The Tico Times (print edition/August 19, 2005) indicates the search was called off Sunday (8/14/05)as reported by the Coast Guard. "There is no sign of the boat. Nothing." Coast Guard station director Manuel Silva told The Tico Times.

I don't know why this wasn't picked up on the stateside newswires but it was certainly very much in the news here, reported in all the major CR papers and English papers published here. Additionally, there was quite a bit of TV media that covered this in CR. I'll keep watching for add'l news and will post of this site. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those missing, three Costa Ricans and two Americans.

Lisa in Manuel Antonio

I do not know if people are still reading of this incident as the last post was almost a week ago, but I am involved in this case by personally knowing the victims (fairly well) and I wanted to set the record straight on a few things. I never would have responded to something like this, but some of the info I read upset me and then others of you just seem to have questions -- well, welcome to our world, we all do and would love to have more info on this. For whoever wrote that things can happen anywhere is so on the target. This is a freak accident and that is all that any of us have any indication of -- we have no sign of pirateers or drug runners -- that MAY happen in that area of the world, but I sincerely do not feel as if this is the case in this instance. They were not on their honeymoon, they had been married for almost a year and all of their children from previous marriages are in good capable hands and have the prayers of HUNDREDS of people going for them. As do the rest of the families involved. I take issue with the attack on Mark being a Mason and I know Mark was a good man. I have a question for Dusti414 -- you acted shocked that you read that Mark was a Mason, but in the next post you say that you were about to contact him to talk to him about being a Mason before this happened -- well get your story straight! The search is over as there was nothing to be found -- hundreds of thousands of miles were searched by US Coast Guard boats, local fishing boats, 2 planes with infrared capabilities and permission was granted for land searches to take place in Nicarauga. Family and friends did not give up --- there just was no where else to search. This did make the huge media very much, but there is no sign, no information so there was just not much to tell. In the state of KY it did make big news but if there is nothing to see, nothing to report on, there is just so long that nationally this issue can be dwelled upon -- unfortunately there had been no new info that the media could report on.

I am sorry but I made a typo on what I wrote before -- I intended to say that this did NOT make the huge national media very much, but there is no sign, no information so there was just not much to tell in the way of advancements in the case. A few mentions nationally is all that there was, but as I said before in the state of KY it did make big news but. . . I am sorry if I sounded defensive and rude, but some of the comments of the character of a missing man REALLY irritated me (I agree with the post that Diana made about some comments being "judgemental at best")-- and in general I am irritated by the loss that their community has suffered. One of these people was an integral part of my life and they both will be missed.

Here are the facts: they were to return from Costa Rica to the states on Saturday 7/30 but went missing on Friday 7/29. They left for their deep sea fishing on Friday the 29th early in the morning. They had radio contact with others on shore at about 11 a.m. they were to return into the shore by 5 p.m but after the radio contact were never heard from again. Searches began when the captain's wife was able to report that he had not returned home by 6 a.m Saturday morning. Please just pray for the families involved. For those of you who post out of concern, thank you for your concern.

Dear kycatfan - I am still very interested in knowing any additional or new information on this lovely couple. I appreciate you setting the record straight. To me it does not matter who the person is, where they come from, or what associations they may or may not come from...they are human beings with families and friends who are missing them. Everyone should be respectful of this.
Thanks.

Tiki123 -- Thank you so much for your thoughts. I am happy to set the record straight when good and reliable info is verified and the time is right for info to be out there. I read your previous post (8/20)and I agree wholeheartedly -- go where you want and do what JUST BE SAFE -- follow your instincts and if something scares you, do not be afraid to speak up, it could mean your life. I just hope that stumbling upon this in a google search, that I have been able to speak up for two who cannot speak for themselves by giving out some information and by setting the record straight about the character of at least one of the participants. In case you cannot tell, a particular post really got me fired up.

kycatfan,
I am very interested in what you wrote. I am very sorry for your loss and as a concerned traveler also have a couple questions. In one article about them it said that the boat did not have radios on the boat. You said they radio-ed in. Was it just a typo in the paper? The paper also made it sound like the boat may not have been up to proper standards. Do you know if there were life jackets on board?

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky...e/12436954.htm

Although I do not know your friends, I keep thinking about them and feel very sorry.

I stand corrected -- i have been in contact on many occasions with a family member who went to help with the search. He said that they have every reason to believe that there was CONTACT with shore before the boat was lost not to be seen again. This is coming from those who have been there and probably know more about this case than anyone else. I am not sure if the boat had an actual radio, but I DO know that contrary to what the small town local media have said that the boat had been refurbished very recently. The reports in one nearby town stated that the boat had not been inspected in over 4 years -- that is not true, it had been refurbished and was inspected. How detailed an inspection is in CR is questionable, but according to my source the boat had been overhauled and was owned by the extended family of the Captain, who by the way has also been taken from his family -- he has a two or three year old daughter. Tragic . . . Now, could we question what an INSPECTION means in CR? Absolutely -- I have not been told, but rather have read this part, that an inspection simply consists of an official boarding your boat to make sure that it is "in order" -- the visit is apparently a brief one and this is cited in a few articles. Knowing Mark was a safety consultant, and with his wife of almmost one year (married 8/2004) I cannot imagine that he would embark on a boat that he did not deem safe. As for lifejackets, there has been no mention of them in converstaions I have had and I do not know if other family members know either, but I would think that if a boat had even been inspected that LJackets were one of the few things that they checked on.

To be very honest, the only people who know what happened cannot tell us, we will probably never know. I know that many here hope to find SOME sign of tangible resolution to all of this even though the outcome that we hoped and prayed for since that terrible Saturday is not coming to us.

Thank you for your reply,
It sounds like you have been in contact with the boat's owners and the captain's family. What do they think happened? I have read to the boat was in good condition. Do they think their well cared for boat sprung a leak and sank very rapidly? Is that what you think? This is such a sad and scary situation, but your information is very helpful. I'm planning a trip to CR soon. If there is anything that can be done while there to help, I'd be happy to do it.