Three Americans sailing from Mexico to San Diego have been missing for nearly two weeks.
Kerry O’Brien, Frank O’Brien and William Gross, the captain, were aboard the 44-foot La Fitte sailboat called the Ocean Bound when they mysteriously disappeared after leaving the port of Mazatlan, Mexico on April 4 .
The trio planned to stop at the port of Cabo San Lucas on April 6 for provisions en route to San Diego, but they never arrived. The coast guard said “there was no record of their arrival in Cabo San Lucas or any report of their location.”
The journey from the port of Mazatlan, Mexico to the port of Cabo San Lucas is approximately 213 nautical miles across the southern Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez. The journey would 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, while a massive search is now underway.
Kerry O’Brien and Frank O’Brien were aboard the 44-foot sailing ship La Fitte called the Ocean Bound when it mysteriously disappeared after leaving Mazatlan, Mexico on April 4
Captain William Gross was also aboard the ship. Gross and the O’Briens were on their way from Mazatlan, Mexico to the port of Cabo San Lucas on their way to San Diego
Their last known contact occurred on April 4 when their cell phone showed them pings from the coast of Mazatlan.
Gross’ daughter Melissa Spicuzza told me NBC San Diego that the trio may have been trying to get reservations for slipballs to get a spot at the marina in Cabo.
She also said that she received a message from her father that day saying ‘we are leaving today at 9:30 am’.
Levi Read, public affairs officer with the U.S. Coast Guard, told DailyMail.com that the family notified the Coast Guard on April 10 when they were concerned they were not hearing from them.
He also said the weather conditions on the day of their departure were “dangerous” with about 30 knots of wind and 15 to 20 feet of swell, but he said there were other sailing vessels 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 accomplished sailor, who has been sailing for over 50 years and being on the water is his passion.
“He loves the ocean and he loves sailing, so any chance he gets to be on the water he’ll take,” Spicuzza said.
She said the O’Briens had asked her father to join them on their sailing expedition, sailing boat back from Mazatlán, Mexico, and he “couldn’t resist.”
She said he loves being near the water so much that he lives on her boat docked at the National City Marina.
Spicuzza said the O’Briens are also consummate sailors with twenty years of combined experience. The pair also have their captain’s license with the US Coast Guard.
The family keeps in touch through a Facebook group. “We are in constant communication with family and friends,” Spicuzza said. ‘We’re checking in. If our sailing plans change, we’ll let you know.’
A map showing the route the Kerry and Frank O’Brien and William Gross took
William, ‘Bill’ Gross is an accomplished mariner with over 50 years of experience on the high seas
Kerry O’Brien has decades of sailing experience and also holds a captain’s license with the US Coast Guard
The 44-foot La Fitte sailboat called the Ocean Bound was the sailboat the trio were aboard
The District 11 Coast Guard, which covers the areas of California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah, and the offshore waters of Mexico and Central America, is assisting the Mexican Navy, the lead agency in the search.
“Search and rescue coordinators have contacted marinas in Baja, Mexico, with negative sightings of the vessel,” a Coast Guard press release said.
“Urgent marine information broadcasts have been broadcast over VHF radio requesting all seamen to look out for the missing persons and the ship.”
Spicuzza said, “I just want my dad, my dad and the O’Briens to roll back in and say, ‘What’s up guys?’
The US Coast Guard Search and Rescue Coordination Center is asking anyone for information to contact them at 510-437-3701.