2 people and dog OK after rescue from sinking boat

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Two people and their dog are OK after being rescued from a sinking sailboat off the Northern California coast.

U.S. Coast Guard officials say after receiving a mayday call, then losing contact, they were eventually able to make contact again Friday morning with two people on a sailboat that was taking on water in heavy seas.

The Coast Guard sent a helicopter from Sacramento to try to rescue the couple from the 58-foot sailboat, which was about 130 miles off the coast of Cape Mendocino.

But because of the distance and rough conditions, the Coast Guard also sent a larger helicopter from Oregon.

When the second helicopter arrived on scene Friday afternoon, crewmembers rescued Chuck Fleer and Taz Kai, both of Tacoma, Wash., and their puppy called “Sadie.”

A Coast Guard spokesman says Fleer, Kai and the dog did not need medical attention.