Missing Baltimore Sailor's Capsized Yacht Found Off Mexico Coast

BALTIMORE, MD — A capsized racing yacht found 300 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, on Wednesday belonged to missing Baltimore sailor Donald Lawson, according to multiple reports.

Lawson’s wife, Jacqueline, confirmed the boat found by Mexican authorities belonged to her husband in a statement released Wednesday, the Baltimore Sun reported.

“No further information is available at this time,” the statement from Jacqueline said. “Updates will follow as soon as the information becomes available.”

Lawson, a Black professional sailor, served as chairman of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for U.S. Sailing, the national governing body of the sport, according to the Baltimore Banner.

Lawson departed from Acapulco on July 5 on the 60-foot racing yacht Defiant, which could reach speeds of 40 knots, more than five times faster than a conventional sailboat, according to reports. He was headed for the Panama Canal en route to Baltimore, reports said.

Lawson was planning to attempt to break a world record this fall by sailing around the world in 74 days, the Banner reported.

On July 9, Lawson spoke with his wife and told her he had no engine power and was relying on a wind generator, WBAL reported. He was also having trouble with the yacht's hydraulic rigging, reports said. Three days later, Lawson hit a storm and lost his backup generator. Reports said he and Jacqueline then decided he should turn back to Acapulco.

Lawson, who hasn't been heard from since July 12, remains missing, the Sun reported.

The Mexican Navy continued to search for Lawson but had found no signs of him as of Wednesday night, the Banner reported. The U.S. Coast Guard deployed its cutter Active from San Diego to join the search-and-rescue operation, reports said.

In a statement posted on social media, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he is following the search.

“I’m grateful for the continued efforts of the Coast Guard and Rescue Coordination Center in Mexico to locate Donald. Our hearts are with the Lawson family,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Lawson's family isn't giving up hope.

"We are not giving up hope, and we are remaining hopeful of his return," Jacqueline wrote in a statement Tuesday night, according to reports. “He is an experienced sailor who is well-equipped to expertly handle these types of challenging weather conditions in the Pacific. We are continuing to pray that Donald will be found and will soon return home safely to his family, friends, and sailing supporters."