Three Americans sailing from Mexico to San Diego have been missing for almost two weeks as the Coast Guard says there is no record of the trio arriving in Cabo San Lucas where they had planned to stop.
Kerry O’Brien, Frank O’Brien and William Gross, the captain, were aboard the 44-foot La Fitte sailboat named the Ocean Bound when they mysteriously disappeared after departing the Port of Mazatlan, Mexico on April 4.
The trio had planned to stop on April 6 at the Port of Cabo San Lucas for provisions en route to San Diego, but they never arrived. The Coast Guard said ‘there was no record of them arriving in Cabo San Lucas or a report in of their location.’
The trip from the Port of Mazatlan, Mexico to the Port of Cabo San Lucas is about 213 nautical miles across the southern Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez. The journey should have taken between 15 and 17 hours, depending on the wind, weather and current.
Their distraught families said they are ‘experienced sailors’ with more than 100 years of sailing experience between them as a massive search is now underway.
Kerry O’Brien and Frank O’Brien were aboard the 44-foot La Fitte sailing vessel named the Ocean Bound when it mysteriously disappeared after leaving Mazatlan, Mexico April 4
Captain William Gross was also aboard the vessel. Gross and the O’Briens were heading from Mazatlan, Mexico to the Port of Cabo San Lucas en route to San Diego
Their last known contact took place on April 4 when their cell phone pings show them off the coast of Mazatlan.
Gross’s daughter Melissa Spicuzza told NBC San Diego that the trio may have been trying to make slip-ball reservations to get a spot at the marina in Cabo.
She also said she had received a message from her dad that day, saying ‘we have a a 9:30 departure today.’
Levi Read, public affairs officer with the US Coast Guard told DailyMail.com that the family notified the Coast Guard on April 10 when they were concerned that they did not hear from them.
He also said the weather conditions the day of their departure was ‘dangerous’ with approximately 30 knot winds and 15 to 20 foot swells, but he said there were other sailing vessels out on the water.
As of Monday afternoon Read said there was ‘still no sign of them [the O’Briens and Gross] or the boat and the search continues.’
Spicuzza described her father as an experienced seaman, who has been sailing for more than 50 years and that being on the water is his passion.
‘He loves the ocean and he loves sailing so any opportunity that he has to be on the water, he will take,’ Spicuzza said.
She said the O’Brien’s had asked if her father would join them on their sailing expedition, sailing their boat back from Mazatlán, Mexico, and that ‘he couldn’t resist.’
She said that he loves being near the water so much, he lives on her boat that is docked at the National City Marina.
Spicuzza said the O’Briens are also consummate sailors with two decades of experience between them. The pair also have their Captain licenses with the US Coast Guard.
The family stays in touch through a Facebook group. ‘We communicate constantly with family and friends, Spicuzza said. ‘We check in. If our sailing plans change, we let people know.’
A map showing the route the Kerry and Frank O’Brien and William Gross were taking
William, ‘Bill’ Gross is a seasoned seaman with more than 50 years experience on the high seas
Kerry O’Brien has decades of sailing experience and also holds a Captain licenses with the US Coast Guard
The 44-foot La Fitte sailboat named the Ocean Bound was the sailboat the trio were aboard
District 11 Coast Guard, which covers the areas of California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah, and offshore waters of Mexico and Central America, are assisting the Mexican Navy, the lead agency in the search.
‘Search and rescue coordinators have contacted marinas throughout Baja, Mexico, with negative sightings of the vessel,’ as per a news release by the Coast Guard.
‘Urgent marine information broadcasts have been issued over VHF radio requesting all mariners to keep a lookout for the missing persons and vessel.’
Spicuzza said: ‘I’m just wanting my dad, my dad and the O’Briens, to roll back in and say, ‘What’s going on guys?’
The US Coast Guard search and rescue coordination center is asking anyone for information to contact them at 510-437-3701.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk