2 Vessels Caught in Hurricane; 7 People Aboard 1 Craft Rescued

Seven people aboard a 70-foot yacht bound for Newport Beach from Florida were rescued Monday after being stranded in hurricane-battered seas for about 12 hours near Baja California, according to Coast Guard officials.

A second storm-damaged boat, a 60-foot fishing vessel from San Pedro with 10 aboard, remained in danger late Monday night, the Coast Guard reported.

The two vessels were swept up in Hurricane Darby, which produced winds up to 100 m.p.h. and waves up to 25 feet high in the waters west and southwest of Cabo San Lucas.

Coast Guard Lt. John Davis said that at least some of the crew of the San Pedro vessel Tutor are believed to have abandoned the ship and boarded a life raft about 100 miles west of Cabo San Lucas.

“We have Coast Guard planes flying over them and will try to keep them in view, but it’s going to be hard through the night,” Davis said. He said four ships were en route to the San Pedro vessel late Monday in an effort to rescue the crew members.

The Tutor was still afloat late Monday night, Coast Guard officials said.

Davis said it was not clear whether the crew still had the life raft tied to the fishing vessel.

The vessel had apparently undergone the worst by Monday night as Hurricane Darby moved out to sea and waves decreased to about 15 feet.

Earlier Monday, the Coast Guard succeeded in dispatching a commercial vessel, the Chiquita Roma, to save seven people aboard the Oasis. The Oasis, a private boat, was en route to Newport Beach from Florida when it became caught in the hurricane Sunday, Davis said.

The seven, who were not identified, were picked up at 12:44 p.m. Monday about 200 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Davis said. He said the Oasis had been reported sinking and was abandoned at the scene.

The seven will be taken to Port Hueneme in Ventura County, where the commercial vessel was destined before making its rescue. The ship is scheduled to reach Port Hueneme on Wednesday morning. One of the crew members is believed to have suffered a broken arm, but no other serious injuries were reported.