Rescued Sailor Back Home In California

The Newport Beach man who was rescued by a Chilean fishing trawler after getting caught in a violent storm while trying to circumnavigate the globe in his sailboat has arrived back home in Orange County.

Ken Barnes stepped out of the arrival terminal of John Wayne airport where he was instantly swamped by well-wishers and news cameras.

He says he has mixed feelings about being home because he'd hoped to be out for another three or four months completing his planned around-the-world journey.

Barnes was trying to become the first American solo sailor to circumnavigate the world nonstop starting from the West Coast.

But a storm had left him adrift in his vessel for more than three days about 500 miles from the coast of Chile before he was rescued Friday.

In the days since he was rescued, Barnes toured Punta Arenas, Chile, and held a news conference about his brush with death.

The homecoming ends an ordeal that began New Year's Eve when Barnes' 44-foot ketch was caught in a violent storm and became disabled.

Barnes was released from the Armed Forces Hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile's southernmost city, after doctors determined he was in good condition and began the long trip home on Monday. He was rescued early Friday by a Chilean fishing trawler after three days at sea in stormy conditions.

During his brief stay in Punta Arenas, Barnes toured the downtown area and and kissed the foot of a bronze statue of a Patagonia Indian in the main square. Local lore has it that this means he will someday return to the city.

Barnes, who sold his California home and pool maintenance business to finance his trip, was able to communicate by satellite phone with his girlfriend, Cathy Chambers, during his ordeal.

The Chilean navy said it planned to sink Barnes' vessel, The Privateer. Barnes has said he does not have the money to recover it.