SW-INC-0560SeaWise Incidents

Breezy Lee - Engine and rig failure leave a US single-hander drifting 70 nautical miles off Cozumel; the Mexican Navy takes him off and tows his boat in

The 32 ft sailboat could no longer make way; the patrol vessel ARM Independencia reached her and towed her to Cozumel.

verified · 1 sourceN
Vessel
Breezy LeeSailboat, about 32 ft
When
2026Caribbean Sea
Crew
1 aboardAll survived
Outcome
Rescued
Position
About 70 nautical miles east-south-east of Cozumel, Mexico
Sea area
Caribbean Sea, east of Cozumel
Coordinates
19.97°N, -85.77°WApproximate position
Summary

What happened.

On 1 May 2026 the 32 ft sailboat Breezy Lee, sailed alone by an American from Florida, lost her engine and suffered rig problems about 70 nautical miles east-south-east of Cozumel. The Mexican Navy patrol vessel ARM Independencia took him aboard in good health and towed the boat to Cozumel.

On the night of Friday 1 May 2026 the Mexican Navy's Cozumel naval sector received a report of a maritime emergency: a sailboat with one person aboard was drifting about 70 nautical miles east-south-east of the island. She was Breezy Lee, about 32 feet long, sailed single-handed by a man from Florida. Problems with both her propulsion and her sail rig had left her unable to make way, and she was being carried offshore. The offshore patrol vessel ARM Independencia (PO-163) was sent, reached the boat and took the sailor aboard, where he was given first aid and found to be stable and out of danger. The sailboat was taken in tow to Cozumel. The reports do not say how the alarm was raised, how long he had been drifting, or what had failed in the rig.

ConditionsNight of Friday 1 May 2026. About 70 nautical miles (130 km) east-south-east of Cozumel. The boat lost her propulsion and had problems with her sail rig, leaving her unable to navigate; she drifted offshore. How the alarm was raised and how long she drifted were not reported; weather not reported. Pin is hand-set and approximate. Sources: Noticaribe, 2 May 2026; Sal! Revista, 3 May 2026 (both citing the Mexican Navy).
SeaWise noteA sailboat has two engines: the motor and the rig. Losing one is an inconvenience, losing both is an emergency. Before going offshore alone, look hard at whatever could take out both at once.
Lessons learned

What it teaches.

  • 1
    Inspect standing and running rigging before an offshore passage, and carry spares and the tools to jury-rig a sail if the engine fails too.
    rig failure engine failure
  • 2
    When drift is carrying you offshore, ask for help while you are still close to land. Every hour of waiting adds miles for the rescuers.
    engine failure rescue
Sources

Where this comes from.

News· Central & North America sailing newsRescata Semar a navegante extranjero a bordo de un velero a la deriva frente a CozumelVisit ↗

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From SeaWise

Procedures involved.

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Record IDSW-INC-0560
Curated bySeaWise editorial
Confidenceverified · 1 source
Record typeIncident

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