Coast Guard helps trans-Pacific sailor reach California
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Coast Guard has brought a 78-year-old sailor to a California port after he repeatedly ran low on provisions during a five-month trip across the Pacific in a sailboat and requested help.
The Coast Guard says a cutter took the sailboat Mayfly under tow Wednesday southwest of Los Angeles and transferred the tow early Thursday to a vessel that brought it into Channel Islands Harbor.
A statement says the Coast Guard first helped the unidentified sailor when his brother reported on Oct. 29 that the mariner left Japan at the end of May and expected to arrive in San Francisco in late August, but lack of wind was lengthening the trip.
A vessel was diverted to provide supplies.
Similar help was provided Nov. 4 when supplies ran low in heavy weather west of Los Angeles.