ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — A replica tall ship caught in Hurricane Sandy’s wrath began taking on water, forcing the crew to abandon the boat Monday in rough seas off the North Carolina coast. The Coast Guard rescued 15 crew members by helicopter, but the captain was still missing.

Coast Guard rescue swimmer Randy Haba helped pluck several crew members off a 25-foot rubber life raft. He was also lowered to a crew member floating in the water alone. He wrapped a strap around the crewman’s body and raised him to the chopper.