Distressed sailboat off Cape Breton successfully towed to Sydney

A distressed sailboat off the coast of Cape Breton has been successfully towed to Sydney, where everyone was found to be OKincluding the captain, who refused to leave his boat, even during the tow.

A Marine Atlantic ferry helped assistwith the rescue of theman and his dog.

At 5:15 p.m. AT thecoast guardship Spindrift was able to reach the sailboat and successfully tow it to safety.

The manrefusedto leave the struggling vessel, according to Darrell Mercer,a Marine Atlantic spokesperson.

The MV Highlanders set sail Mondayat 11:45 a.m. AT from Sydney, N.S., on its way to Port aux Basques, N.L., when the captain of the ferry got a call from the coast guard about a sailboat in distress about 20 nautical miles north of Sydney.

The ferry then shifted course to assist the craft, he said.

Maj. Amber Bineauof the Canadian Armed Forces said they received a signalfrom a personal locator beacon on the sailboat at about 2:15 p.m.

The 30-metre boat is a personal craft, she said, andits engine is disabled. There is also a hole in the hull just above the water line, she said.

'Typical for captains to want to remain on their vessels'

A Cormorant helicopter flew out to the vessel, but the man insisted on staying aboardhis boat, Bineau said.

"It is typical for captains to want to remain on their vessels," she said.

"Jurisdictionally, we don't have any authority to force an individualoff their property."

The Cormorant landed in Sydney in case the man changedhis mind or the state of the sea forcedan emergency evacuation, she said.

As of Monday evening, waves in the area were about three metres high, she said.

"It is a bit rough."

BineauthankedMarine Atlantic in being able to assist with the rescue effort.

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