VIDEO: Eight people in disabled boat rescued 36 hours after setting off from Venice

UPDATED at noon to add additional information on the rescue.

VENICE, Fla. (WWSB) - Eight people were rescued from their disabled boat Saturday in the Gulf after leaving Venice more than 36 hours earlier, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Rescuers said a social media video posted by the captain contained a vital clue that helped rescuers locate the missing vessel.

The 26-foot Sailfish left the Marina Park Boat Ramp on Venice Avenue Friday Nov. 14, at approximately 9 a.m., according to the Venice Police Department.

After contact with the boat captain’s family on Saturday, Venice Police Marine Officer Brett Woodworth reported the overdue vessel to the Coast Guard in Clearwater at about 1:45 p.m.

A rescue team also began assembling, including assets from Venice Fire Rescue, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Sarasota Police Department, Sarasota County Fire Department, SeaTow and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office,

As an offshore search continued Saturday afternoon, rescuers received a social media video posted by the captain of the overdue vessel.

In the video, a magnetic compass could be seen, displayed a heading of 220–230 degrees. This information was relayed to the Coast Guard, which directed an aircraft from a Miami Coast Guard station to continue searching into the night based on that heading.

At about 10:35 p.m., the aircrew spotted the boat drifting about 30 miles west of Boca Grande, roughly 36 nautical miles southwest of the Venice Inlet, in 2 to 3-foot seas and 5-10 knot winds.

All eight persons on board were in good condition with no medical issues, the Coast Guard said.

The people were brought back to Venice and the disabled vessel was later towed into the Venice Inlet.

The people on board told rescuers only hours into the trip on Friday, their boat took a wave over the stern, causing water intrusion that disabled the battery supply, resulting in a loss of power.

They were adrift until they were rescued Saturday night.