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From the Coast Guard Web Site:

As waves of movie fans flooded into video stores to soak up the video release of the "Perfect Storm," Coast Guard men and women were standing by, ready to rescue people in trouble in the real world -- just as they did during the storm the movie was based on.

The crew of the fishing vessel "Andrea Gail" was lost in the freak, violent tempest that menaced the East Coast in October 1991. Though the Coast Guard was unable to help them, many others were rescued.

October 30, 1991 -- Three people from the sailing vessel Satori, and three crewmen from the Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter crew off the coast of Massachusetts. The Tamaroa crewmen were aboard a small boat that was launched from the cutter to rescue the crew from the foundering Satori, but the boat was damaged during the attempt. After the Satori crew was saved by the helicopter, the three Tamaroa crewmen were hoisted and everyone returned to land (this rescue is documented in the best selling book "Perfect Storm").

The Tam battling heavy seas

The Satori

Prop out of the water, Tam sliding into the trough of a thirty foot wave

Back into the trough after launching the small boat

Small boat heading out towards the Satori

Seen from the helo, the Satori is nearly laid on its beam by the wind

A slight respite from the wind, the Satori sails on the crest of a wave

Battered again by wind gusts, the Satori heels over.

The Satori viewed over the Pilot's shoulder.

The Tam, it's small boat, and the Satori all battling the elements.

The Tam's small boat approaches the Satori to throw over the immersion suits

Rescue Swimmer Dave Moore (left), and Scott Vriesman watch the drama unfold beneath them

Rescue Swimmer Dave Moore gives a thumbs up.

Moore assists the Tam's crew after they had to abandon the small boat

There are also two small videos. One of the Satori underway and the other of some Tam crew getting on their immersion suits on the Tam's fantail.

Oct. 30, 1991, 70 miles south of Long Island, NY -- Four New York Air National Guard helicopter crewmen were rescued by the Tamaroa after the airmen were forced to ditch into the sea. A fifth member of the National Guard aircrew was lost despite a massive search. The National Guard helicopter crew was returning from a rescue attempt of a solo sailor 250 miles southeast of Long Island. A Coast Guard helicopter located and attempted to rescue the downed National Guardsmen but storm conditions made hoisting them impossible -- whenever the H-3 tried to lower the rescue basket, it would get blown back, almost hitting the tail rotor. Instead, the helicopter dropped flares and used its high intensity searchlight to help guide the Tamaroa to the downed airmen. The survivors boarded the Tamaroa by climbing nets draped over the side of the boat.(This rescue is also documented in the book "Perfect Storm.")

For the actions performed in rescuing the Satori and the National Guardsmen, the Tamaroa was awarded a Unit Citation by the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

October 28, 1991, - Nine people were rescued from the sailboat Anna Christina 300 miles off the coast of Virginia by two Air Station Elizabeth City, NC helicopters, with help from the Navy aircraft carrier USS America which was staying out during the storm to assist the Coast Guard. The helicopters landed on the aircraft carrier to to refuel before continuing to the sailboat and hoisting the crewmen.

October 29, 1991, 400 miles east of Norfolk VA -- Four people were airlifted from the 40-foot ketch Snowy Egret by a Coast Guard helicopter, again with help from the USS America. Shortly after midnight the Coast Guard Cutter bear attempted to rescue the crew of the ketch, but the storm made the attempt too dangerous. The Bear's captain recommended that the Snowy Egret crew be hoisted because conditions were getting worse. A helicopter from Elizabeth City flew to the ketch, refueling on the America on the way. The storm also initially prevented it from rescuing the crew, forcing it to return to the America to wait for better conditions. The helicopter rescued the people from the ketch the next morning.