A Charlotte County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol boat this morning located a 31-foot sailboat 10 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico off Englewood’s Stump Pass. CCSO received a call at 6:19 a.m. concerning a lone boat captain in distress who contacted the Coast Guard for assistance, saying that his boat was taking on water, had lost power, and that his battery was dead. There was no medical emergency. CCSO Communications provided the latitude and longitude of the sailboat location. The CCSO Marine Patrol Boat was the first on scene at 7:35 a.m. and began towing the sailboat in four- to five-foot seas with rolling waves. The USCG out of St. Petersburg arrived about a half-hour later and took over the situation. The Sheriff’s Marina Patrol boat then made sure the sailboat got to Gasparilla Marina for repairs. The sailboat captain is out of the greater New Orleans area and rented the sailboat in St. Petersburg. Further details are available from the USCG.