Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy was almost “lost to the ocean” and needed the U.S. Coast Guard to rescue him.
In a TikTok video recounting the harrowing ordeal, Portnoy told his nearly 4 million followers that he had taken his mom on his 28-foot boat which he launched out from a dock in Massachusetts. It was only after he had unhooked the vessel that he realized there was no power.
“Your boys almost lost Captain Dave today,” he said in the video. “Captain Dave almost was lost to the ocean, Mother Ocean.”
“Unhooked it to the buoys, turned the engine on – dead. Breaker’s dead. Captain Dave, third time out, made a mistake… Captain Dave unhooked himself to the buoy before he turned the boat on to make sure the boat wasn’t dead,” he explained.
“No power, no radio, no anchor, no nothing. Heavy, heavy, winds. Next thing you know, Captain Dave is lost at sea.”
@barstoolsports We almost lost @Dave Portnoy ♬ original sound – Barstool Sports
He tried to navigate through the harbor without power and yelled for help, but still drifted. Even shooting off a flare gun did not bring him the emergency help he needed.
Thankfully, a woman sailing nearby noticed him and boarded the boat.
“She boards Captain Dave’s vessel. She said, ‘Can I make a TikTok of you?’ I said, ‘No time for TikToks,’” Portnoy said.
She radioed for help and the USCG came to the rescue.
“Sector Southern New England received a report from U.S Coast Guard Station Brant Point that a 28-foot pleasure boat belonging to Barstool Sports CEO and Founder Dave Portnoy broke free from its mooring in the harbor, according to officials,” FOX 25 Boston reported. “Station Brant Point, which was conducting a training exercise at the time, diverted and towed the vessel back to its mooring.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard First District noted, “We are glad that he used distressed signals and applaud the Good Samaritan for having a VHF radio ready to hail the Coast Guard.”
“Captain Dave lives to tell another tale. Third time as a captain [and] already lost at sea. It’s a dangerous game. Sea’s angry, my friends,” Portnoy said.
“Captain Dave may never go on the boat again,” he added.
Portnoy thanked the Coast Guard for the help.
“You’re welcome, Dave,” the Boston-based First Coast Guard District replied on X, with a message for his dog. “Tell Miss Peaches we said hi and remember to boat safe!”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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