Coast Guard: Man missing for weeks sailing from California arrives safely in Hawaii

Clyde Hughes
·1 min read
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UPI
The Coast Guard on Monday said Noel Rubio and his vessel Malulani, seen here, arrived safely in Hawaii over the weekend after he was weeks late to arrive after sailing from California. Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard District 11

Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard reported said a man who had been missing while sailing from California to Hawaii arrived safely over the weekend.

Noel Rubio, 60, and his vessel Malulani, a 32-foot Westsail sloop, arrived in Hawaii on Saturday after he had been scheduled to reach Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawaii on Jan. 18, the Coast Guard said. He left Long Beach, Calif. on Dec. 28. The Coast Guard did not release additional details about his arrival and the reason for the delay.

The Coast Guard started inquiring about the Malulani and Rubio last Friday after receiving notification that both were missing. Officials said at the time Rubio could only be reached via VHF marine band radio.

The Coast Guard said Rubio had last made contact with a friend using a cellphone on Dec. 28 when he was south of Catalina Island, Calif. Authorities made harbor checks in California, Hawaii and Mexico before receiving confirmation about Rubio's arrival on Saturday.

"The Coast Guard is greatly appreciative of the expert consult advice on weather and routes provided by the experienced trans-pacific sailor," Douglas Samp, a search and rescue mission coordinator at the Coast Guard's Rescue Coordination Center in Alameda, Calif., said in a statement.