PORT HUENEME : Brothers Rescued After Boat Sinks

Two Port Hueneme brothers whose urchin-diving boat sank off Santa Cruz Island on Thursday were flown to safety by a Coast Guard helicopter after spending 90 minutes in the water, authorities said.

Jay Delaney, 30, and Kevin Delaney, 21, said they had 10 minutes to don wet suits when their 24-foot boat, the Honest Ab, began to take on water after an explosion.

The accident occurred about 2 p.m. several miles off Forney’s Bay at the west end of Santa Cruz Island. Jay Delaney, who had been diving for sea urchins while his brother stayed on the boat, said rough seas forced the pair to head toward the protected south shore of the island when the engine’s starter engaged at full speed and exploded. Water poured in over the transom.

“As soon as it happened, I told Kevin to get in his wet suit because we were going down,” Jay Delaney said after they were returned to the Coast Guard Station at the Channel Islands Harbor.

After sending a distress call by radio, the brothers abandoned the boat but held onto an emergency radio beacon to assist their rescuers.

It was the second time that Jay Delaney was aboard an urchin boat that sank. Three years ago, the Explorador went down in 18-foot seas while carrying 16,000 pounds of sea urchins, he said. Three crewman drowned before the others were rescued, he said.

This time, Jay Delaney said, he saved his diving equipment by stowing all of it but the diving weights in a bag and hanging onto it while the brothers treaded water and waited for help.