Seven Men Missing in the Sea

As the survivors of Sunday’s tragic fishing boat accident just off Baja’s Isla San Luis — most of whom were fishing buddies from California — make their way home, the Mexican navy and the U.S. Coast Guard are continuing to search for seven missing passengers. Jonathan Carver, whose father-in-law Donald Lee of San Ramon is still unaccounted for, called to ask if we could put the word out to cruisers in the area to keep a sharp lookout, especially on nearby islands, as officials say the men could have easily survived the conditions and swam to shore. Normally, Mexican authorities would have called off the search after four days but yielded to pleas from the families of the men, as well as U.S. politicians, to extend the search.

The 115-ft charter fishing boat Erik, carrying 27 passengers and 19 crew, sank in the early hours of Sunday after a sudden storm capsized her. She’s lying in 200 feet of water, making it nearly impossible for the Mexican navy to search the hulk for bodies as they claim to not have the appropriate equipment for the task. So far only one of the 46 people aboard has been confirmed dead.