EPIRB aids in rescue of 8

The links below report on a dramatic joint-forces rescue mission on July 16 involving eight people, ages 15 and older, competing in the Barta Boys and Girls Club Billfish Tournament in Beaufort, NC. An ACR Electronics (www.acrelectronics.com) GlobalFix PRO 406 GPS EPIRB was activated when the 41-foot sport fishing boat Reel Time started rapidly sinking 13 miles off Cape Lookout, NC. The rescue mission began when the USCG received the captain's radio distress call relaying GPS coordinates. The USCG correlated this information with the Rescue 21 System. The EPIRB was turned on as an additional means of locating the survivors, who were floating in life vests in rough seas.  
 
USCG Senior Chief Jim Moore, Sector North Carolina, Operations Center, said EPIRBs are recommended for boaters venturing offshore. "I believe in EPIRBs. In this instance, this boat went down 13 miles out. Usually when you're in a fishing tournament, you go 30 to 40 miles out, where there's no radio contact. You absolutely need to have an EPIRB. It's an insurance policy."
 
Chris Wahler, ACR's Marketing Manager, said the boat captain was properly prepared. "EPIRBs and PLBs are designed to be used when all else has failed. In this case, the Coast Guard received the Mayday message from the captain. The EPIRB was turned on because the primary VHF radio sank with the boat. The beacon was their last link of communication with the rescuers."
 
Tred Barta, legendary sportsman and tournament co-founder, said the rescue was a lesson in survival. "If it was not for the ACR EPIRB onboard, there would've been a very real possibility that eight people could be dead. Now that I'm in a wheelchair, there's an ACR PLB on my chair at all times. What happened during our tournament proves that ACR is not only a great company that supports our event but it also makes a great product."

 
http://www.carteretnewstimes.com/articles/2010/07/18/news-times/news/doc4c420d2622287339476782.txt 
 
http://triangle.news14.com/content/top_stories/628192/8-rescued-after-boat-sinks-during-fishing-tournament/?ap=1&MP4
 
http://www2.wnct.com/news/2010/jul/16/21/boat-sinks-nc-coast-ar-302383/
 
http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/98603199.html