NANTUCKET, MA— It was a three hour tour that ended with Dave Portnoy stranded just feet from the shoreline in Nantucket harbor.
Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, found himself in a precarious situation off the coast of Nantucket on Monday when his 28-foot pleasure craft lost power and began drifting. Portnoy, who humorously referred to himself as Captain Dave during the ordeal, shared the incident with his followers via a social media video.
Portnoy explained that the outing was intended to show his mother his boat. However, upon reaching the vessel moored in Nantucket Harbor, he discovered it was completely without power, leaving him unable to use the engine, radio, or anchor. As he drifted, he attempted to send distress signals using a flare gun.
“Sector Southeastern New England received a report from U.S Coast Guard Station Brant Point of an approximately 28 ft pleasure craft belonging to Dave Portnoy that broke free of its mooring in Nantucket Harbor and was drifting through the area. Station Brant Point diverted from training and towed the vessel to its mooring,” a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson said in a statement. “We are glad that he used distressed signals and applaud the Good Samaritan for having a VHF radio ready to hail the Coast Guard.”
The situation took a positive turn when a young woman in a rowboat-like craft noticed Portnoy and contacted the Coast Guard on his behalf. The Coast Guard Station Brant Point, initially engaged in training exercises, responded to the call. Four members of the Coast Guard crew secured and towed Portnoy’s boat back to its mooring.
Portnoy expressed his gratitude on social media platform X, thanking the Coast Guard for their timely intervention and joking about reconsidering future boating ventures. The Coast Guard also issued a statement, praising the Good Samaritan’s use of a VHF radio to call for help and reminding the public about the importance of carrying various forms of communication, like a personal locator beacon or VHF radio, to ensure safety at sea.
