HELP! MISSING BOATER and sailboat!!

[Elmer]

ATTENTION all BOATERS:

Our friend and his sailboat Teacher's Pet, have been missing since encountering bad weather early Saturday morning near Port Everglades. His name is Alan Lavoie and he is 65 years old, and traveling alone. (He was traveling with other boats, but weather forced the others to return to FL.)

More information can be learned at the Sun-Sentinel article below:

<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-513search,0,4800607.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines>

If anyone between the West End and Port Everglades/Lake Worth Inlet, knows anything PLEASE contact the Coast Guard: 305-535-4472.

OR if you have seen Alan Lavoie on his 27 ft sailboat: Teacher's Pet....let him know he has been reported as missing.

Anyone with access to the Boater's Network (daily VHS radio postings...PLEASE put the word out!!)

Help us find Alan, PLEASE.

Sheree Troy [I]Elmer

[BahamaBabe]

I am so sorry to hear your news. Unfortunately I can't help you out but I do offer my prayers for a safe return. I hope everything works out OK. Please keep us updated.

[Elmer]

He's in a green-hulled, 27 ft Catalina...

[Danali Star]

Who has been alerted already? I know the coast guard has. I can think of a few nets. I would recc posting it on the SSCA message board. That is Seven Seas Crusing association. The Salty Southeast cruisers net. The Cruisers Forum. I would also email Chris Parker to mention this on his daily weather broadcasts over SSB. Has the Abaco cruisers net been notified? It is not all that uncommon for a boat to make it the Bahamas and it take a week or more for them to get in contact. There are so many of us out everyday that we can keep a eye out for the boat. PM me if you need the website URL's.

[Elmer]

Thanks Denali Star for you suggestions....

Typically we would not be concerned, except that Alan was unexpectedly caught in bad sea conditions, and the other sailboats in his convoy turned back to Florida, thinking he was with them.

It's only because Alan never showed up, and never contacted his traveling party, that the Coast Guard has been notified.

I'm making these postings from my home in North Carolina...nowhere near the search area. I'm just helping our friends who are worried sick about Alan and who don't have easy access to the Internet from their anchorage near Lake Worth inlet.

So, any sites that anyone knows about, feel free to Copy 'n' Paste my original alert. And by all means let the Cruiser's Net know (not sure of their proper name)...but it's the VHS morning radio broadcast station listened to by most boaters.

If Alan reached another anchorage safely, and saw that he was alone, HE would have reported four boats missing! Or he would have called or contacted someone to find out what the heck happened to the others.

Instead, his fellow sailors are reporting his disappearance and quite worried.

Again, pass this information along to any sites or networks you know of.

Thanks,
Sheree

[Elmer]

I meant to say VHF....VHF....VHF...

Sheree[I]

[Danali Star]

I totally understand your worry and concern. I have already copied the message to some sites and will continue to post on others. We WILL get the word out. I will let the crusiers net know about this also...Take care and try not to worry although I understand that is a tough request. Our thoughts and prayers are with Alan.

[Danali Star]

Email the cruisers net at cruisers@oii.net (cruisers@oii.net) put the boats name in the subject line also that it is a sailboat. I would also put missing in the subject line. Give all the details in the message and where Pattie can reach you if needed. I tried to call her but didn't get through. Dan is going to try to raise her on the VHF. But you should go ahead and email with details...

[Danali Star]

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/south-florida-sun-sentinel/TDB44MN72I8IUP06T

Also local news is reporting he made it safely. Checked into West End...

[Sail41]

You should also contact the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club. Ham operators who will put out a boat watch for him. They have great success in this area. If you don't know a ham operator, contact Ron Knaggs at rknaggs@bellsouth.net ham call N1GYX. If you get him this afternoon, it'll be broadcast tomorrow am.

[Danali Star]

You should also contact the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club. Ham operators who will put out a boat watch for him. They have great success in this area. If you don't know a ham operator, contact Ron Knaggs at rknaggs@bellsouth.net ham call N1GYX. If you get him this afternoon, it'll be broadcast tomorrow am.
The coast guard is reporting that they located him. He made it safely to West End. They also said that he heard his friends call that they were turning around and heading back to Fl but he decided to continue on on his own.

[Elmer]

I just heard that Alan has checked in at the West End of the Bahamas. Hallelujah...how ever you spell it.

Yippee yahoo....

Thank you to ALL who have kept him in your thoughts and prayers. This forum has been wonderful.

Safe sailing,
Sheree

[momshell]

Great news!!!!!