Found Deceased ME - Richard Pratt, 80, Richmond Island, 1 Aug 2017

[h=1]Family of missing 80-year-old sailor from Massachusetts hoping for a ‘miracle’[/h]

Pratt set sail Aug. 1 from his hometown of Cohasset, Massachusetts, on Boston’s South Shore, intending to make a yearly trip up the New England coast to Maine. His 33-foot sailboat, the Tarrier, was found Thursday evening on Richmond Island off the coast of Cape Elizabeth. The boat’s sails were up, its dinghy was still attached and it appeared to be undamaged. The cabin door was open, but Pratt was nowhere to be found.

The Coast Guard, aided by the Maine Marine Patrol and other agencies, searched through the night, covering more than 300 nautical square miles in 17 hours before ending the search Friday afternoon. The marine patrol continued to search through the weekend, then scaled back its efforts Monday afternoon to periodic flyovers.

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Family members described Pratt as an experienced sailor who developed a love for the ocean as a boy growing up on Cohasset Harbor. Later, he came to know Maine waters well.

“He made this trip every year for the last 40 years,” said Earl, who lives next door to her brother. “He’d take a whole month. His destination was usually the Penobscot River.”

Family members said Pratt stayed in relatively good health for his age, watched what he ate and walked or biked several miles a day. “He was in better shape than many 60-year-olds,” Earl said. So he continued his solo sailing trips.

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http://www.pressherald.com/2017/08/07/family-releases-photos-of-missing-boater-still-hold-out-hope/

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for an 80-year-old sailor from Massachusetts whose boat was found off the coast of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Thursday evening.

Richard Pratt’s sailboat, the Tarrier, was found aground with its sails up, and skiff still attached.

“Usually if the skiff’s still tied to the stern, there’s either somebody on board – or supposed to be,” said Craig Garland, a member of the Cape Elizabeth Water Extraction Team who responded to the report of the unmanned boat.

Garland said the boat did not appear to be damaged.

“It raised enough concern for us to launch a search,” Coast Guard Petty Officer Andrew Barresi said.

A log book located on board led searchers to look from Cape Elizabeth to Ogunquit, Maine. According to the Coast Guard, the search covered 304 square nautical miles.

The search was suspended on Friday afternoon. According to Barresi, searchers did not find any sign of Pratt or any of his belongings. They will resume the search if new information surfaces.

http://www.necn.com/news/new-englan...r-Missing-Massachusetts-Sailor-438589723.html

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August 11th:
The body recovered Thursday by the U.S. Coast Guard about 15 nautical miles off the coast of Kennebunkport matches the description of missing Massachusetts boater Richard Pratt,*multiple media outlets reported Friday morning.

http://bangordailynews.com/2017/08/...-coast-matches-description-of-missing-boater/

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Richard's obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/wickedlocal-cohasset/obituary.aspx?pid=186643367