Boat from Stonington rescued on way to NYC

PORTSMOUTH, N.H – A 35-foot sailboat on a trip from Stonington, Maine, to New York City was rescued off the Isles of Shoals on Monday night.

The boat, Little Dipper, a 35-foot wooden sailboat, left Stonington en route to Sandwich, Mass. Its captain, Sasha Botbol, made arrangements to check in with relatives every 12 hours during the transit. When the boat had not been heard from in more than 24 hours, Botbol’s father notified the Coast Guard around 2 p.m. Monday, saying his son was overdue.

An urgent broadcast was issued by the Coast Guard and the National Weather Service in hopes of reaching a mariner who might have seen the vessel. The fishing vessel Big Stink responded to the broadcast, saying it had seen a vessel matching Little Dipper earlier in the day near Jeffrey’s Ledge. The Coast Guard Cutter Jefferson Island was diverted to that position but did not locate the vessel.

After multiple searches off the coast of New Hampshire by the Jefferson Island, Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor’s motor lifeboat and a helicopter from Cape Cod, the Little Dipper was located five miles east of the Isles of Shoals around 11 p.m. Monday.

Botbol said he had experienced engine problems and had intermittent power for his radio and navigation lights. Other than that, the captain was in good health.

The Jefferson Island escorted Little Dipper to Portsmouth where the motor lifeboat from Portsmouth Harbor took the vessel in tow and safely moored it at Wentworth Marina.