Coast Guard received a report of a disabled sailboat 50 miles off the coast of Jacksonville.  The sailboat had been demasted and had been dead in the water for two days.  The owner/operator had failed communications but had managed to send a mayday which caught the attention of a tug and was able to shoot a flare. In discussions with the subject, HE LEFT THE MARINIA WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH LED TO HIM LOSING POWER SUNDAY NIGHT, EARLY SUNDAY MORNING OFF OF ST AUGUSTINE HE WAS HIT BY A STORM THAT RIP DOWN HIS MAST, HE STATED THAT THE STORM WASNT STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THAT AND WAS SUPRISED IT CAME DOWN…73 YOM PURCHASED 35' BRISTOL SLOOP 5-WEEKS AGO AND DEPARTED PONCE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.  HEADED FOR CAPE FEAR NC,  HE HAD PURCHASED 3 NEW BATTERIES AND UNDERSTOOD THAT CENTERBOARD STUCK IN 'UP' POSITION WHICH PROVIDED LITTLE STABILITY.  HE WAS ILL ON SUNDAY AND DID NOT EAT/DRINK VERY MUCH.  ON MONDAY MORNING THE I/B DIESEL ENGINE FAILED TO START AND THEN SUDDEN/SHORT SQUALL DE-MASTED VSL DESPITE USE OF GENOA SAIL ONLY.  HE MADE APPROXIMATELY 6 MAYDAY CALLS BETWEEN MONDAY AFTER THE STORM AND TUESDAY NIGHT.  HE FIRED 1 FLARE MONDAY AFTERNOON.  HE SPENT TIME CUTTING OFF MAST/SAIL APPARATUS.  HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT T/V CALUSA COAST HEARD HIS CALL AND RELAYED TO USCG.  WEDNESDAY AM HE DECIDED TO EAT SOME BREAKFAST AND MENTIONED HE IS FAIRLY CERTAIN HE HEARD PROPELLER TYPE AIRPLANE.  WHEN HE CAME BACK ON DECK SHRIKE WAS ABOUT 100YDS OFF BUT HAD NO IDEA WE WERE LOOKING FOR HIM.
Ponce Inlet