An 86-year-old man and his dog were rescued from a disabled sailboat drifting hundreds of miles off the California coast after authorities had not heard from him for more than two months.
The man had been sailing from Astoria, Oregon, to Pago Pago in American Samoa when contact was lost on Aug. 20, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday.
Authorities were notified Oct. 24 that he was overdue and began searching for him and his sailboat, the Willow Wind.
An 86-year-old man and his dog were rescued hundreds of miles off the California coast after authorities had not heard from him for more than two months. (U.S. Coast Guard)
Three days later, the Coast Guard received an emergency beacon signal from the boat. Aircraft and a cutter were dispatched to search the area, while nearby vessels were asked to help.
“Watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento C-27 Spartan aircrew and diverted an HC-130 Hercules aircrew and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward (WPC 1130), and requested assistance from nearby vessels,” the Coast Guard said.
That evening, a Coast Guard aircrew located the Willow Wind approximately 460 miles off San Diego.
The motor vessel Grand Orion arrived at the sailboat early the following morning, but rough conditions initially made it too dangerous to bring the man and his dog aboard.
The next morning, a Coast Guard helicopter crew transferred the man and his dog from the Grand Orion about 170 miles west of Ventura, California. (iStock)
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Later that day, the Grand Orion crew safely brought the pair aboard. The Willow Wind, which had damaged sails, was left adrift at sea.
The following morning, a Coast Guard helicopter crew picked up the man and his dog from the Grand Orion about 170 miles west of Ventura, California.
They were flown to San Diego, where the man was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital for further evaluation.
The Coast Guard did not release additional information about his condition.
A Coast Guard aircrew located the Willow Wind approximately 460 miles off San Diego.
“We are grateful to the merchant mariners and Coast Guard crews whose coordinated efforts brought this search to a successful conclusion,” Coast Guard Cmdr. Jason Nguyen said in a statement.
“This case highlights the importance of carrying emergency communication equipment and creating a float plan, so someone ashore knows your voyage plans.”
The Coast Guard could not immediately be reached by News Outlet for comment.
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