Man, 60, sailing from California to Hawaii vanishes as US Coast Guard searches
The US Coast Guard has launched a desperate search for a 60-year-old sailor who vanished while sailing from California to Hawaii.
Noel Rubio set off on the 2,471-mile voyage in his 32-foot Westsail sloop sailing boat Malulani from Long Beach on December 28 last year and had expected to arrive on the tropical archipelago on January 18. But the Coast Guard said the solo mariner last made contact with a friend 37 days ago, using a phone to tell him he was headed to Kaneohe, on the island of O’ahu.
Nothing has been seen or heard of the Noel since that period, and the only means of communication aboard the vessel Malulani is a VHF-FM marine band radio. Maritime authorities are now using all available means to determine the boat's location, including urgent marine information broadcasts (UMIB) and harbor checks in California, Hawaii, and Mexico.
READ MORE: Missing sailor on solo challenge 'may have drifted into shipping lane while asleep'
Noel Rubio's boat, Malulani, only has a VHF radio aboard for communication (USCG)Douglas Samp, a search and rescue (SAR) mission coordinator in the Rescue Coordination Center Alameda, said: “The Coast Guard is greatly appreciative of the expert consult advice on weather and routes provided by experienced trans-pacific sailors.”
Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'
“Mariners intending to conduct an open ocean passage are highly encouraged to have multiple layers of communication, including a VHF-FM DSC radio, HF DSC radio, satellite communications, and a 406Mhz electronic position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) as the notification of last resort to help SAR authorities locate your position in a time of need.”
The seas of California have been particularly rough over the last month (Getty Images)A series of severe storms have battered the coast of California during last month, which may have made crossing even more perilous for mariners.
On January 5, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency after over 160,000 households across the state were left without power. Dozens of flights were also grounded, and locals were warned to stay off the roads after the storm hit both Southern and Northern parts of the state.
Urgent messages are being broadcast in the hopes of tracking down Noel Rubio (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Nancy Ward, the director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, previously called the weather conditions the “most challenging” to hit California in the last five years. She commented: “We anticipate that this may be one of the most challenging and impactful series of storms to touch down in California in the last five years.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
