the OPP
Around 8 p.m. on Saturday, an employee of a Minnesota houseboat company overheard a “may-day” call on Marine Channel #68.
The may day call indicated there was a stranded vessel in Bleak Bay, Rainy Lake for the past two days.
The employee of the American houseboat company immediately contacted Canada Border Services, which in turn contacted the Ontario Provincial Police.
OPP officers coordinated the search efforts with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary unit stationed out of Ash River, Minnesota.
The combined efforts of all agencies resulted in the US Coast Guard Unit locating two American anglers and their boat in Bleak Bay.
The 18 foot-vessel became disabled as a result of engine troubles.
With strong winds, the vessel drifted across Bleak Bay to the south side of the bay where the men and their vessel were out of sight and left stranded for almost 48 hours.
Neither of the men was injured as result of the incident.
