The crew of the destroyer USS Gonzalez (DD 66), on training maneuvers off the coast of Virginia, were contacted by a merchant ship in distress about 10 miles away. They responded to the call, finding 56 foot Gypsy Dane which had been disabled and drifting for 4 days en route to Charleston, SC.
The crew repaired the rudder and freed a line which had wrapped the propeller. The report does not make clear if the sailboat and its 64 yo Canadian crew were injured, but it sounds like he and his boat, with steering and motoring restored, were back underway for Charleston.
Crew from the USS Gonzalez took apart the rudder and rebuilt it in situ, according to a report from PilotOnline.com. Rescue swimmers spent an hour in the water cutting away a line wrapped around both the propeller and rudder.
The repairs took about 6 hours, and as they were wrapping up the Coast Guard cutter Seneca [USCGC Seneca (WMEC-906)] arrived on scene. After talking with the sailor and assessing his stores and vessel they deemed him capable of carrying on to Charleston, SC.