Coast Guard saves mariner whose sailboat flipped in Northport Bay

The U.S. Coast Guard station at Eatons Neck rescued a boater Friday afternoon whose small sailboat had flipped in Northport Bay.

Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound got word about 4:15 p.m. of a 14-foot sailing vessel that was reported as being in distress -- the boat had flipped several times and the captain was having trouble keeping it upright.

Station Eatons Neck got to the scene 10 minutes later and helped the mariner, who was wearing a life jacket and wet suit, to safety. A news release said despite the chilly water, the boater was in good condition because he'd come prepared.

"After a few attempts of trying to right his boat, he became exhausted," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Swieciki, a boatswain's mate at Station Eatons Neck, in a statement. "Because of the time of the year, if it were a different scenario and he wasn't wearing the proper stuff, he could have gotten hypothermic with the distance he would have had to swim to shore. He was very well-prepared and had everything he needed."

The mariner and his boat were taken to the Center Point Yacht Club.