USS Peleliu Halts Search For Missing British Yachtsman

Stimson family photo

Luke Stimson and his yacht "Jonetsu"

The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have called off their search for missing British man Luke Stimson - a search that involved the San Diego-based USS Peleliu.

The Peleliu was en route to homeport San Diego when it was diverted to participate in the search.

According to a Coast Guard news release, the Peleliu and other Coast Guard and Navy crews spent more than 50 hours over three days searching roughly 2,340 square miles of the North Pacific Ocean for Stimson.

The British newspaper The Times reports Stimson, 38, was sailing from Japan to England on his yacht Jonetsu with his fiancée, Laura Vernon, when he fell overboard late Saturday night.

As Home Post reported earlier this week, a Navy helicopter rescued Vernon from the ship, then airlifted her to the safety of the USS Peleliu.

Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu specialist Jennifer Conklin said of the search suspension:

“We offer our thoughts and prayers to the Stimson and Vernon families during this difficult time. Suspending a search is never an easy decision, nor is it one that is made quickly.”