HMS Bounty, Restored In Maine, Sinks In Storm Off North Carolina

The Coast Guard was searching for the captain of the HMS Bounty late Monday off the coast of North Carolina. The HMS Bounty had lost power in Hurricane Sandy and sank after 14 other passengers were rescued. Another person who had been missing for hours was recovered, but was unresponsive, according to the Associated Press.

The Coast Guard used a C-130 Hercules aircraft and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter in the rescue effort. The 14 passengers saved were airlifted from a life raft about 90 miles off the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

The HMS Bounty, a three-masted sailing ship has appeared in two Hollywood movies, 'Mutiny on the Bounty' and 'Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man's Chest'. The HMS Bounty, which was restored in Boothbay Harbor in 2002 had undergone routine maintenance this fall in Maine. It was relaunched on October 22nd after getting painted, caulked and having the crew quarters overhauled.

The HMS Bounty was sailing from Connecticut to St.Petersburg,Florida and the HMS Bounty Organization, which owns the ship, alerted the Coast Guard early Monday morning that it lost radio contact with the ship Sunday night.

The Coast Guard said that during the rescue there were 40 mile-per hour winds and 18-foot seas.