Wife notified sailboat was located without missing Maryland sailor off Mexico's coast
The wife of a missing sailor from Maryland says she was told that Donald Lawson's "Defiant" sailboat was located Thursday off the Coast of Mexico.
The Mexican Navy Search and Rescue Team told Jacqueline Lawson that while the capsized trimaran was located 356 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, there were no signs of her husband's whereabouts.
Port authorities in Acapulco said that Lawson had arrived on June 26 for repairs to a motor and hull of the boat. After the repairs were completed, Lawson left Acapulco on July 5, headed for the Panama Canal, where he planned to cross to the Caribbean Sea and continue north to Baltimore.
"So far I have not received any information about the location of the life raft that was on board DEFIANT when Donald left Acapulco on July 5, 2023," Jacqueline Lawson said.
Jacqueline Lawson said she was told the search for Lawson, 41, an experienced sailor, will be handed over to the Mexican Navy Search and Rescue Team.
"As of 2000 hours (8 p.m.) this evening, my husband Donald has not yet been located," Jacqueline Lawson said. "The USCG informed me tonight that they are releasing themselves from the search and turning full responsibility over to the MRCC. We have not yet heard for certain if the MRCC will resume its search and recovery operations on Saturday. I continue to remain optimistic and hopeful that Donald will be found alive and will return home safely."
A plane had reported spotting a boat similar to the description of Lawson's on July 23 about 320 nautical miles south of Acapulco. The navy sent boats to the area, but it wasn't until Thursday night that they found it.
Jacqueline Lawson, told WJZ News that on July 9, he had sent her a message saying he was having mechanical problems and the motor was losing power. Three days later, he told her a storm had knocked out his wind generator and he would try to return to Acapulco. The last satellite positioning message received for the Defiant was July 13.
Lawson grew up in Baltimore, and from his first sailing opportunity at age 9, set his sights on making it his career.
"From that day forward, that was my goal – become a professional sailor," Lawson said in a profile published by U.S. Sailing last year.
He started out cleaning boats, folding sails and stowing gear in Annapolis. Later, he and his wife founded the Dark Seas Project, an effort to increase diversity in the sport of sailing. He is the chairman of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for U.S. Sailing.
CBS Baltimore reported that Lawson was working toward challenging records for circumnavigating the globe solo on a trimaran without stopping — a voyage that is estimated to take 74 days to complete.
A spokeswoman for the Mexican Navy's Search and Rescue arm told CBS Baltimore that it is hurricane season on Mexico's Pacific Coast — a fact that has hindered the navy's search and rescue effort.
In a statement to CBS Baltimore Tuesday evening, Jacqueline Lawson wrote: "We are not giving up hope and we are remaining hopeful of his return. He is an experienced sailor who is well-equipped to expertly handle these types of challenging weather conditions in the Pacific. We are continuing to pray that Donald will be found and will soon return home safely to his family, friends, and sailing supporters."