3 American Sailors Missing, Disappeared Off Mexican Coast: Authorities

SAN DIEGO, CA — Authorities are searching for three American sailors who have been missing for nearly two weeks after they disappeared off the coast of Mexico, according to officials.

The Mexican Navy, with help from the U.S. Coast Guard, is looking for Kerry O’Brien, Frank O’Brien and William Gross, who were last heard from on April 4 near Mazatlan, Mexico, according to authorities.

The trio was sailing on Ocean Bound, a 44-foot La Fitte, and planned to stop April 6 in Cabo San Lucas before continuing to San Diego, but never made it to either location, a news release from the Coast Guard said Friday.

“Search and rescue coordinators have contacted marinas throughout Baja, Mexico, with negative sightings of the vessel,” the news release said. “Urgent marine information broadcasts have been issued over VHF radio requesting all mariners to keep a lookout for the missing persons and vessel.”

Melissa Spicuzza, identified by NBC San Diego as Gross’ daughter, said in a Facebook post that her father and the O’Briens have many decades of combined sailing experience.

“The families of Kerry and Frank O’Brien and William (Bill) Gross in addition to the sailing community are pleading to the people of Southern California and in the region of Baja,” Spicuzza said in the post.

Anyone with information about the missing sailors or their vessel is asked to contact the Coast Guard's search and rescue coordination center at 510-437-3701.