Boater not heard from for days found adrift 270 miles off North Carolina, rescuers say

A boater not heard from for nine days was rescued when a good Samaritan discovered his disabled sailboat 270 miles off Hatteras, North Carolina, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The identity of the boater and details of any injuries were not released.

A search for the Wayward Passage was launched Tuesday, Nov. 14, after the boater’s family reported it had not been heard from since Nov. 6, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a Nov. 16 news release. The boat set sail from Jersey City, New Jersey, and was overdue for arrival in Bermuda, officials said.

“The sailing vessel Time Bandit ... happened upon an adrift sailing vessel with tattered sails and a missing boom, matching the description of the overdue mariner’s boat,” the Coast Guard said.

“The good Samaritan made contact with the overdue mariner. Due to on scene conditions, the Coast Guard advised against an at-sea transfer. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Lawrence Lawson (WPC 1120), based in Cape May, New Jersey, arrived on scene Wednesday (Nov. 15) and safely transferred him aboard the cutter.”

He was hospitalized in stable condition and later reunited with his family, officials said.

Details of how and when the sailboat became disabled were not released.

“The search area for this case was nearly twice the size of Texas and the seas are very unforgiving,” U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Cmdr. Wes Geyer said in the release.

“We urge all mariners venturing offshore to carry a properly registered Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). This device can help pinpoint your exact location should the unthinkable ever happen.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2023 at 7:16 AM with the headline "Boater not heard from for days found adrift 270 miles off North Carolina, rescuers say."