The U.S. Coast Guard boat from the Grand Marais Station talks to the captain of the Loon about the mechanical difficulties the sailing vessel was having on Saturday, July 30. The Coast Guard towed the stranded ship into the Grand Marais harbor.
When people monitoring VHF-FM marine radio channels hear a pan-pan message from the U.S. Coast Guard, they immediately pause to listen carefully. A pan-pan [pronounced ponpon] is the Coast Guard term used to signify an urgent communication—someone nearby could be in trouble. Such was the case at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 30. As the North Shore Dragon Boat Festival was wrapping up in the Grand Marais harbor, the sailing vessel Loon of Sturgeon, Michigan, suffered mechanical problems. With a lack of wind for its sails, the Loon was dead in the water about a mile outside the harbor.
The pan-pan message from the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan was heard by the Rubber Ducky of Grand Marais, piloted by Ben Silence, who headed out to render assistance. The Coast Guard crew at the Grand Marais Station also responded, reaching the Loon just moments before the Rubber Ducky.
Seaman Vanessa Scasny was on duty at Station North Superior in Grand Marais and reached by phone this week, she said the crew at Grand Marais crew responded in a small craft response boat. The Coast Guard boat looked much smaller than the larger Loon, but Scasny said the small craft response boat could tow up to 10 displacement tons. That capability varies with weather and the structure of the vessel being towed. The recovery took about an hour.
The Loon underwent repairs and left the Grand Marais Marina on Tuesday, Aug. 2.
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