SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for the missing crewmember of the sailing vessel Aegean at 4:15 p.m., April 29, 2012.

The Coast Guard, Mexican Navy and civilian volunteers searched more than 600 square-miles since yesterday afternoon.

The initial search began shortly after a boater reported debris from a boat near the Coronado Islands. Three of the four crewmembers were found dead in search area Saturday. The sailboat crew was taking part in a Newport Beach, Calif., to Ensenada, Mexico regatta.

“It’s never easy to make the decision to suspend a search and rescue case,” said Capt. Sean Mahoney, Commander Sector San Diego. “The Coast Guard extends its sympathies to the families and friends of the Aegean crew. They will be in our thoughts and prayers.”

Coast Guard investigators have not determined a cause for the incident. An investigation into the tragedy continues.

First release: http://www.sandiego.uscgnews.com/go/doc/830/1417043/

First update: http://www.sandiego.uscgnews.com/go/doc/830/1417063/

Second update: http://www.sandiego.uscgnews.com/go/doc/830/1417107/

SAN DIEGO – The graphic above shows the search area for the sailing vessel Aegean. U.S. Coast Guard graphic.

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Coast Guard rescue crews continue their search for the missing crewmember of the sailboat Aegean, west of the Coronado Islands, Mexico, April 29, 2012.

Crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter have searched throughout the night. A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter search and rescue crew rejoined the search this morning.

The Coast Guard, along with the Mexican navy and civilian volunteers searched more than 500-square miles since the search began Saturday morning following reports of boat debris near the Coronado Islands. Three of the four crewmembers from the Aegean were found dead during Saturday's search. The sailboat was participating in a Newport Beach, Calif., to Ensenada, Mexico regatta.

"Our Coast Guard members feel for the family and friends of these sailors and we continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers," said Capt. Sean Mahoney, Commander, Sector San Diego.

Coast Guard investigators have not determined a cause for the incident. An investigation into the tragedy continues.

Please click on the image below for video of the search and rescue mission.

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue crews continue their search for the missing crewmember of the sailboat Aegean, west of the Coronado Islands, Mexico, April 29, 2012. The Coast Guard, along with the Mexican navy and civilian volunteers searched more than 500-square miles since the search began Saturday morning following reports of boat debris during Saturday's search. The sailboat had been participating a Newport, Calif., to Ensenada, Mexico regatta. U.S. Coast Guard video.

Previous news releases:

http://www.sandiego.uscgnews.com/go/doc/830/1417043/

http://www.sandiego.uscgnews.com/go/doc/830/1417063/

SAN DIEGO — The Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter and a Mexican Navy vessel continue to search in the vicinity of the Coronado Islands, Mexico, for a crew member missing from the sailing vessel Aegean.  Three other crew members from the sailboat, which had been involved in a race from Newport Beach, Calif., to Ensenada, Mexico, were found dead in the area Saturday. 

Search and rescue boats and aircraft from the U.S. and Mexico began combing the area after other boaters reported vessel debris Saturday morning.  Search planners later spoke with regatta organizers who said the Aegean was unaccounted for. 

Saturday's search involved a Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter, a 45-foot Response Boat, and a C-130 Hercules aircraft as well as the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter, a Mexican Navy vessel and civilian boats.  All search and rescue units except the Sea Otter and Mexican Navy vessel returned to base Saturday night after completing their assigned areas.  Plans call for a resumption of aerial searches at first light Sunday, if the missing crew member is not found overnight.

NOTE:  There will not be any additional updates until after 6:00 a.m. PST Sunday, unless there are significant developments in the search.

 LINK TO ORIGINAL RELEASE: http://www.sandiego.uscgnews.com/go/doc/830/1417043/

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Coast Guard, Mexican Navy and civilian search and rescue crews are searching for a missing crewmember from a 37-foot sailboat that was reported missing Saturday morning near the Coronado Islands, Mexico.

Three other crewmembers from the vessel were found deceased Saturday afternoon.  One was recovered by a Coast Guard helicopter crew and two others by a civilian crew. The sailing vessel was participating in a Newport, Calif., to Ensenada, Mexico regatta.

Vessels in the area of the Coronado Islands reported seeing debris at approximately 10 a.m. The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, and a 33-foot response boat to search the area.

Coast Guard search planners later spoke with race officials who reported that one of the boats participating in the race, the Aegean, was unaccounted for.

By mid afternoon, searchers located the three deceased crewmembers and debris from the sailboat.  The deceased were brought to Coast Guard Sector San Diego and turned over to the San Diego County Coroner.

The search for the remaining sailboat crewmember continues with Coast Guard crews aboard a Jayhawk helicopter, a 45-foot Response Boat, and a C-130 Hercules aircraft as well as the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter, a Mexican Navy vessel and civilian vessels.

The cause of the incident will be investigated.

SAN DIEGO -- A boat crew from U.S. Coast Guard Station San Diego rescued a woman and two dogs from a sail boat that was flooding and in danger of running aground due to rain and rough seas near San Diego Saturday afternoon.

The Coast Guard crew took the woman and dogs off their flooding boat and towed it to Shelter Island in San Diego Bay at approximately 1:20 p.m.

The woman made a distress call, stating her boat was flooding east of the Zuniga Jetty, drifting toward the shore and she was unable to control it.

The Coast Guard 41-foot Utility Boat crew was on scene with the sail boat within minutes and transported the woman, dogs and boat to safe harbor.

Boaters are urged to exercise caution during inclement weather, and to ensure they have proper safety equipment aboard their vessel for use in an emergency.

WASHINGTON – A Coast Guard chief petty officer was honored Tuesday for his superior service while deployed in support of overseas combat operations.

Chief Petty Officer Lee Conroy, a maritime enforcement specialist, assigned to Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego, was presented the 2011 National Defense Industrial Association Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Award for his actions in support of the counter-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden.

This award honors one member from each of the five armed services who has distinguished him or herself while supporting special operations, low-intensity conflicts or irregular warfare.

“I am honored to be recognized alongside our DOD brethren,” said Chief Petty Officer Lee Conroy. “But the true recognition belongs to my shipmates at MSST San Diego. Without their dedication and sacrifice I wouldn’t be receiving this award.”

Chief Conroy was sighted for his leadership, superior judgment and operational knowledge. He successfully led an eight-person advanced interdiction team during a 120-day overseas deployment to Central Command for operations Enduring Freedom and Riptide. As part of the anti-piracy Task Force 151Chief Conroy instructed training sessions with 80 Navy Vessel Board, Search and Seizure team members in Close Quarters Combat and mission planning in anticipation of joint boardings. Chief Conroy’s professionalism and leadership resulted in the removal of 18 pirates from the Gulf of Aden during four joint Coast Guard and Navy counter-piracy boardings.

“We are extremely proud of Chief Conroy,” said Coast Guard Capt. Jeffrey Novotny, Deputy Commander of the Coast Guard’s Deployable Operations Group. “His accomplishments epitomize the capability and adaptability our deployable specialized forces bring to operational commanders at home and abroad.”

Conroy and his fellow honorees were presented the award Tuesday evening before a crowd of nearly 600 special operations soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and their families. The banquet featured a number of distinguished guests, including Adm. James A. Winnefeld, Jr., USN, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, who delivered the keynote address.

WASHINGTON – Chief Petty Officer Lee Conroy (center), a maritime enforcement specialist, assigned to Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego, was presented the 2011 National Defense Industrial Association Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Award for his actions in support of the counter-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden Feb. 7, 2012. Conroy was presented his award by Gen. James E. "Hoss" Cartwright (center), USMC (Ret), former Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Ms. Irene H. Sanders, Chair, NDIA SO/LIC Division (right). Photo courtesy Scott Rekdal of NDIA.

GULF OF ADEN – Coast Guard and U.S. Navy Visit, Board, Search and Seize members (VBSS) members are shown enroute to a counter-piracy boarding, Feb. 5, 2011. The Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego (91109) detachment deployed for four months in support of Combined Task Force 151’s counter-piracy operations. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

GULF OF ADEN – Coast Guard and U.S. Navy Visit, Board, Search and Seize members (VBSS) members conduct training with U.S. Navy aerial assets, Feb. 4, 2011. The Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego (91109) detachment deployed for four months in support of Combined Task Force 151’s counter-piracy operations. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

SAN DIEGO -- An aircrew from U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego airlifted a passenger in need of urgent medical care from a cruise ship approximately 30 miles southwest of San Diego Thursday evening.

The crew of the Inspiration requested the medevac for the 61-year-old man who was experiencing chest pain at approximately 5:30 p.m.

A Coast Guard flight surgeon was consulted and recommended an immediate medevac for the passenger.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter launched from Sector San Diego to perform the medevac.

The Jayhawk crew hoisted the passenger from the cruise ship and transported him to Sector San Diego at 7:40 p.m., where he was transferred to emergency medical personnel for further care.

SAN DIEGO -- A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew from San Diego medically evacuated a 21-year-old woman aboard a Navy ship 20 miles northwest of La Jolla, Calif., early Monday morning.

The crew of the USS Bonhomme Richard, a multipurpose amphibious assault ship homeported in San Diego, contacted the Coast Guard at 3:16 a.m., requesting a medevac for the Sailor who they said was experiencing chest and back pains.

A Coast Guard flight surgeon was consulted, and recommended she be taken off the ship for immediate medical attention.

An MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched from Coast Guard Sector San Diego to perform the medevac, arrived on scene and hoisted the woman at 4:22 a.m. She was then transported to Sector San Diego where an ambulance was waiting to transport her to Balboa Hospital.

The woman was transferred to emergency medical personnel for further care.

EDITOR'S NOTE: There is no imagery available.

SAN DIEGO --  The U.S. Coast Guard is warning mariners transiting in San Diego Bay that an aid to navigation located near the west end of Shelter Island was damaged in an allision and could pose a hazard to navigation.

Shelter Island West End Light 4, LLNR-1595, was struck sometime before Wednesday afternoon, shifting the day board portion of the aid out of position and bending a section of the ladder perpendicular to the aid near the waterline.

The light on the aid is still operating properly. This aid marks the right side of the channel into the Shelter Island yacht basin.

The responsible party left the scene without reporting the damage, leaving a potentially hazardous situation due to the steel ladder protruding from the pole and the misalignment of the day marker.

 Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team San Diego responded to the damaged marker and removed the protruding ladder Wednesday evening. Preparations to repair the day board  are currently underway.

Coast Guard responded to three separate vessel collisions with the aids to navigation near the west end of Shelter Island in the past year, two of which were unreported.

"The responsible party in this case did not report the collision or damage to the Coast Guard when it happened, as is required by law,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Tapp, Officer in Charge of ANT San Diego.  “Unfortunately, they also left a dangerous hazard in the area that could have easily damaged or injured another mariner using that aid to navigation in the dark or in foggy conditions.  The broken ladder was left perpendicular and protruding near the water line right at a level where it could have easily been struck again.  We are very fortunate that a mariner on a smaller vessel did not hit the dangerous protrusion from the pole and injure themselves or others."

San Diego Harbor Police reported the damaged aid to the Coast Guard Wednesday afternoon. Anyone involved in a collision with a navigation aid is required to contact the Coast Guard. Mariners are also urged to contact the Coast Guard if they observe discrepancies to any aid to navigation. The Coast Guard can be contacted on marine VHF radio Channel 16, or by calling the U.S. Coast Guard Joint Harbor Operations Center at (619) 278-7033.

The Coast Guard is currently investigating the circumstances of this allision. Anyone with information regarding this event is asked to contact the Coast Guard JHOC number listed above.

SAN DIEGO -- A section of ladder protrudes from a navigation aid near Shelter Island in San Diego Bay that was damaged by an allision Jan. 11, 2012. Aids to Navigation Team San Diego responded to the damaged aid, removing the broken ladder and preparing to realign the day board. Photo by Port of San Diego.