The couple that North Carolina Coast Guard crews have been searching for all week after they failed to return from a sailing trip when they were expected have been found and are safe.
Virginia Beach natives Yanni Nikopoulos and Dale Jones, both 65, left from Hampton, Virginia on June 8 for the Azores.
“We are extremely happy to learn Yanni and Dale are found and are safe," said James Cifers, operations unit watchstander in the Fifth District Command Center. "It is truly wonderful the pair will be reunited with their friends and family soon.”
Jones' daughter reported the couple missing a week ago. She said her mother told her on June 13 that heavy weather had damaged their vessel and that they were headed back to Hampton. The missing boaters were about 460 miles east of Virginia Beach at the time of the call.
No further communications were received. While no date had been established for their return, Jones’ daughter said she expected them on June 20.
Coast Guard officials said they contacted the Virginia command center to report that they were about 80 miles east of Chincoteague and are on their way back to Hampton.
They said their sailboat Kyklades was struck by lightning during inclement weather and after rigging a spare sail, the couple sailed to Virginia.