Current, Resolved & Unresolved Watches
The mission of BoatWatch.org is to maintain a worldwide network of resources to aid mariners that are missing or overdue; have a boat stolen; or to whom urgent messages need to be relayed.
SV Minshara Dismasted, Adrift, Crew Rescued
Update January 6, 2020: Correction to ships registry of vessel. Thank you to the South African Maritime Safety Authority for checking the registry of this vessel and making the following correction. Please note that this vessel is NOT a South African Registered vessel therefore she does not have South African Nationality. Ownership of a vessel on the South African Ships Registration must either...
Stolen Catamaran Found in Cuba
Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) HF Radio Service KPK is pleased to report the recovery of the catamaran SV KAISOSI which was stolen from an anchorage at Newfound Harbor in the Florida Keys at approximately 1200 hours on March 30, 2018. The vessel was last seen traveling toward Key West with sails down. A stolen vessel report was made to the Monroe County Sheriffs Office MCSO), the...
Estonian Sailor Mysteriously Disappears, Honduras
Update: Tribute to Andreas Sepsaka, SV Salacia Watch the beautiful tribute to Andreas made by another sailor at the location where Andreas and his boat disappeared. In the early hours of 11 June 2019, two separate EPIRB activations were received from the S / V SALACIA with only sailor ANDREAS SIPSAKAS aboard. Andreas is a 40-year-old man from Estonia on a passage from Jamaica to San Andres,...
Maritime Mobile Service Net & SSCA Radio KPK Assist SV Solar Flare, Jamaica
This case is an example of the various Ham Radio networks, coming together to assist rescue resources, in this situation, the Jamaica Defense Force. Ham Radio and Single Side Band Communication can provide the constant voice on the radio that is so helpful during an emergency. Maritime Mobile Service Net Controller, Ken Porter and Chris Parker, Marine Weather assisted greatly with this case. The...
Murder in Paradise on SV Windancer, Panama
In January of 2011, M/V Tothill had just returned to full-time cruising in Florida after 10 years in the Caribbean. We initially received email and Single Side Band inquiries from worried cruisers located in the San Blas Islands of Panama about our good friend Don North. Don was a single handed sailor who had been cruising the Caribbean for 18 years on his 38 foot Morgan, SV Windancer. No one...
SV Spirit of Marisa, South Pacific
UPDATE: October 14, 2019 – Good News from the South Pacific The Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Papeete has confirmed that SV MARISA is safe in Fakarava lagoon since approximately October 13, 2019. A big thank you to SV Jacaranda, Chuck and Linda and other cruisers for the update. UPDATE: They have been located, (spotted 9/27 in uninhabited Tahanea, which has no cell towers) according to...
SV Blue Highways, 44’ Beneteau Oceanis missing, presumed stolen
The S/V BLUE HIGHWAYS is a 44’ Beneteau Oceanis which was missing and presumed stolen from a private mooring located in Leverick Bay, Virgin Gorda, BVI. The vessel was last seen on the mooring buoy on April 6, 2019 and missing on April 7, 2019. This boat is not to be confused with the S/V BLUE HIGHWAY, (No S on the end) a 44’ 1981 Kelly Peterson, hailing port Marathon, Florida. This vessel is...
SPOT Locator Device activated, Bahamas
The USCG Rescue Coordination Center in Miami requested assistance from Boat Watch Net (Boatwatchnet.org) in locating a vessel which activated a SPOT Locator device at approximately 0658 hrs, 17 September 2019. The activation was from position 21 05.595 N / 071 56.670 W or approximately 60 NM East of Great Inagua Cay, Bahamas. The SPOT device is registered to JAVIER GARGOLLIO. There was no...
Loss of Firefighters off Cape Canaveral, FL
Update: Family, Community Honor Life of Missing Jacksonville Firefighter Read the article at https://www.news4jax.com/news/celebration-of-life-this-morning-for-missing-firefighter Update: "That was a very devastating time": Wife of missing Jacksonville firefighter opens up about husband and search to find him. See the video. The U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Jacksonville, Florida, along with partner...
SV Trinavis Missing, Caribbean
July 2019, Friends of Rocco Acocella advised SSCA KPK radio service that he was overdue on a passage between St. Maarten and Barranquilla, Colombia. He left St. Maarten on June 17th, on his 8-meter trimaran, a Telstar MK II and intended to arrive in Barranquilla on June 28 or 29. His intention was to catch a flight to Ecuador for work. He activated a PLB off the coast of Colombia on 22 June 2019...