San Francisco sailor lost at sea is found

6:26 AM Mon 6 Apr 2009 GMT

'Search area' .

The U.S. Coast Guard has found a 26-foot sailing vessel captained by 39-year-old San Francisco sailor Sean Haggerty, who was reportedly lost at sea.

His boat, christened the 'Sea Hag,' was supposed to have taken off from the San Francisco area, traveling along the coast, 'stopping at various ports and coastal islands before arriving in San Diego.'

On Wednesday, he called his friends to tell them that neither his engine nor GPS were working.

He had not been heard from since and the alarm was raised..

The U.S. Coast Guard found the sailing vessel approximately 46 miles southwest of San Diego at approximately 7 p.m. Sunday.

US Coastguard Choppers involved in the search - .. .

Helicopters from Coast Guard Air Stations San Diego and Los Angeles, as well as a C-130 aircraft from Air Station Sacramento spent the day Sunday searching the California Coast from Point Conception south to the coast of Mexico. On the last part of the search before heading home, the crew of the C-130 spotted a sailing vessel with one person onboard, which matched the description of the Sea Hag.

The Coast Guard was initially unable to make contact with the vessel, so the C-130 crew dropped a radio to the boat. The Coast Guard Cutter Haddock was also dispatched to the location.

After radio contact was established, the Coast Guard was able to confirm that the vessel was the Sea Hag, and that the skipper was in good condition. However, the yacht was far south and west of his intended destination of San Diego and outside the prescribed obvious search area.

by U.S. Coastguard

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