'I've never sailed': women rescued at sea admit they weren't properly prepared Read moreThe women told the Associated Press on Friday about a number of other communications devices but did not mention the Epirb. The device, which sends a distress signal and location, can be activated manually, or switches on automatically when submerged in water. During the post-incident debriefing by the coast guard, Jennifer Appel, who was on the sailboat with Tasha Fuiava, was asked if she had and emergency beacon on board. That was after the women reportedly lost their engines and sustained damage to their rigging and mast. A retired coast guard officer who was responsible for search and rescue operations said that if the women had used the Epirb they would have been found.

Source: The Guardian October 31, 2017 02:37 UTC