The U.S. Coast Guard and multiple regional agencies are searching for 58-year-old Peter Baron, a citizen of Dominica, who is overdue after departing Tortola, British Virgin Islands, bound for St. Maarten aboard a 45-foot white catamaran named Ocean Time. Photo: Internet Source

A coordinated multinational search and rescue operation in the Eastern Caribbean culminated on Thursday, August 13, 2026, resulting in the safe recovery of an overdue boater aboard the 45-foot sailing catamaran Ocean Time, about 11 nautical miles west of Sint Maarten. Photo: Facebook

Aerial route over the Caribbean Sea. Photo: Internet Source

According to a Facebook post by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan, 58-year-old Peter Baron, a citizen of Dominica, was rescued after a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew spotted a man aboard a catamaran and observed him using the vessel’s emergency tiller to steer. That sighting aligned with earlier reports that Ocean Time had suffered a steering casualty before its voyage from Tortola, British Virgin Islands, to Sint Maarten on Sunday. Photo: Facebook

Rescue unfolds after aircrew sighting

According to a Facebook post by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan, 58-year-old Peter Baron, a citizen of Dominica, was rescued after a U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew spotted a man aboard a catamaran and observed him using the vessel’s emergency tiller to steer. That sighting aligned with earlier reports that Ocean Time had suffered a steering casualty before its voyage from Tortola, British Virgin Islands, to Sint Maarten on Sunday.

The post added that, following the aerial sighting, the Dutch Coast Guard and French rescue surface units proceeded to the scene. The Dutch Coast Guard marine unit arrived first, confirmed the vessel’s identity and that the person on board was Baron, and reported no medical concerns, injuries, or seaworthiness issues with the 45-foot sailing vessel. 

The Dutch crew then towed the partially disabled catamaran to Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, and facilitated communications between Baron and his family to confirm he was safe.

“Phenomenal efforts” of regional partners

Commander Matthew Romano, the Coast Guard Search and Rescue mission coordinator for the case, said, “I am incredibly proud of our Coast Guard service members and commend the phenomenal efforts of our French, Dutch, and Virgin Islands partners, which ensured this mariner’s safe return to his family.” 

He added, “We remind boaters of the vital importance of having proper communication equipment and emergency signalling before getting underway; it truly can save your life.”

See previous story published on August 21, 2026

Search underway for missing boater departed from Tortola

-the Dominican national was delivering boat to new owners in Sint Maarten

The U.S. Coast Guard and multiple regional agencies are searching for 58-year-old Peter Baron, a citizen of Dominica, who is overdue after departing Tortola, Virgin Islands, bound for Sint Maarten aboard a 45-foot white catamaran named Ocean Time. 

Baron left on Sunday as the sole person on board to deliver the vessel to its new owner and has not arrived at his destination, prompting a multi-agency search effort that began Thursday.

Timeline and background

According to reports, Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a call from concerned family members reporting Baron overdue on Wednesday night. 

Through follow-up communications, they spoke with a local maritime agent who said Baron had initially departed Tortola for Sint Maarten about a week earlier but encountered steering system problems that forced him to return to Tortola. 

The agent relayed that Baron performed repairs on the steering system himself before setting out again on Sunday. As of Thursday, there were no reported sightings of Baron or the Ocean Time.

Search assets and public appeal

In response, watchstanders directed the launch of an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen and issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast and an Enhanced Group Call, asking vessel traffic in the area to keep a lookout. 

Additional assets and partners involved in the search include a Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Fort-de-France, and the Rescue Coordination Centre in Curaçao.

Anyone with information that may assist in locating Baron or the vessel is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector San Juan at 787-289-2041.