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86-Year-Old Rescued After Solo Pacific Sail
7 Nov
Summary
- An 86-year-old man was rescued 460 miles off San Diego.
- His solo Pacific journey began in August and lasted two months.
- The man and his dog Sasha were found on their boat, Willow Wind.
An 86-year-old man and his dog have been rescued after a perilous two-month solo voyage across the Pacific Ocean. Harry Blodgett set sail in August from Astoria, Oregon, aiming for Pago Pago, American Samoa, with his dog Sasha. Despite receiving warnings due to his limited sailing experience, Blodgett was determined to complete what he called the last item on his bucket list.
Trouble began within weeks, with Blodgett losing his sails and running low on fuel. He delayed activating his emergency beacon, stating he felt no fear. However, after 60 days with no contact, a neighbor alerted the Coast Guard on October 24. Search operations were challenging due to the vast area involved.
A breakthrough occurred on October 27 when an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) alert was received. The signal was traced to Blodgett's boat, the Willow Wind. With assistance from a commercial carrier, the U.S. Coast Guard successfully located and rescued Blodgett and Sasha on October 28, approximately 460 miles off San Diego. Blodgett was reportedly in fair health despite the ordeal.
