The following is text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) — The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Heriberto Hernandez disembarked a family of three survivors from a capsized vessel at Sector San Juan on Saturday, following their rescue Wednesday night by the crew of the cargo vessel Jacamar Arrow in the Atlantic Ocean, in waters north of the Haiti and Dominican Republic border.
Rescued are U.S. citizens and Florida residents Steve Kopesky, 51; Jessica Kopesky; 41, and their daughter, who were transiting from Turks and Caicos to the Dominican Republic aboard the sailing vessel Lost Marbles, when their vessel began taking on water and capsized approximately 22 nautical miles northwest of Montecristi, Dominican Republic.
Coast Guard watch standers in Sector San Juan received a satellite phone call Thursday morning from the captain of Jacamar Arrow, a 654-foot Bahamian-flagged cargo vessel, who reported responding to a VHF Channel 16 distress call from Lost Marbles. Following a six-hour transit, Jacamar Arrow reportedly arrived on scene and the crew located the survivors in the water and rescued all three family members in good health. The survivors were reported to be wearing life jackets when rescued.
"In this case, the wearing of life jackets and the use and monitoring of a VHF marine radio saved lives," said Lt. Thomas Carman, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan command duty officer. "Having a properly working VHF radio allowed the survivors to call out for life-saving assistance. The Coast Guard applauds the rescue and actions performed by the crew of the Jacamar Arrow and commends the survivors on their use of lifesaving equipment."
The Coast Guard cutter Heriberto Hernandez later rendezvoused with Jacamar Arrow, embarked all three survivors and transported them to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they received further assistance from Customs and Border Protection Officers and Department of State of Puerto Rico officials.
