A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Point rescued three fishermen from rough seas yesterday after their vessel capsized off Kaua'i.

Search-and-rescue controllers from the Coast Guard's Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu received a distress signal from the 15-foot fishing vessel, Dauntless, at about 9 a.m.

A Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew was launched immediately from O'ahu. All three fishermen were hoisted aboard the helicopter at 11:27 a.m.

The helicopter rescue crew had arrived at Hanalei Bay at approximately 10:30 a.m. and sighted the three fishermen on top of the overturned fishing vessel. The vessel was already submerged.

A rescue swimmer was lowered into the water and sent each fisherman up to the helicopter in a rescue basket.

All fishermen were reported to be wearing life jackets and are in good condition. The fishermen used a Personal Locator Beacon to send a distress signal.

"Had they not had a PLB, we wouldn't have gotten the notification until hours later when they would have failed to show up at home," said Chief Petty Officer Seth Haynes, the Coast Guard District 14 search and rescue control chief.

"We were able to respond in 10 minutes rather than several hours."

The weather at the time was reported as strong, blustery tradewinds at 20 knots out of the north-northeast and seas of seven feet.