Update, 8:30 p.m. Wednesday: Crew on the Coast Guard cutter Liberty found Tony "Scott" Pearce and his sailboat in good condition in William Henry Bay, about 40 miles from Haines and roughly halfway to Juneau, late Wednesday, according to a written statement from the Coast Guard.
Pearce and the sailboat, the Darshan, "were found in good condition, well stocked with food, water and emergency supplies," the Coast Guard said. Pearce told the searchers he planned to wait out heavy snow and 2-4-foot seas and continue to Juneau Thursday if the weather improved.
The Coast Guard's latest statement corrected Pearce's name.
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Original story:
Coast Guard searchers are looking for a 57-year-old man and his sailboat in Southeast Alaska after he left his hometown of Haines headed south toward Juneau on Sunday.
According to a written statement from the Coast Guard, Scott Pierce left Haines in the white-and-teal, 25-foot Darshan with plans to attend the Juneau Folk Festival. He never arrived in Juneau and was reported overdue Wednesday, the Coast Guard said.
Weather in the area Wednesday was reported as 2-foot seas, 11 mph wind and scattered snow showers, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard is asking mariners in the area for help finding Pierce and launched a cutter, the Liberty, as well as a 45-foot response boat and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to look for him.
Anyone with information as to Pierce's whereabouts is asked to call the Coast Guard Sector Juneau command center at (907) 463-2980.
Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4589.
By CASEY GROVE