English Bay-Port Graham-At approximately 11:10 am on this Saturday, the "Gina Maria," a 34-foot wooden Chris Craft called in a "May-Day" to the United States Coast Guard to request assistance after striking a rock near English Bay.
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Alaska Wildlife Troopers out of Homer assisted with the distress call. Wildlife Troopers Chialkowski and Jaime, abroard the patrol vessel “Loyalty,” finding themselves in the vicinity, powered to the stricken vessel to assist the four boaters aboard. When they arrived, they found the vessel taking on water with damage to the hull as well as the in-board shaft and propeller.
While two of the members bailed water from the vessel, the troopers assisted the vessel to the beach at the village of Port Graham. There were no injuries reported.
The vessel, owned and operated by Peter Gribbon, age 47 of Anchorage, underwent repairs to the hull and was able to travel safely to Homer the next day.