The Region - News from June 22, 1987

The U.S. Coast Guard credited two Laguna Beach ham radio operators with setting up a communications link that helped them find and rescue a man and wife adrift on their dismasted 29-foot ocean-going yacht 700 miles south of San Diego. Coast Guard Lt. Mike Parks of the Rescue Coordination Center in Long Beach said the sloop Grass Matinee, with Patrick and Susan Thomas of Woodinville, Wash., safe on board, was taken in tow by the cutter Venturous and is expected to reach San Diego on Thursday. He said amateur radio operators Dean Slater and Gregg Howe were instrumental in alerting the Coast Guard to the yacht’s problems and maintaining contact from Wednesday when the first distress call was heard until physical contact could be made.