Coast Guard Rescues Four from Sinking Sailboat Near Bayboro Harbor, Emphasizes Life Vest Importance

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – A U.S. Coast Guard boat crew from Station St. Petersburg successfully rescued four individuals from the water after their sailboat sank in Tampa Bay on Friday, March 15, 2025. The incident occurred near Bayboro Harbor, prompting a swift response from maritime authorities.

Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg likely received a distress call or notification regarding the sinking vessel, dispatching a crew aboard a Response Boat–Small (RB-S) from the nearby station. Upon arrival at the scene, the Coast Guard crew found the four boaters in the water near their partially submerged 18-foot sailboat.

A widely circulated photo from the scene depicted the critical moments before rescue, showing three individuals afloat and supported by their personal flotation devices (PFDs). Strikingly, a fourth person, who was not wearing a life vest, was seen clinging to the others for survival, highlighting the immediate danger they faced in the open water.

The Coast Guard crew acted quickly, pulling all four people safely from the bay onto the rescue boat. Demonstrating effective inter-agency coordination, two of the rescued individuals were subsequently transferred to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) marine unit boat. The PCSO boat then transported them to the St. Pete Municipal Marina to be met by awaiting St. Pete Fire Rescue personnel for evaluation. While shaken, reports indicated all four individuals were recovered without serious injury.

In addition to saving the four boaters, Coast Guard crews also worked to recover the sunken sailboat from the channel, mitigating potential navigation hazards.

Officials did not release specific details regarding the cause of the sinking. However, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of wearing life jackets. Coast Guard representatives frequently emphasize that PFDs are essential safety equipment, dramatically increasing the chances of survival should an emergency occur on the water, as vividly demonstrated by the situation faced by the individual without one during this rescue.