Dave Portnoy says he was almost ‘lost at sea’ before Coast Guard rescue – National
Founder of Barstool Sports Dave Portnoy said he almost had his Shipwrecked moment after he and his boat were almost “lost in the ocean” on Monday.
In a video on social media, Portnoy said he was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after he was stranded on his boat without power, radio or anchor while trying to set sail in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
The business tycoon, who goes by the name “Captain Dave” in the video, said he wanted to take his mother for a boat ride but only realized after he undocked the vessel that the engine had no power.
“Captain Dave almost got lost in the ocean, Mother Ocean,” Portnoy recounted in a dramatic monologue. “No power, no radio, no anchor, nothing. Very strong winds. And then, all of a sudden, Captain Dave was lost at sea.”
NOTE: The video below contains strong language. Watch at your leisure.
Portnoy, 47, admitted to being “a relatively new boater” and said he forgot to check the boat’s power before unhooking the buoys.
Latest news from Canada and around the world
sent to your email address, as it happens.
He said he had to try not to hit other boats in the harbor as the wind pushed his boat further and further from shore. Portnoy fired a flare gun into the sky to call for help, but he said no one arrived.
“At this point I was clearly exasperated, sunburned – it was like Tom Hanks in Shipwrecked,” he said.
Finally, as Portnoy called for help, a woman in a rowboat approached the ship. The woman, who Portnoy said recognized him, climbed aboard and used a radio to call the U.S. Coast Guard.
Portnoy said “four big guys” from the Coast Guard came to his rescue. The officers towed his boat back to the harbor, with Portnoy safe.
“Captain Dave lives to tell another story,” he said, concluding his nautical tale.
Portnoy was visibly happy to be back on dry land and joked, “Captain Dave may never get on the boat again.”
In an official statement to WFXT in Boston, Coast Guard officials said they received a report of a 28 foot pleasure boat need rescue.
“We are pleased he used distress signals and commend the good Samaritan for having a VHF radio ready to call the Coast Guard,” the spokesperson said.
On X, the First Coast Guard District in Boston, Massachusetts, encouraged Portnoy to “boat safely” and wished his internet-famous dog luck, Miss Peaches.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
