- Sailor missing for over two weeks in open-ocean crossing finally arrives in Hawaii
- Coast Guard utilized multiple methods to locate sailor, including guidance from experienced trans-pacific sailors and weather experts
- No details provided regarding cause of delay in sailor’s arrival in Hawaii
Additional Coverage:
A sailor who was more than two weeks overdue in arriving in Hawaii has finally made it, according to a news release by the U.S. Coast Guard. The 60-year-old sailor, Noel Rubio, departed Long Beach, California, on December 28 in his 32-foot Westsail sloop called Malulani, with the intention of reaching Oahu, Hawaii in three weeks. However, he did not show up on January 18 as expected, prompting the Coast Guard to begin a search for him. Rubio had not been heard from since he left California, except for a phone call with a friend.
Rubio’s boat only had a marine band radio for communication, and the Coast Guard stressed the importance of having multiple means of communication during open-ocean crossings. They utilized all available methods, including urgent marine information broadcasts and harbor checks in California, Hawaii, and Mexico, to determine the location of the vessel. Other sailors provided advice on possible routes Rubio may have taken, and weather experts were consulted to understand how weather patterns could have affected his journey.
The Coast Guard expressed their gratitude for the guidance provided by experienced trans-pacific sailors in regards to weather and routes. The efforts to locate Rubio were finally successful, and he safely arrived in Hawaii on Saturday. The news release did not provide any details regarding the cause of the delay.