He was 86 years old, bound for the South Pacific, and he did not go alone. His dog was right there with him when he pointed the bow of the Willow Wind toward the open ocean.
The two set sail from Astoria, Oregon, in August. Their destination was Pago Pago, in American Samoa, a remote island roughly 5,000 miles southwest of California. A trip like that typically takes four to seven weeks, depending on weather, speed, and route.
But August came and went. So did September, and most of October. The sailor and his dog had not been heard from since August 20.
On October 24, a report came in to Coast Guard Pacific Area watchstanders about the overdue sailor. Then, on October 27, a Coast Guard station in Alameda picked up an emergency radio beacon alert from the Willow Wind. That signal changed everything.
Aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento were dispatched, including a C-27 Spartan and an HC-130 Hercules crew. Officials also reached out to nearby vessels for help.
The sailboat was spotted, and the motor vessel Grand Orion made its way to the scene. But rough seas forced rescuers to pause for hours before they could safely approach. When they finally did, the sailor and his dog were pulled from the Willow Wind, which had been left adrift with damaged sails.
The rescue was not quite finished. Two days later, a Coast Guard Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk crew hoisted the sailor and his dog from the Grand Orion, about 170 miles west of Ventura.
When medical personnel were able to check on the sailor, they found him weak and having difficulty walking but with no major injuries. He was transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital for further evaluation.
By the time they were found, the two had traveled more than 1,000 nautical miles together.
Coast Guard Cmdr. Jason Nguyen, Southwest District command center chief, called it exactly what it was.
“We are grateful to the merchant mariners and Coast Guard crews whose coordinated efforts brought this search to a successful conclusion. This case highlights the importance of carrying emergency communication equipment and creating a float plan so someone ashore knows your voyage plans.”
It is a story about a man who loved the sea enough to chase it all the way to the South Pacific at 86. And a dog who never left his side.
