Crewman Lost in Hawaii Capsize

On Wednesday, Coast Guard and Hawaii firefighters suspended their extensive search for Aaron Michael Bremner, second mate of the 75-ft sailboat Hawaii Aloha, which capsized twice last Saturday and was driven ashore on the Kona Coast.

The vessel, owned by the Christian charity organization Youth With a Mission (YWAM) Ships Kona, is used to offer medical and dental services to remote island groups, as well as providing clean water systems and educational initiatives. Hawaii Aloha had been at her Port YWAM base on the western side of the Big Island preparing for a voyage to Christmas Island this week when reports of impending heavy weather influenced Captain Ann Ford to take the beamy ketch offshore to ride out the rough conditions. According to reports from the crew, the boat was approximately four miles offshore when a series of big swells hit her broadside, rolling her over twice.

After firing off flares, all but one crew (presumably Bremner) reportedly evacuated into a liferaft, and were eventually assisted in getting ashore by two jet ski operators. YWAM reports that this was the first marine tragedy in its "decades of service."