WARRENTON, Ore. — A Coast Guard helicopter crew out of Warrenton plucked a husband and wife off a sailboat 180 miles off the coast of Grays Harbor, Washington, on Saturday morning.

The Coast Guard command center in Seattle received an emergency alert from a radio beacon at 5:46 a.m. from the 46-foot sailing vessel Kelaerin. The couple was sailing between Hawaii and Bellingham when they ran into rough weather and seas.

The helicopter arrived on scene at 9:33 a.m. and the crew lowered a rescue swimmer to assess the situation. While the boat wasn't actively taking on water, seawater had washed aboard and the aircrew hoisted the husband and wife to safety at their request because of health concerns. They were transported to the Coast Guard base in Warrenton and received treatment for symptoms related to hypothermia.

A marine broadcast was sent to warn vessel traffic of the drifting boat. Attempted salvage of the vessel will be at the owners' discretion.

- Ted Sickinger

503-221-8505; @tedsickinger