Search for Missing Princess

The Coast Guard has asked us to reach out to our readership regarding the search for Richard Byhre, a 76-year-old sailor who did not return from his sailing trip as expected, and his dark blue 28-ft Catalina sloop Princess, homeport San Diego.

At 9:00 p.m. Saturday, watchstanders at the Coast Guard Joint Harbor Operations Center in San Diego received a report from Byhre’s wife reporting that he had not returned from sailing last week. The Coast Guard immediately launched a Station San Diego 33-ft Special Purpose Craft — Law Enforcement boat crew to search for Byhre. San Diego Harbor Patrol crews also searched for Byhre.

On Sunday, a Coast Guard C-130 aircrew from Air Station Sacramento completed multiple searches of the waters 30 miles west of Ensenada and 60 miles south of Rosarito, Mexico. Additionally, an MH-60 helicopter aircrew from Coast Guard Sector San Diego completed a search along the waters off the U.S. and the border of Mexico. The Coast Guard Cutter Edisto was diverted to remain on scene and conduct searches throughout the evening.

"Mr. Byhre left his home in Palm Desert on Tuesday, February 10, and the last credit card activity was in Pt. Loma on the same day," writes OSCS Douglas Samp of the USCG District 11 Command Center in Alameda. "Southwestern YC in San Diego noticed Princess missing from the slip on Sunday, February 15, and his Toyota Prius is still parked there." The search area expanded to the Channel Islands south almost to Turtle Bay.

"Any person having information on Mr. Byhre’s voyage or whereabouts is requested to contact Rescue Coordination Center Alameda at (510) 437-3701 or email [email protected]," said Samp.