THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 23, 1994 TAG: 9407230244
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NAGS HEAD LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
A squall, a wave and a failure to communicate gave 10 vacationers on a rented pontoon boat a scare Friday, but no one was the worse for it afterward.
``I don't think we'll do the jet skis now that we had planned on,'' said Brent Wilson of Charlottesville. ``But everyone's fine.''
The group, which included three families and four children, had rented the boat from Nags Head Water Sports around midday, Wilson said.
The vacationers missed a quick storm that dumped sheets of rain, but a resulting high wave washed across the boat and caused the engine to stall.
James Meng, manager of Nags Head Water Sports, said he received a radio call from the boaters but could not return instructions because the boat radio continued transmitting.
Meng said he relayed a call for assistance to a fisherman, who notified the Coast Guard.
A helicopter was launched from Elizabeth City but was not needed.
Wilson said the front end of the boat was under water, and some of the younger children were frightened as the group donned life jackets.
Meng sped to the scene in a rescue boat and returned the vacationers to shore unharmed.
The group had been in town all week and planned to head out Sunday. ``Pretty bland vacation up until now,'' Wilson said. by CNB