He left the Oregon coast with a destination thousands of miles away and a single companion on board: his dog. Then the radio went silent. For more than two months, nobody knew where they were, until a small device on the boat finally sent the signal that changed everything.
In short
- An 86-year-old sailor and his dog left Astoria, Oregon, aboard the sailboat Willow Wind, bound for Pago Pago, American Samoa.
- Their last contact was on August 20; the boat’s emergency beacon was detected on October 27.
- A merchant ship rescued both of them on October 28, about 460 miles off San Diego, according to reports.
A voyage across the Pacific
According to SanDiegoRed and Upworthy, which cite the US Coast Guard and FOX 5 San Diego, the sailor set off in August from Astoria, Oregon, aboard the Willow Wind, heading for Pago Pago in American Samoa, roughly 5,000 miles away. His last contact was on August 20. With the boat’s sails badly damaged, the Willow Wind ended up drifting.
The beacon that changed everything
A missing person report was filed on October 24. Three days later, the Coast Guard’s rescue coordination center in Alameda picked up a distress signal from the sailboat’s registered emergency position-indicating radio beacon, or EPIRB. A Coast Guard C-27 Spartan aircrew spotted the boat that night, while an HC-130 Hercules and the cutter Robert Ward were also involved in the response.
A rescue in rough seas
Strong winds and heavy swells delayed the rescue. The commercial vessel Grand Orion answered the call and, on October 28, its crew brought the sailor and his dog safely aboard. The next morning, a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station San Diego hoisted them from the ship and flew them to Coast Guard Sector San Diego. The sailor was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital to be checked.
“This case highlights the importance of carrying emergency communication equipment,” said Cmdr. Jason Nguyen of the Coast Guard’s Southwest District, thanking the merchant mariners and Coast Guard crews involved.
Still adventurous at 86
Setting off alone across the Pacific at 86 is not something most people would attempt. Like Mick Jagger, still training five or six days a week at 83 or Jane Fonda, who keeps moving at 88, this sailor is a reminder that age does not always stop people from chasing big plans, even if this one did not go to plan.
The limit
The sailor and his dog have not been publicly named, and no update on their health has been released. Reports differ slightly on the exact location of the rescue, given as about 460 miles off San Diego, with the transfer described as taking place 170 miles west of Ventura. The details here come from local and national reports citing the Coast Guard.
The bottom line
For more than two months, an 86-year-old sailor and his dog were lost somewhere in the Pacific. In the end, a small beacon on board did what no one else could: it told the world exactly where to find them.
