The Coast Guard assisted with the rescue of a boater Monday after the man’s 33-foot sailboat caught fire five miles west of Windmill Point in Chesapeake Bay.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads received a VHF-FM channel 16 broadcast from John Lee Brown Jr. at approximately 10:40 a.m., stating his sailboat was on fire. Watchstanders were unable to maintain communications with Brown after the initial broadcast.
A good Samaritan contacted the Coast Guard watchstanders and reported they had the burning sailboat in sight.
