The Fairfield Police and Fire Departments Marine Units rescued a New Rochelle, N.Y., couple whose boat had run aground on Penfield Reef during low tide on Saturday night around 11:40, according to Asst. Chief Chris Tracy, a fire department spokesman.
The 37-foot Egg Harbor motor vessel, owned by Ken Carlson and his wife Giselle Perez, lost all electronics on board and its bilge pumps were just keeping the water from coming in the rudder seals, according to Tracy.
Fairfield Police Boat 1 was dispatched to the Penfield Reef area and the Fire Departments Marine 7 was ready to launch from the South Benson Marina. A heavy fog had reduced visibility to approximately 100 yards, and there were heavy wind gusts and two-foot seas.
Police officers Greg Carroll and Jim Wiltsie were the first to locate the vessel about a quarter of a mile off the shore from Penfield Reef. With the low tide, the officers determined that the vehicle should be secured to allow the couple to walk safely to shore.
The couple was not injured. They stayed the night in a local hotel and SeaTow retrieved the vessel the following morning. It was taken to be repaired in Black Rock at Captains Cove.
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