According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a yacht named Blind Date exploded around 17.5 miles off the coast of Sandy Hook, New Jersey this afternoon (six miles south of Long Beach). Reuters spoke with a Coast Guard official who confirmed it, so did the The Wall Street Journal. But after over 2 hours of searching, the Coast Guard has reportedly found no debris or lifeboats, and reporters and observers are now saying that the Coast Guard is pulling out its rescue operations because the whole thing might be a hoax.
Three NYPD helicopters were also involved with the rescue mission, but an NYPD spokesperson declined to comment.
[UPDATE / 7:31 p.m.] The Coast Guard has acknowledged to the AP that the incident may be a hoax
Coast Guard Lt. Joe Klinker says the caller reported the boat was 17 nautical miles east of Sandy Hook and had 21 people aboard and several people were injured. He says the caller said the vessel had sunk but everyone aboard had made it to life rafts.
Klinker says it's "highly unusual" for the Coast Guard to get this kind of position and get there quickly but not locate anything or see any sign of distress. He says it's unclear if a yacht called the Blind Date exists.
