Missing Sailors Return to Virginia: The Couple Rigged a Spare Sail
The two boaters who were reported overdue after failing to return to Hampton have been located safely Friday approximately 80 miles east of Chincoteague. The overdue boaters, Yanni Nikopoulos and Dale Jones, contacted watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Virginia command center on June 24th to inform them of their safety and are now en route to Hampton.
Struck by Lightning
The pair reportedly were struck by lightning after sailing through inclement weather. After rigging a spare sail, the pair sailed to Virginia. The two mariners are not in distress and have not requested Coast Guard assistance. All concerned parties have been informed of the mariners’ safety.
“We are extremely happy to learn Yanni and Dale are found and are safe," said James Cifers, operations unit watchstander in the Fifth District Command Center. "It is truly wonderful the pair will be reunited with their friends and family soon.”
The two 65-year-olds were married and recently retired. They had embarked on June 8 on a 2,700-mile trip to the Azores Islands about 800 miles west of Portugal on their 36’ (10.97 m) sailboat, Kyklades.
Five days into their adventure, the pair told Jones’ daughter that heavy weather battered their sailboat and they were returning to Hampton early, the Coast Guard said. The two were about 460 miles east of Virginia Beach at the time of the call, but no further communications were received, officials said.
No Communication
On Friday, Jones’ daughter reported to the Coast Guard that she had not heard from them and was concerned for their well-being. No date was set for their return, but Jones’ daughter expected them to be back by Monday, the Coast Guard said. The agency worked with authorities in the Azores, Bermuda and Canada trying to help locate the pair.
According to a LinkedIn page associated with Nikopoulos, prior to his retirement, he was employed as a marine mechanic.
Jones previously worked for a furniture rental company. She has two grown daughters. Two weeks earlier, she shared a video of a severe storm that had caught them off guard while their sailboat was still docked.
“The wind was so strong it leaned the boat to port side,” she wrote. “I guess it’s a little taste of what to expect on occasion.”