Coast Guard rescues 9 from boat sinking off Sag Harbor

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued nine people on Sunday from a Stingray 19 powerboat that was taking on water just minutes before the vessel sank off Sag Harbor.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Vincent Bogan said a distress call was made at 6:55 p.m. Coast Guard and marine patrol officers from East Hampton and Shelter Island responded, he said. The Coast Guard, coming from Montauk, was first to arrive at 7:40 p.m., Bogan said.

Initially, he said, the Coast Guard didn't have a good position on the vessel, which was eventually located 2 to 3 miles from Cedar Point, northeast of Sag Harbor. "We pulled up, pulled the nine people off and about five minutes later, the boat sank," Bogan said.

The rescued boaters were handed over to East Hampton marine officers, Bogan said, and salvage specialists took the Stingray to Southold, Bogan said. It's not known why the boat began taking on water, he said.

"They were a little bit shooken up," Bogan said of the rescued boaters, "but they were just glad to see us. They were happy to see us there."