Man who vanished in 30-foot sailboat found safe near Bahamas

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for Ward Stogdill who was aboard the 30-foot sailing vessel Bella Dawn.

MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard has located Ward Stogdill and the Bella Dawn, his 30-foot sailboat after he was reported missing.

Coast Guard officials announced Thursday that Stogdill is alive and well and his boat is safely anchored near Exuma.

Stogdill departed at about 5:30 a.m., on Oct. 28, out of the Florida Keys on his way to the Bahamas.

The U.S. Coast Guard released this photograph of a sailboat on Wednesday, nearly a week after its departure from the Florida Keys.

According to the Coast Guard, Stogdill, 52, had last been seen in Boot Key where he departed from on a voyage to Bimini. He has an 18-foot orange kayak on board.

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Andrea Torres

Andrea Torres

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.