Maybe this voyage was a bad idea

The Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of an overdue 86-year-old man and his dog following a multi-day search approximately 460 miles off the coast of California.

Coast Guard Pacific Area watchstanders received a report on October 24 that the 33-foot sailboat Willow Wind was en route from Astoria, Oregon to Pago Pago, American Samoa, a distance of roughly 5,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, but it had not been heard from since August 20.

On Tuesday October 26, an alert was received from an EPIRB registered to Willow Wind, which directed a C-27 Spartan aircrew, HC-130 Hercules aircrew, and the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward (WPC 1130) for the search. The Spartan aircrew located the Willow Wind Tuesday evening.

The Grand Orion, a 199-foot cargo and vehicle carrier on a course from California to Japan, responded to assist. They arrived on scene at approximately 3:20 am Wednesday morning, but was initially unable to safely rescue due to rough seas.

At 5:36 pm Wednesday, the Grand Orion crew rescued the man and his dog from the dismasted sailboat.

Thursday morning, a Coast Guard Air Station San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew hoisted the mariner and his dog from the Grand Orion and transported them to Coast Guard Sector San Diego. Emergency medical personnel transported the mariner to Scripps Mercy Hospital for further evaluation.

“We are grateful to the merchant mariners and Coast Guard crews whose coordinated efforts brought this search to a successful conclusion,” said Coast Guard Cmdr. Jason Nguyen, Southwest District command center chief.

“This case highlights the importance of carrying emergency communication equipment and creating a float plan so someone ashore knows your voyage plans.”