Search called off for man on Hilo-Calif. voyage

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HONOLULU (AP) — The Coast Guard has called off a search for a man sailing alone from Hawaii to San Francisco.

HONOLULU (AP) — The Coast Guard has called off a search for a man sailing alone from Hawaii to San Francisco.

The Coast Guard says rescuers were able to make contact with Rimas Meleshyus and that he’s OK.

A friend notified the Coast Guard on Thursday that Meleshyus sent a text message via satellite that said, “I lost my life raft, in danger now.”

A Coast Guard spokeswoman says that while the search was underway, the boater sent a message from a satellite radio device saying he’s safe and continuing on his voyage.

He left Hilo on Feb. 9 aboard a 24-foot sailboat named Pier Pressure.

The Coast Guard was concerned because of a big storm in the area where the boat was last known to be.