Coast Guard, Air National Guard Continue Search For 4 Missing Sailors Near The Farrallon Islands

The US Coast Guard and Air National Guard continue to search for four individuals who remain missing following Saturday's grounding of the sailing vessel Low Speed Chase near the Farallon Islands.

Coast Guard air assets conducted a search for missing crewmembers throughout much of Sunday evening, with the exception of a temporary suspension in the early morning hours due to low visibility and adverse weather conditions.  Improved conditions and daylight enabled a continuation of search operations by daybreak Sunday using a Coast Guard C-130 from Air Station Sacramento, an MH-65 from Air Station San Francisco, two Blackhawk helicopters from the 129th Air National Guard Rescue Wing at Moffett Field, the 225-foot Coast Guard Cutter Aspen, the 87-foot Cutters Pike and Sockeye, and a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Golden Gate.  The number of assets involved in the search was increased to account for the expanding size of the search area, which was approximately 15 X 30 miles as of early Sunday morning.

According to reports by the vessel master who survived the incident, the Low Speed Chase was transiting around the Farallon Islands when it was struck by a series of large waves that rolled the vessel multiple times, causing crew members to enter the water and ultimately running the vessel aground. The vessel remains intact on the rocks.

"The Coast Guard recognizes the difficulties being faced by family and friends of the missing and deceased," said Capt. Cynthia Stowe, Sector San Francisco commanding officer. "The Coast Guard extends our thoughts and prayers to all those involved."

FMI: www.uscg.mil, www.ang.af.mil