Coast Guard looking for missing sailboat

by Nick Delgado

Guam - The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for five people aboard a sailboat that departed Guam on January 6 from the Marianas Yacht Club, en route to Cebu Island in the Philippines. The Coast Guard received multiple reports from concerned family members Tuesday morning that the catamaran sailboat The Pineapple never made it to its destination.

Officials say the boat was expected to arrive in the Philippines no later than the 16th.

The Coast Guard interviewed all concerned parties, however, efforts have been hampered by the sailboat's lack of reliable long-range communication equipment. All ships and long ranged fixed wing aircrafts are on alert to keep an eye out for the sailboat. 

The sailboat is described as a 38' twin-hulled catamaran with a white hull and white sails. The Philippine coast guard is also joining in on the search efforts.

All vessels in the Philippine Sea are urged to contact the USCG at 671-564-8724 if they locate the sailboat.