Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard on Monday after his boat lost power and went adrift off Nantucket.
The 47-year-old executive said in a video posted on social media that he unhooked his boat from a buoy before realizing he had “no power, no radio, no anchor, no nothing.”
“Heavy, heavy winds,” he said. “Next thing you know, Captain Dave is lost at sea.”
We almost lost Captain Dave to mother ocean today. Thank you to the #uscoastguard for saving Captain Dave’s life. pic.twitter.com/hF5gYbmkSY
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) July 15, 2024
Portnoy’s mother was also onboard the boat at the time.
Portnoy said he fired a flare gun and a passerby in a rowboat was able to radio the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard told WBZ-TV that Portnoy’s 28-foot “pleasure craft…broke free of its mooring in Nantucket Harbor and was drifting through the area.” They were able to tow the boat back to safety.
“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 service branch said.
In an interview with NBC 10 Boston, Portnoy blamed his own inexperience for the situation.
“I’m a new boat guy — it was my third time out on a boat,” he told the station.