[chris]

A 58-year-old mariner survived after his 22-foot white pleasure boat, Solo 2, capsized west of Guam on Monday morning, Jan. 12, 2026.

He had departed Merizo around 5 a.m. local time to fish near the Agat buoy and then head to the 9-mile mark. Adverse sea conditions, including a high surf advisory and a rip current statement, were in effect for Guam and likely contributed to the capsize.

At about 10:22 a.m., watchstanders at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Guam received a COSPAS-SARSAT alert from his personal locator beacon. The Coast Guard also received a distress message from his GPS device reporting the vessel was sinking at the same location.

Coast Guard officials said the properly registered PLB, secondary emergency contact, GPS message, float plan information, and the mariner staying with the capsized boat helped crews find him quickly after he could not be reached by phone.

U.S. Coast Guard Station Apra Harbor launched a 45-foot response boat-medium, which arrived on scene by 11:09 a.m. The crew found the mariner sitting atop the capsized vessel. He reported no one else aboard and had no medical concerns.

The crew took him to Agat Marina, where family members and the Guam Fire Department met him. The Coast Guard issued a broadcast notice to mariners warning that the capsized vessel was a potential hazard to navigation.

A high surf advisory remained in effect for north-facing reefs through 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, with 7 to 10 foot breaking waves expected. A rip current statement warned of high risk along north- and east-facing shores during the same period.