On Monday morning, the United States Coast Guard went to the aid of the HMS Bounty foundering 160 miles west of the eye of Hurricane Sandy.

A distress call went out from the 180-foot, three mast tall ship at 6:30 pm eastern time on Sunday. According to reports, the tall ship was taking on water at two foot per hour, without power, with pumps that couldn’t keep up with the rising water.

Contact was lost with the ship after initial contact. The Coast Guard sent out a C-130 Hercules to track the vessel after being contacted by the Bounty Foundation, and communication with the Bounty was re-established. But, by 4:30 am this morning the captain of the vessel deemed her unsafe and ordered an “abandon ship” to the 15-man crew. The ship was 90 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. By 6:30 am Monday morning, two Coast Guard helicopters plucked 14 survivors from two twenty-five man covered lifeboats.

The first of the initial two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters hoisted five people from the first raft and flew them to safety, while a second Jayhawk plucked nine more survivors from the second raft.

A third Jayhawk is now at the scene searching for two of the crew still missing. The survivors were all flown to Air Station Elizabeth City.

The ship’s keel was laid in 1960. The ship was built for the filming of the film, “Mutiny on the Bounty starring Marlon Brando. The ship originally was to be burned at the end of the movie, but after Brando threatened to walk off the set, the plans changed.

The Bounty was later used in the movie, “Treasure Island” starring Charlton Heston in 1989. It was also on the set of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” as well as Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.”

The vessel was also available for charter, excursions, and sail-training.

The replica of the famous HMS Bounty had left Connecticut last week, sailing to Florida. It had tried to skirt Hurricane Sandy. Its failed in its attempt and became Sandy’s first famous victim at sea.