The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 11 people aboard a charter catamaran taking on water about 7 miles south of Dana Point Harbor, the agency said on Sunday.
Monitors from the Coast Guard’s Los Angeles/Long Beach sector received a distress call at approximately 6:20 p.m. Saturday from the operator of the 50-foot catamaran Manute’a, who reported flooding while the vessel was still making its way toward Dana Point Harbor.
The Dana Point Harbor Patrol and Orange County Sheriff’s Department were monitoring Channel 16 and immediately responded to assist, according to the USCG.
“Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach assumed command of the search and rescue mission, issued an urgent marine information broadcast, and launched a response boat from Station Los Angeles while diverting the Coast Guard Cutter David Duren,” according to a Coast Guard statement.
“The cutter’s small boat crew, along with partner agency vessels, arrived on scene, controlled the flooding, and safely transferred all 11 passengers to another charter vessel, operated by the same company.”
A tow boat arrived at the scene and took the Manute’a back to Dana Point Harbor.