ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to terminate the WaterTribe Everglades Challenge near Englewood, Florida, due to safety of life at sea concerns Saturday.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg have coordinated the rescue of more than 11 people from the water during the small-craft regatta, which started in Tampa Bay, Florida, and ends in Key Largo, Florida. There has been reports of people with various stages of hyperthermia and the weather on scene continues to deteriorate to 4-foot seas and 20-knot winds.
The Coast Guard will terminate the event at the first check point at Cape Haze Marina in Englewood.
"Our number one concern is safety of life at sea," said Chief Petty Officer Rob Davis, a search and rescue coordinator at the sector. "With the weather deteriorating quickly, no manifest provided to the Coast Guard and unknown safety spotters on scene, we will unfortunately have to terminate the event."
Crews from Coast Guard Cutter Hawk, Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg, Coast Guard Station Cortez, Florida, and Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida, are on scene and will continue to provide an escort and search and rescue support until termination is complete.
