The Coast Guard said it was coordinating the rescue of a mariner in distress approximately 287 miles northeast of Hilo Friday.

Watchstanders at Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received an email report from an Amigo Net Ham radio operator that a mariner aboard the Australian-flagged sailing vessel Q-Wave was disabled and requesting assistance.

The mariner had less than one liter of water and no food.  The vessel’s motor was disabled, it had lost its dingy, its communications equipment was unreliable and it had sustained a tear in its mainsail.

A Coast Guard aircrew piloting an HC-130 Hercules airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point was launched and located the disabled vessel.

The crew dropped emergency supplies, including food, water and a VHF radio to the disabled sailboat.  The Good Samaritan vessel Fifth Wife was in the area, overheard communications with the disabled vessel and responded to escort the vessel to Hilo.