Fire/rescue crews responded to a 3:23 p.m. alarm Wednesday (April 22) to the open ocean about 400 yards off Honolii Beach Park for a pair sailors in distress.

Rescuers found two females, who are visitors to the Big Island, sitting on the hull of an overturned 14-foot sailboat.

Using a Billy Pugh net Chopper One was able to airlift the visitors to shore for later transport to Hilo Medical Center to be checked-out.

The cause of the incident was reported to be inexperience of the two sailors.