Missing At Sea?

We received this Coast Guard message on facebook this morning:

THE U.S. COAST GUARD RECEIVED A REPORT OF AN OVERDUE [Vagabond] 47 FT BLACK HULLED [stripe] WITH WHITE SUPER STRUCTURE SAILING VESSEL SUNDANCER (CFK9731, MMSI 316018203)ON A VOYAGE FROM ECUADOR TO EITHER CONTADORA OR MOGO MOGO ISLAND, PANAMA. SAILING VESSEL IS DESCRIBED AS 47FT IN LENGTH WITH 2 PERSONS ON BOARD. THE VESSEL HAS VHF, HF AND SSB RADIO. THE TRIP WAS GOING TO BE CONDUCTED WITHIN 100 NM OF THE COAST NORTH TO PANAMA. ANYONE KNOWING THE WHEREABOUTS OF MS. HEATHER REIMER (CANADA) AND HER PASSENGER RON QUIRE (US) ARE REQUESTED TO NOTIFY U.S. COAST GUARD. REQUEST CALLOUTS TO THE VESSEL ON SSB AND IF POSSIBLE THEIR POSITION AND SPEED PLEASE. PHONE 510-437-3701.

                                            Ron and Heather are at top, helping Hugh and Ann
                                        deliver their boat Serendipity through the Panama canal



   We met Heather and Ron in El Salvador in 2012. They are a fun, spirited couple from Canada, although Heather spent a large part of her life right here in Running Springs, CA.

                                  Ron with Aaron of BellaStar in Panama's Las Perlas Islands


     According to their blog, they were planning on sailing north from Ecuador on approximately          December 8th, to arrive at Panama's Las Perlas Islands in less than a week.

                                                                   Heather in El Salvador


                                The last anyone has heard from them is on December 7th.
                        They maintain a pretty active blog and are frequent posters on facebook.

                                                        Really getting out there in Peru


     Ron and Heather really impressed us "regular" cruisers because they sailed farther and deeper into outlying areas than the rest of us. I admired their brave ventures into the remote Darien Gap of Panama and the netherlands of South America.

                            Clowning around with Ben of Knee Deep at a boat show in Panama


                          It is quite unlike them to simply not find a place to check in online.
                                        Which means we're all pretty concerned.

                                                Waiting, somewhere in South America

                                                                      Fun times in Mexico

                                                              Sundancer, a Vagabond 47


   Please, if you are sailing in the area, keep an eye out for Ron and Heather, and please contact the Coast Guard with any information you may have.

UPDATE: We're now hearing that Heather's sister is stating that contact has been made with Sundancer via SSB radio. Awaiting confirmation/more details and also their current location. Will update as more information becomes available...

NEWEST UPDATE: Heather posted on facebook so all is well. They're in the Las Perlas Islands in Panama...whew!  :-)