"Missing" boat, crew arrive

MANILA, Philippines - Three of the five Americans who were reported missing after their sailboat failed to arrive in Carmen, Cebu, on time from Guam finally arrived 2 a.m. yesterday. Two of them already left the country for Guam earlier.

The three arrived on board the Pineapple, a 38-foot twin-hulled white catamaran, escorted by a rescue vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard.

They were identified as Chris Bell, 62, the sailboat captain; Corey Goldhorn, 39; and Steven Blanton, 36.

Two of their companions, Joe Gamec, 39, a member of the United States Air Force and Brandit Pratt, 29, disembarked in Maasin, Southern Leyte, and flew back to Guam. Gamec was advised to report back to duty while Pratt was asked by her husband, a US Navy officer, to return to Guam.

The five were taking the Pineapple to Carmen where her buyer, an American named James Underwood, waited.

The Coast Guard was dispatched to look for the vessel after it did not arrive in the expected time. A Coast Guard plane spotted the vessel northwest of Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte, last Jan. 22.

The sailboat was escorted to the port of Maasin where the crew refueled and Gamec and Pratt disembarked.

After they refueled, Bell and his two companions on board the sailboat were again escorted by Philippine Coast Guard rescue vessel for Carmen, Cebu.

They arrived in Barangay Poblacion, Carmen town, around 2 a.m. yesterday but refused to disembark.

Philippine Coast Guard Central-Eastern Command spokesman Capt. Anelito Gabisan tried to convince them to disembark through cellular phone, but the line was cut.

Gabisan accompanied by some PCG officials decided to meet them at the sailboat, he later returned and told reporters that the crewmen were in good condition and presented them passports for submission to the Bureau of Immigration.

Some members of the media had been waiting for them at the pier area since 10 p.m. last Monday.

Bell and his crew left the sailboat around 9 a.m. yesterday and were met by Underwood.

Bell told reporters that Underwood is a close friend who asked him to personally deliver the sailboat to Carmen town. Although, he has been sailing for more than 40 years, Bell said it is his first time here in the Philippines.

Bell said the "Pineapple" left the Marianas Yacht Club in Apra Harbor, Guam, on Jan. 6. It was expected to transit the 15-hundred miles to Cebu within 15 days and expected to arrive no later than Jan. 16.

But the vessel suffered rudder problems that caused the delay, Bell said they drifted for three days while carrying out the repairs.

Underwood, who is married to a resident in Barangay Dawis Sur, Carmen, visited Guam last year where he bought the sailboat. He asked Bell to deliver the yacht to the Philippines, as he wants it repaired in Carmen. –(FREEMAN)