Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy Rescued by Coast Guard in Nantucket Harbor
Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, had a scary experience on Monday, July 15, 2024, when his boat lost power and started drifting off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Portnoy, known for his strong online presence and funny personality, shared the event with his followers on social media.
He was taking his mother, Linda, for a boat ride when he unhooked his 28-foot boat from its buoys. Right away, he noticed something was wrong-the boat’s engine and breakers were not working, leaving them without power, radio, or anchor. Strong winds made things worse, pushing the boat further out to sea.
As the boat drifted through the busy Nantucket Harbor, Portnoy tried to avoid hitting other ships. He even shot a flare gun into the sky to signal for help but didn’t get a response at first.
He jokingly said, “Captain Dave lives to tell another tale. Third time as captain, already lost at sea. It’s a dangerous game, the sea’s angry, my friends.”
Luckily, the U.S. Coast Guard was doing a training exercise nearby. A local boater saw Portnoy’s distress signals, got on the drifting boat, and used their radio to call for help. The Coast Guard quickly responded and towed Portnoy’s boat back to its mooring.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Diolanda Ballero from the U.S. Coast Guard explained, “Sector Southern New England received a report from U.S Coast Guard Station Brant Point of an approximately 28-foot pleasure craft belonging to Dave Portnoy that broke free of its mooring in Nantucket Harbor and was drifting through the area.”
He thanked the Coast Guard and the Good Samaritan who helped him. He posted a video on social media, wearing his captain’s hat, talking about what happened and thanking the “four burly dudes” who rescued him.
He even joked about his future as a captain, saying he might be done with boating for a while.
The Coast Guard also responded to Portnoy’s thanks with a friendly message for his pit bull, Miss Peaches, saying they love her.