Willow wind sailboat rescued in Pacific Ocean
The gist
An 86-year-old mariner and his dog were rescued from the sailboat Willow Wind off San Diego.
A distress beacon led rescuers to the pair after months out of contact.
How it unfolded
- mid-August 2026An 86-year-old mariner and his dog left Astoria, Oregon, aboard the Willow Wind, bound for Pago Pago, American Samoa, about 5,000 miles away.
- Aug 20, 2026Last contact with the mariner; no one had heard from him since.
- Oct 24, 2026Coast Guard Pacific Area watchstanders received a report that the mariner was overdue.