Coast Guard cutter from St. Petersburg assists disabled sailboat

ST. PETERSBURG — A U.S. Coast Guard cutter from St. Petersburg was dispatched Sunday morning to assist a sailboat taking on water in the Gulf of Mexico.

Occupants of the 37-foot boat issued a Mayday call around 7:20 a.m. to report they were taking on water and their engine had failed because it was "submerged in seawater," said Coast Guard spokesman Kevin Coyne. It was unclear what caused the water breach.

The sailboat was disabled about 16 miles off Anna Maria Island and was being towed to Long Boat Pass early Sunday afternoon, Coyne said.

There were two people aboard the boat, which was headed from Florida to Mississippi, Coyne said. No one was injured.

A small boat from Coast Guard Station Cortez in Bradenton was also sent to assist, Coyne said.