Missing Boaters Who Left From Cape May Found: Coast Guard

CAPE MAY, NJ — The missing sailing vessel that had last been seen on Dec. 3 has been found as of Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard, with help from the tanking vessel Silver Muna, found Kevin Hyde, 65, and Joe Ditomasso, 76, along with a pet dog, officials said. They were about 214 miles east of Delaware.

The vessel, Atrevida II, was traveling to Cape May to Marathon, Florida, the Coast Guard said. The men had been in contact with friends and family last on Dec. 3 when they departed Oregon Inlet, North Carolina, officials said.

The Atrevida II was found to be without fuel and power, making their radios and navigation equipment unusable, the Coast Guard said.

The men got the attention of the Silver Muna by waving their arms and a flag, officials said.

Hyde, Ditomasso and the dog were brought aboard the Silver Muna at 4:18 p.m., officials said, where they were evaluated by the vessel's medical staff with "no immediate concerns."

They will stay on the Silver Muna as it heads to a port in New York City, where they will be taken to a Coast Guard vessel for further evaluation and reunification with their family and friends, according to officials.

Coast Guard watchstanders were alerted to Hyde and Ditomasso being overdue on Dec. 11 and began urgent marine information broadcasts and direct communication with commercial vessels in the area in an attempt to locate them.

The Coast Guard launched multiple aircraft and cutters to search for the Atrevida II, and vessels from the U.S. Navy's Second Fleet and commercial and recreational vessel traffic within in the search area helped search as well.

Coast Guard, Navy and maritime partners searched a combined 21,164 square miles of water, spanning from northern Florida to the waters east of New Jersey, officials said.

“This is an excellent example of the maritime community’s combined efforts to ensure safety of life at sea,” said Cmdr. Daniel Schrader, spokesperson for Coast Guard Atlantic Area. “We are overjoyed with the outcome of the case and look forward to reuniting Mr. Hyde and Mr. Ditomasso with their family and friends. We also want to highlight the importance of proper safety equipment and preparedness when going to sea. Having an emergency position indicating radio beacon, or ‘EPIRB’, allows mariners to immediately make contact with first responders in an emergency.”