GROTON, CT — City police officers rescued two people on a sailboat who were in danger of slamming into rocks near Fishers Island over the weekend, officials say.
In a post on Facebook, Groton Police Chief Louis Fusaro said officers Shawn Paradis and Matthew Monaghan were conducting routine patrol on the Mystic River on Marine One on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. when they received a distress call from a sailboat located east of Middle Clump, in the area of Fishers Island, N.Y.
Upon arrival, Fusaro said, officers located a 30-foot Catalina sloop sailboat on the Fishers Island Sound that was in danger of striking exposed rocks on Fishers Island. He said the vessel had lost the rigging supporting its spinnaker sail.
Fusaro said Paradis jumped onto the deck of the sailboat and assisted a Guilford man and woman onboard with gaining control of the spinnaker sail. He said the officers helped to secure the spinnaker sail and stowed it away below deck.
No one was injured, Fusaro said, adding the two aboard the boat continued on to Fishers Island.
"I applaud Officers Paradis and Monaghan for their quick thinking and teamwork to ensure those on board remained safe," Fusaro said. "Their ability to problem-solve under pressure prevented a potential tragedy. We urge boaters to always ensure that their equipment is functioning properly and to check local weather and water conditions before hitting the water or adding supplementary sails."
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