Coast Guard Suspends Search For Sailboat Racer From St. Pete

ST.PETERSBURG, FL — The Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday for a missing mariner who was participating in the Water Tribe Everglades Challenge.

Jim Slauson, 73, of St. Petersburg was reported missing Monday by his son who said his father was off the track of the organized event path. Slauson's last personal tracking device check-in was reported on Monday at 7:24 a.m.

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater HC-130J air crew located his blue, 17-foot Core Sound sailing vessel Monday evening. The crew found no one aboard.

"Suspending a search-and-rescue case is one of the toughest parts of the job," said Capt. Matthew Thompson, commander of Sector St. Petersburg. "Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time."

Since the search began on Monday, Coast Guard air and surface units conducted more than 46 searches covering more than 9,772 square nautical miles.