Missing Mariner Identified as Ron Ingrahm

The Coast Guard continued its search Friday for a missing boater who placed a mayday call Thursday at 8:03 a.m.

Ron Ingrahm, 67, was identified by the Coast Guard Friday as the mariner and is believed to be the only person aboard the 25-foot sailing vessel, Malia.

According to Coast Guard reports, a mayday call was received by watchstanders at Sector Honolulu Command Center over VHF radio channel 16.

Ingrahm reported flooding on his boat and provided a GPS position that was about 46 miles west of Kailua-Kona near Alenuihaha Channel, but communications were then lost.

Officials say that Ingrahm departed Kaunakakai Harbor on Molokai and was en route to Manele Bay on Lanai.

Search efforts include an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, as well as a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from the Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point. The 87-foot Coast Guard Cutter Ahi that was previously part of the search had to stop its efforts due to weather conditions.

The Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center received a call from a friend of Ingrahm on Friday, who said said the last time the two had contact was Tuesday.

Weather conditions in the area currently consist of 35-mile-per-hour winds with eight to 15-foot seas.