Dominican boater Peter Baron has been rescued after spending several days aboard his partially disabled catamaran in the Eastern Caribbean.

The 58-year-old was found Thursday afternoon approximately 11 nautical miles west of Sint Maarten following a multinational search involving the US Coast Guard, Dutch Coast Guard and French rescue units.

Baron was the sole person aboard the 45-foot sailing catamaran Ocean Time, which had departed Tortola in the British Virgin Islands on Sunday bound for Sint Maarten.

A US Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft located the vessel and observed Baron using the catamaran’s emergency tiller to steer.

The sighting came after reports that Ocean Time had experienced steering problems before its voyage from Tortola.

Dutch Coast Guard and French rescue units were dispatched to the area following the sighting. The Dutch Coast Guard arrived shortly afterwards and confirmed the vessel was Ocean Time and that Baron was aboard.

Officials reported that Baron had no medical concerns or injuries and that the vessel remained seaworthy, although it was partially disabled.

The Dutch Coast Guard towed the catamaran to Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, and helped Baron contact his family to confirm that he was safe.

The search began after Baron was reported overdue by concerned family members on Wednesday night.

Coast Guard officials were told that Baron had previously attempted to sail from Tortola to Sint Maarten about a week earlier but was forced to turn back because of steering problems.

He subsequently repaired the system himself before setting out again on Sunday.

Cmdr. Matthew Romano, the Coast Guard search and rescue mission coordinator, praised the agencies involved in the operation.

“I am incredibly proud of our Coast Guard servicemembers and commend the phenomenal efforts of our French, Dutch, and Virgin Islands partners, which ensured this mariner’s safe return to his family,” Romano said.

He also reminded boaters of the importance of carrying reliable communication equipment and emergency signalling devices before going to sea.

The search involved Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders, MH-60T Jayhawk and HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, as well as maritime and rescue agencies from the French Caribbean, Curaçao, the Dutch Caribbean and the Virgin Islands.

Original Article:

A search is underway in the Eastern Caribbean for a 58-year-old Dominican boater who failed to arrive in St. Maarten after departing the British Virgin Islands.

Peter Baron reportedly left Tortola on Sunday aboard a 45-foot white catamaran named Ocean Time, where he was the sole person on board.

He was travelling to deliver the vessel to its new owner.

The US Coast Guard said Thursday that the search is taking place in waters between the Virgin Islands and St Maarten.

Coast Guard watchstanders in San Juan received a report from concerned family members on Wednesday night after Baron was reported overdue.

A local maritime agent told the Coast Guard that Baron had previously attempted the journey to St. Maarten about a week earlier but was forced to return to Tortola after experiencing problems with the vessel’s steering system.

The agent said Baron carried out repairs himself before departing for St. Maarten again on Sunday.

Following the report, Coast Guard officials launched an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen to search for the missing boater.

An HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft is also involved, while an urgent marine information broadcast and enhanced group call have been issued to alert vessels operating in the area.

Regional agencies assisting with the search include Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Fort de France and the Rescue Coordination Centre Curaçao.

Anyone with information about Baron or the Ocean Time is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector San Juan at 787-289-2041.