The U.S. Coast Guard helped in two early morning boating rescues today, and will be on alert this holiday weekend as people head to the beach to cool off as temperatures soar.

At 5:30 a.m. today, a 21-foot pleasure craft sent out a mayday call from north of the north jetty of the Tillamook River Bar. The two passengers on board had just set out to go fishing, a Coast Guard spokesman said, when they got disoriented in the fog and were heading into increasingly dangerous surf.

Air Station Astoria sent a helicopter to assist, and a motor lifeboat from Station Tillamook Bay headed to the scene. A beach rescue unit, a fully-equipped four wheel drive vehicle, was also sent to a nearby beach, and it was able to coach the vessel through the surf to the waiting motor lifeboat. The vessel was then escorted back to the dock in Garibaldi. The two boaters were from Lake Oswego.

At 7 a.m., another mayday call was received from a 22-foot pleasure craft that had hit the surf behind Twin Rocks near Rockaway Beach and run aground. The three people and dog onboard were able to get out of the vessel safely and were met by another beach rescue truck from Station Tillamook Bay.

The Coast Guard recently participated in Operation Dry Water during the weekend of June 26-28, in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

The operation was an enforcement effort designed to highlight the dangers of operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Boating under the influence is illegal in all 50 states and all six territories.

This year, marine law enforcement officers and the Coast Guard will be out in full force in 43 states and territories, searching for boat operators whose blood alcohol content is in excess of the legal limit of .08 percent. The local Coast Guard authorities will continue this effort through the Fourth of July weekend.

Boaters found to be operating under the influence can expect penalties including fines, impoundment of vessel, jail and loss of boating or even driving privileges.

“The Coast Guard in partnership with local law enforcement hopes to send a strong message this weekend that boating while intoxicated is a dangerous activity, which carries serious consequences and can ruin lives,” said Coast Guard Lt. Michael Friend, of Sector Seattle Enforcement Division. “Our goal is to ensure that everyone on the water enjoys themselves and returns home safely at the end of the day.”

Alcohol can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision and reaction time. It can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion, Friend said. Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion common to the boating environment intensify the side effects of alcohol, drugs and some prescription medications.

In 2007, the Coast Guard reported 21 percent of all boating fatalities were a result of alcohol use.