Search Ends for Missing Boaters - But PIctures Surface

[wiley]

The Coast Guard has ended the search for two overdue boaters, missing since Dec. 13, when they set out on a trip to Bimini, Bahamas, from Haulover Inlet in Miami.

Officials announced Saturday they had suspended the week-long hunt for the pair.

Richard Alicea and Edwin Pritchard, both Miami residents, were traveling in a 17-foot, center-console Key Largo pleasure craft. The boat was white with a green-blue stripe.

A family member contacted Coast Guard search-and-rescue coordinators at Sector Miami on Dec. 13 after Alicea and Pritchard did not arrive at their final destination as expected.

The Coast Guard immediately launched a search covering more than 47,000 square miles, from Miami to Port Canaveral, and out to the Bahamas.

UPDATED BELOW - PICTURES OF 2 MEN ON A SMALL ISLAND SURFACE

[wiley]

Basic safety equipment. Can't afford an EPIRB? Make it up with flares or a $99 handheld VHF radio.

Plently of boats share the waterways between here and the Bahamas. Many cargo, cruise and other ships and Sportfishermen could hear or see a distress call.

Makes you wonder if the goal WAS to get lost?

Hope this ends well. Bad time of year to venture out in that size boat.

[Trollnheel]

Thoughts and prayers. Hope a lesson can be learned

[4/0]

It is a terrible thing to happen at any time, but this time of year makes it worse. I have heard there are three or four children and they now are without Dads.

Butch

[prowlersfish]

Basic safety equipment. Can't afford an EPIRB? Make it up with flares or a $99 handheld VHF radio.

Plently of boats share the waterways between here and the Bahamas. Many cargo, cruise and other ships and Sportfishermen could hear or see a distress call.

Makes you wonder if the goal WAS to get lost?

Hope this ends well. Bad time of year to venture out in that size boat.

You can get a PLB for 300 bucks now , a good thing to have even if you don't go far out. a hand held has a short range at water level so may not be heard.

lets hope somehow there ok.

Edited December 22, 2009 by prowlersfish

[welder]

Hope there found soon.

[team oldschool]

Sad thing to happen.

[wiley]

The families of two Miami boaters who went missing en route to the Bahamas earlier this month chartered a plane and went looking for them Tuesday, accompanied by a WSFL videographer.

Richard Alicea and Edwin Pritchard have not been seen since they left South Florida for Bimini on Dec. 13. The U.S. Coast Guard was unable to find them during a search that covered more than 47,000 square miles.

The families decided to pay for their own search-and-rescue after a commuter aircraft last week took photographs of what appeared to be people standing on an island in the Bahamas. One picture showed an "SOS" distress signal written in the sand.

[cataholic]

The families of two Miami boaters who went missing en route to the Bahamas earlier this month chartered a plane and went looking for them Tuesday, accompanied by a WSFL videographer.

Richard Alicea and Edwin Pritchard have not been seen since they left South Florida for Bimini on Dec. 13. The U.S. Coast Guard was unable to find them during a search that covered more than 47,000 square miles.

The families decided to pay for their own search-and-rescue after a commuter aircraft last week took photographs of what appeared to be people standing on an island in the Bahamas. One picture showed an "SOS" distress signal written in the sand.

Wiley, I heard an interview with a CG spokesman who said they had that pic on Tuesday and were able to identify the island. They did a thorough search, even putting people on the ground there--no sign of the guys.

He said the location was barely more than an exposed reef.

Very sad indeed.

[wiley]

Any copies of this image available?