By:Cris Italia
Father and son, Robert Hammond, 59, and Robert Hammond Jr., 35, of Oceanside, along with friends Robert Wright, 46, and Peter Quinn of Island Park have been missing ever since they sailed off the Jones Beach Inlet shortly after 6 a.m. on Saturday.
According to Coast Guard officials, the search for the four men began at 9:30 a.m. after they received a distress call from the 25-foot boat. Officials say the vessel is a Wellcraft pleasure boat named, Eleni II.
"We are still searching as we speak," said Petty Officer Third Class Scott Whitney, a Coast Guard spokesman based in Portsmouth, VA. The Coast Guard was searching feverishly in a span of 5,500 square miles, stretching from Atlantic City to Jones Beach. At its height, the search has involved five vessels, two helicopters, a jet, and a cargo plane.
"We are not certain where the tides could have pulled them," Whitney said.
On Wednesday, the Coast Guard admitted there was a small chance for survival. "Time is certainly not on our side," said Lt. Brian McPhersen, spokesman with the Portsmouth VA. Coast Guared. "It is reasonable to say at this point that in liklihood chances for survival have passed."
The Coast Guard had found a life jacket, a cooler, and several other items during their search, but could not confirm whether the items belonged to the Eleni II. "We found some things that we thought could have been from their vessel, but their families said none of it could have been from it," McPhersen said.
The four men had been excited about participating in the 30th annual Freeport Hudson Anglers Shark Tournament. A family member said that for weeks it was all they could talk about. On Saturday morning, the fisherman took off on a quest to catch a shark. Just two weeks ago, Wright had reportedly captured a 192-pound shark and he called it a warm-up for this event. Unfortunately, the waves were deemed dangerous by some competitors, including Wright's wife of 27 years, Toni Wright.
"They should have canceled it like everybody else did," Wright told reporters. "The water was bad, and they should not have allowed this to happen." Wright also admitted that she felt her husband would not return.
With waves of over five feet, Hudson Anglers stated they would cancel the event, but on Saturday, officials felt the weather conditions were good enough to start the tournament. In 29 years, the tournament has reportedly not had an incident like this.
Mark Tailor of Oceanside competed in the event last year, but held back this year. "I wasn't going to compete anyway, but when I saw the weather I knew I played it safe," he said. "I had friends that competed in it this year and they ended their day early because the waves were too rough."
Officials from the Hudson Anglers did not respond to phone calls on Monday morning. With the Coast Guard still actively searching for the four men they ask that anyone with information to please call (757) 398-3690.
