Search underway for missing boaters reportedly last seen on Green Island in Bay of Green Bay
*EDITOR’S NOTE* – The story has been updated to say that the sailing vessel has been found just south of Chambers Island.
(WFRV) — The Oconto County Sheriff’s Office is searching for boaters who were reported to have not made it back to a planned destination.
According to a news release, the sheriff’s office was notified on Sunday, July 14 just before 12:45 p.m. about a 32-year-old man from the Town of Little Suamico who was out boating with his two children, both under the age of ten.
The sheriff’s office said no one had been able to make contact with the man since Saturday, July 13 around 5:00 p.m. Brown County Emergency Management identified the man as 32-year-old Bill Salnik.
They were reportedly last seen on Green Island in the Bay of Green Bay. The children were identified as being 5 and 3 years old.
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Deputies are working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, United States Coast Guard, and several other agencies to attempt to find the missing boaters and vessel.
The vessel is reported to be an 18-foot Gulf Coast Sailboat, nicknamed “My Lady Blue,” which is displayed on its stern.
It has a blue hull, yellow stripe, and a sun symbol on one of the sails. The United States Coast Guard Station in Sturgeon Bay posted on Facebook that the vessel was found.
The Vessel was reportedly found capsized at 6:22 a.m. Monday morning and was towed to Fish Creek. The three missing persons were not found underneath the boat and are still missing.
The Coast Guard says a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium from Sturgeon Bay and an MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter from Air Station Traverse City are now assisting in the search.
If you have any information, you’re asked to contact the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office at 920-834-6900, option 1.
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