Director explains why Marine Patrol didn’t respond to sailor in distress

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The Director of the Department of Search & Rescue has explained why the Marine Patrol Division did not get involved in the rescue of the yacht Ester Frances last weekend.

Save Tuitele said, in coordination with the the harbor master, it was decided that it was not safe to send the patrol boat to tow the yacht into port.

The reasons given for this decision were inclement weather and high tide, location of the sailboat was too far away from the harbor, and the sailboat was too big for the patrol boat to tow in.

The director stated that people need to keep in mind the Marine Patrol boats are not made to tow in vessels.

“We will conduct rescue operations to save lives but not save a vessel if a determination is made that such operations will jeopardize officers’ lives as well as everyone else involved.

The Ester Frances with lone sailor Dean Fletcher on board was pummeled by huge waves and strong winds, and was nearly grounded.

A commercial longliner, Mana o le Moana, which was 15 miles out was able to rescue Fletcher and tow his damaged yacht into port.

Local yachtsman Timothy Jones, who acted as the command center for the operation, was critical of why Marine Patrol and the Coast Guard were unable to respond.