Haifa: The sailboat that triggered a search-and-rescue operation by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) has been located, with all four passengers-Israeli men aged 41, 40, 30, and 27-reported to be in good health. The vessel is now sailing toward the port of Haifa.
According to Cyprus News Agency, preliminary indications suggest the sailboat experienced an engine failure, prompting the captain to proceed under sail. He informed authorities that no assistance was required.
The operation began after the JRCC activated the national Search and Rescue Plan ‘NEARCHOS’ on 9 December at 15:00, when contact was lost with the sailboat, which had departed from the port of Ashdod on 2 December en route to Crete. Its last known position had been recorded on 8 December within the Search and Rescue Region of the Republic of Cyprus, 89 nautical miles southwest of Paphos.
The vessel was finally located on 10 December at 17:20, approximately 100 nautical miles from its last known position, sailing back in the direction of Israel. The JRCC also deployed a National Guard Air Command helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicle, a helicopter of the Police Air Operations Unit, as well as nearby vessels that contributed to the search.
Israeli authorities have been informed and expect the vessel to arrive in Israel within the day, depending on weather conditions.