Coast Guard rescuers pulled five people from a 38-foot catamaran near Cape Lookout on Friday night as Tropical Storm Ophelia approached the state.

The Wanderful Life was anchored at Lookout Bight in 6- to 8-foot seas with winds reaching 35-40 mph when the vessel’s owner made a distress call about 7:13 p.m., the Coast Guard said Saturday in a news release.

A Coast Guard rescue vessel from Fort Macon responded, using flares to help navigate amid poor conditions caused by Ophelia.

The rescue crew got the five passengers, including three children, off the sailing vessel by about 9:20 p.m., the Coast Guard stated. No injuries were reported.

A Coast Guard helicopter from Elizabeth City helped light the way back to land.

The Wanderful Life was left anchored off the barrier island and will be examined once the storm passes, the Coast Guard stated.

Ophelia made landfall early Saturday morning with winds close to hurricane strength at 70 mph near Emerald Isle, west of Cape Lookout.

The Coast Guard urged boaters to stay off the water as storm conditions persisted Saturday.