Sailboat drama on the coast: A grounding, then a rescue

Their friendly sailing adventure would take them from Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts to Cape May, New Jersey

They sped through the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts and then passed Block Island off Rhode Island as they headed south into New Jersey waters on a 40-foot sailboat called the Scooch.

But boatmates Gregory Cotraro and Norman LeBlanc landed in Ocean City instead of Cape May. Landed in the truest sense of the word.

Battered by strong winds and choppy seas, the two sailors ran aground near the 22nd Street beach Saturday afternoon, sparking a battle by Ocean City police, firefighters and lifeguards to rescue them from the stranded boat.

During an interview Thursday recounting the sailboat mishap, Cotraro had nothing but praise for Ocean City first responders and the staff at Shore Medical Center in Somers Point, while thanking them for their professionalism and compassion. He also released a statement.

“Their professional response, coupled with their compassion, was overwhelming,” he said in the statement. “The citizens of Ocean City should have confidence in the protection provided by the police, fire, emergency services and hospital personnel.”

“Her commitment to the cause of helping others was evident to all who observed her performance during our difficult circumstances. I wish everyone who takes on the responsibility of helping others safety and protection,” he added.

The 77-year-old Cotraro was able to leave the stranded sailboat alone and went to shore in the shallow water. LeBlanc, 78, required the assistance of rescuers and was taken by ambulance to Shore Medical Center for treatment. Apparently he hit his head when the boat was hit by the waves.

“He had a welt over his left eye and a black eye. He hit something. His neck hurt,” Cotraro said of LeBlanc.

Cotraro also went to the hospital to be with his friend. Despite his injuries, LeBlanc appears to be doing well these days, Cotraro noted.

Fortunately, the sailboat also appears to be in good condition. The day after it ran aground, it was towed from the beach and taken to the neighboring Seaview Harbor Marina near Longport.

“The hull was perfect. There were no violations,” Cotraro said.

LeBlanc is the captain and owner of the sailboat. Far from being novice sailors, LeBlanc and Cotraro are experienced boaters who sailed to Cuba together eight years ago.

Cotraro is a retired construction worker who lives in Beverly, Massachusetts. LeBlanc, who owns a marine surveying business, is from Salem, Massachusetts, but has been using the sailboat as his home lately, Cotraro said.

For Cotraro, LeBlanc’s high-end Hinckley sailboat was easily able to make the trip from Massachusetts to Cape May.

“To me the boat was like a racehorse,” he said. “It was a capable boat. The sea was a challenge but the boat coped. It was a good trip.”

But as they were in New Jersey waters en route to Cape May, sea conditions became rougher and they decided to divert to Atlantic City, Cotraro said. They never made it.

“Last night the sea was mixed. It was a boiling teapot – totally unpleasant,” recalls Cotraro.

Cotraro vividly described how at one point during the trip the turbulent water “swirled around in my head like the exorcist.”

He said he was below deck while LeBlanc was on watch Saturday afternoon when “we felt the dent,” indicating the boat had run aground.

“It was one of those things where you wonder, ‘Did this really happen?'” Cotraro said.

Cotraro isn’t sure what exactly happened. He said the sailboat had a new engine, but there may have been a mechanical or fuel problem that caused it to run aground.

“The weather wasn’t the best. We wanted to go to Cape May. Then we changed course to Atlantic City. The engine sputtered. I don’t know if we sucked up bad fuel,” he said.

However, Ocean City Police Chief Bill Campbell said the boat ran out of fuel and came ashore.

The Ocean City Firefighters Association described the rough waves and rescue efforts by firefighters, police and lifeguards.

“Upon arrival it was discovered that a sailboat approximately 40 feet long was disabled and in distress and there were two souls on board. The ship quickly approached the sandbar and was hit by the broadside of the surf,” the association said in a Facebook post.

“A quick response and teamwork resulted in a positive outcome for the individuals involved,” the post continues.

Cotraro called first responders “phenomenal” and praised them for their rescue efforts and the compassion they showed while the two men were in the hospital.

“If you run aground anywhere, you run aground in Ocean City,” he said with a laugh.

The sailboat has since been towed from the beach and taken to Seaview Harbor Marina near Longport.