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Trans-Pacific sailor
By Harold Morse
rescued off Maui
Star-BulletinAdam Stone single-handedly sailed his wooden sloop with no power source except wind-filled sails from San Francisco only to have it sink a couple miles off Maui.
"Basically, there was a lot of wind and heavy seas, and the boat sprang a leak," he said from his lodging at Haiku, Maui. The Coast Guard rescued him Sunday night off Maalea Harbor.
"Within two to three minutes after we removed him, the boat was completely under," said Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Carlson.
Stone's vessel, the Mariah, sank in waters about 60 feet deep. Stone, 28, radioed the Coast Guard for help about 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
The San Francisco resident was picked up by a small boat launched by Coast Guard Station Maui. Stone had given his location as two miles south of Maalea Harbor.
His 28-foot vessel's red "running" lights were seen by approaching rescuers, as Stone stood on the deck wearing his life jacket and holding an emergency position indicating radio beacon.
Stone said last night that the boat began taking on water at perhaps 500 gallons a minute.
He teaches sailing out of San Francisco and will sail again, he said.
"I've been sailing wooden boats for a long time (16 years)," Stone said.
Just before his rescue he had shot off two flares which were seen by people on shore and reported to the Maui Fire Department. After Stone stepped aboard the rescue boat, he and his rescuers watched Stone's vessel sink.
Stone was picked up in good condition with no injuries.
Stone told rescuers that after having left San Francisco on Dec. 15 he initially had arrived at Hilo Jan. 11 and had made a quick port call at Hana, Maui, Saturday. At the time of the sinking, he was sailing to Maalea for needed repairs.
By the time the last leg of his journey ended Sunday night, the trans-Pacific voyage had covered more than 2,140 miles.
