The US Coast Guard, the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, and French rescue units rescued an overdue boater aboard a sailing catamaran approximately 11 nautical miles west of Sint Maarten on the afternoon (local time) of Thursday, August 13.
Rescued is Peter Baron, 58, a citizen of Dominica, after a US Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew found a man aboard a catamaran and observed him using the vessel’s emergency tiller to steer the vessel. This coincided with reports that the sailing catamaran Ocean Time experienced a steering casualty prior to the vessel’s voyage from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands to Sint Maarten earlier in the week.
Following the sighting, responding Dutch Coast Guard and French rescue surface units headed to the scene. Moments thereafter, the Dutch Coast Guard unit arrived on-scene and confirmed the vessel was the catamaran Ocean Time and that the person on board was Baron.
The Dutch crew reported no medical concerns, injuries, or issues regarding the seaworthiness of the 45-foot (14-metre) sailing vessel and towed the partially disabled vessel to Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten. Afterwards, the Dutch Coast Guard facilitated communications between Baron and his family to let them know he was safe.
Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a call from concerned family reporting Baron overdue on the night of Wednesday, August 12.
Family members relayed that Baron was the sole passenger aboard the catamaran, and that he was intending to deliver the vessel to its new owner.
A coast guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter launched to search as watchstanders established communication with a local maritime agent who reported that one week prior, Baron had departed Tortola bound for Sint Maarten aboard the catamaran, but that he experienced steering system issues that forced him to return to Tortola.
The agent also relayed that Baron performed repairs on the steering system before departing again for Sint Maarten on August 9.