US Coast Guard Suspends Search
A US Coast Guard search for a Halifax yachtsman who had been scheduled to arrive in Bermuda on Monday [Dec.19] has been suspended.
Sergei Morozov was on the first leg of what was supposed to be an around-the-world solo sail on his 35-foot C&C sailboat “Hikari”.
The US Coast Guard said Mr. Morozov’s daughter notified them by email that she had received a message from her father, relayed by the crew of a passing merchant ship, saying that his sailboat was slightly damaged but he thought he could get to Bermuda by last Monday.
Lt. Michael Patterson of the Coast Guard office in Portsmouth, Virginia, said the search was suspended because Mr. Morozov never actually requested help.
“The gentleman has an [emergency beacon] on board and we have not received a signal from that device,” Lt. Patterson said. “Our search was merely precautionary while we had the assets up and available.”
Petty Officer David Weydert told Halifax’s “Chronicle Herald” when the initial report was received, an urgent marine broadcast was issued asking if anyone had seen the sailboat.
Based on Mr. Morozov’s reported intention to arrive in Bermuda, the US Coast Guard attempted to establish communication for nearly 19 hours and covered approximately 38,000 square miles by C-130 Hercules aircraft before suspending the search on Wednesday [Dec. 21].
The US Coast Guard will continue to monitor for any signs of distress from Mr. Morozov’s sailboat.
In a 2008 interview with “The Chronicle Herald” Mr. Morozov discussed his dream to one day row around the world, saying he wanted to raise money for children who lost their parents in war.
The Russian immigrant sailed to Halifax from England with his daughter in 2003.
“Canada has already done too much for me and my daughter,” he said in the 2008 interview.
His global circumnavigation aboard his sailboat was intended to prepare him for a round-the-world rowing attempt.
“I want to pay it back.”
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