rights someone could claim and try to get possession of the vessel but it gets complicated. I doubt anyone who attempted going down that path would ultimately be successful, assuming the owner wants the boat.

AI Overview

Yes, if you leave your boat drifting in the ocean, someone else can claim it, but not immediately or automatically. Under maritime law, a boat left without a crew is considered
derelict, and while a finder can claim it, they generally do not get to keep it without following a legal process, and you retain ownership rights for a period of time.
Here is a breakdown of what happens under maritime law:

• Salvage Rights (Not Immediate Ownership): If another boater finds your drifting boat (a "derelict"), they can take it in tow and bring it to port. They are then entitled to "salvage rights," which means they can claim a significant reward (up to 50% or sometimes more of the vessel’s value) from you for saving it, but it does not instantly become their property.
• The "Finds" Law: If you have truly abandoned the boat with no intention of returning (e.g., you are rescued and have no way to recover it), the "law of finds" can apply. This allows the finder to claim legal ownership if they can prove the vessel was abandoned. However, they must make a diligent effort to find you, the original owner.
• Seizing the Boat: A salvor can file a lien against the boat. If you cannot pay the salvage reward, a court might award them ownership.
• Reporting Requirements: In most jurisdictions, a person cannot simply take a boat and call it theirs. They must report finding an abandoned boat to the authorities, such as the Coast Guard or the Receiver of Wrecks, to initiate the legal process of taking ownership.
• Liability: If you abandon a vessel, you are still liable for damages it causes to other boats, the environment, or if it sinks and needs to be removed, particularly if it's considered an "abandoned and derelict vessel".
  Mase Seitz Briggs +5

In short, while someone can save your boat and make a legal claim for it, they must work within maritime law. If you can prove it was not meant to be permanently abandoned, you can likely get it back, provided you pay for the salvage.

Last news release I saw said the boat was left adrift, so what happens to the boat, doesn't look like a fishing boat.

From Newsday article today:

“On Sunday, the intact yacht washed ashore at Fire Island's Democrat Point. Police and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officials determined there was no pollution threat, according to Roth, and the yacht's owner hired a salvage company to recover it.”

From Newsday article today:

“On Sunday, the intact yacht washed ashore at Fire Island's Democrat Point. Police and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officials determined there was no pollution threat, according to Roth, and the yacht's owner hired a salvage company to recover it.”

It was also in the description on the Coast Guard video.

Those Guard Swimmers and the rest of the crew have mayor Coyones, God bless them.👍