The capsized boat of Donald Lawson, a sailor from Baltimore who disappeared in the Pacific Ocean over two weeks ago, has been discovered off the coast of Mexico by a search and rescue team from the Mexican Navy. The vessel, identified as Mr. Lawson’s trimaran named the Defiant, was found about 410 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico.
Mr. Lawson, a professional sailor and African American advocate in the sport of sailing, was training to set a world record for solo circumnavigation around the globe in a sailboat. His wife, Jacqueline Lawson, revealed that she lost contact with him on July 12 when his boat experienced engine failure during a storm off the Mexican coast. Despite extensive search efforts, Mr. Lawson remains missing.
Here’s what you need to know about the search for Mr. Lawson.
Who is Donald Lawson?
Mr. Lawson, 41, is a talented sailor from Baltimore who aspired to become the fastest person to sail solo and nonstop around the world in a boat no longer than 60 feet. He also aimed to break barriers as one of the few African Americans to set world records in sailing. Together with his wife, he initiated the Dark Seas Project to promote diversity in the sport. Additionally, Mr. Lawson serves as the chairman of the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee for U.S. Sailing, the national governing body for sailing in the United States.
In a 2022 interview published on the U.S. Sailing website, Mr. Lawson expressed his determination and passion, stating, “I was the only African American I saw, but my love and dedication to sailing made me overlook any obstacles or individuals who opposed my presence.”
Mr. Lawson’s Trimaran and Last Communication
Mr. Lawson believed that his 60-foot sailing vessel, the Defiant, would assist him in achieving his goals. Prior to his ownership, the Defiant had already set a speed record in a race from California to Hawaii in 2017. It had also been utilized as a training boat for the America’s Cup race.
On July 5, Mr. Lawson embarked on his journey from Acapulco after finishing repairs on his boat. His intended route was to Baltimore via the Panama Canal in preparation for the upcoming world record attempt. However, on July 9, he used a satellite communication device to inform his wife that he was facing issues with the Defiant, which had lost engine power. He was compelled to depend on a wind generator.
Tragically, on July 12, Mr. Lawson lost the wind generator during a storm, and it was the last contact his wife had with him. Despite hoping for his return, Ms. Lawson reported him as missing on July 21 when almost ten days had passed without communication.
The Discovery of the Capsized Defiant
The U.S. Coast Guard alerted nearby vessels after the last location of Mr. Lawson’s boat was detected on July 13, approximately 320 miles south of Acapulco, according to the tracking app PredictWind. The Mexican Navy initiated a search operation, and on July 24, they located the capsized boat, eventually confirmed as the Defiant. The U.S. Coast Guard also dispatched a patrol boat, the Active, to assist in the search and rescue mission.
Despite the discovery of the boat, rescue teams did not find Mr. Lawson near the wreckage. Consequently, the U.S. Coast Guard decided to suspend its search on Friday and placed the responsibility on Mexican naval authorities to continue the efforts.
Mr. Lawson’s Possible Location and Hope for his Survival
As of now, the search efforts could resume if new information emerges regarding Mr. Lawson. It is believed that he may be in a missing life raft. When he set sail, the Defiant was equipped with a survival suit, a 12-foot dinghy, and a life raft. During their search, the Mexican Navy recovered the survival suit and the dinghy, but the life raft remains undiscovered.
In a statement, Ms. Lawson expressed optimism, believing that her husband utilized the life raft when the Defiant became disabled and that he is still alive somewhere. She and her family remain hopeful, while also acknowledging the possibility of Mr. Lawson finding refuge on an island or sheltering in some way. Furthermore, it is speculated that he may have taken potable water from the Defiant before it capsized.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his current whereabouts, the focus remains on the hope that Mr. Lawson is safe on the life raft. The search efforts will continue as long as there are leads to pursue.
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