Missing boaters found safe off Chincoteague: Coast Guard

Two boaters reported overdue since June 20 have been found safe off Chincoteague, the U.S. Coast Guard said Friday.

Yanni Nikopoulos and Dale Jones departed from Hampton, Virginia, on June 8 for the Azores, Portugal. The boaters reported to Jones's daughter June 13 that heavy weather had damaged their vessel and that they were headed back to Hampton.

The missing boaters were approximately 460 miles east of Virginia Beach at the time of the call. No further communications were received.

On Friday, the Coast Guard said the boaters, who were approximately 80 miles east of Chincoteague, contacted watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Virginia command center to inform them of their safety and said they were now en route to Hampton.

The pair reportedly were struck by lightning after sailing through inclement weather. After rigging a spare sail, the pair sailed to Virginia.

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The two mariners are not in distress and have not requested Coast Guard assistance. All concerned parties have been informed of the mariners safety, the Coast Guard said.

Two overflights conducted by HC-130 Hercules crews from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City were conducted of the approximate area of the missing boaters. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was also issued by the Fifth Coast Guard District Command Center to alert boaters in the area to the situation.

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“We are extremely happy to learn Yanni and Dale are found and are safe," said James Cifers, operations unit watchstander in the Fifth District Command Center. "It is truly wonderful the pair will be reunited with their friends and family soon.”

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Coast Guard: Missing boaters found safe off Chincoteague, Virginia