Coast Guard halts Foxy Lady II search

SAUGUS – The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a Gloucester-based fishing vessel that vanished with only a lifeboat and other equipment being found.The search ended Wednesday evening, a day after an empty rescue capsule washed ashore in a marshy area of the Saugus River. Coast Guard spokesman Jeff Hall says some fishing gear from the vessel also washed up about 30 miles south on Nantasket Beach in Hull.The 45-foot scalloper Foxy Lady II and its two-member crew, from Deer Isle, Maine, left Gloucester on Saturday and failed to return that night. Onboard were the 26-year-old captain, Wally Gray Jr., and his 50-year-old crewman, Wayne Young.The Coast Guard searched more than 2,800 square miles with no sign of the fishermen. No distress call was received.Earlier on Wednesday, Coast Guard Petty Officer Robert Simpson said, “We?ve had our larger cutters out at sea searching further in the deeper water and we?ve had our local units as well as aircraft doing a little bit more of a localized shoreline type search.”Gray and Young have been missing since Monday, and Simpson said it didn?t look like anyone had been in the capsule after it was recovered Tuesday night.?It was definitely unoccupied when it was opened,” said Simpson.Simpson said wind, tide and waves all worked to push the capsule, an orange Ovatek 4, into the Saugus River and then Rumney Marsh after the Foxy Lady II made its last known transmission about 10 miles off of Provincetown on Saturday.?It gives us a better idea of how the drift patterns were working,” said Simpson. “We have our computer models that take into account the currents, tides, wind and any weather conditions. For that to show up, based on the trajectory that we had, the last known position can redefine the search pattern.”Simpson said it?s not unusual that the capsule washed up in Saugus.?I kind of live up in that area, so I?ve seen what it looks like at low tide and high tide so it?s very possible that something like that could have been carried by the tides and the currents,” said Simpson.Saugus Harbormaster Tom Falasca said he thought it was “amazing” that the capsule could have made its way to Saugus without being seen.?It had to go under Route 107 and the Lynnway and everything else to get to where it was without anyone seeing it,” said Falasca.The Foxy Lady II is a scalloper registered out of Stonington, Maine, but Gloucester is its home port. Falasca said it?s likely the scallop dredger got snagged, which could have caused the boat to swamp.?They were a scalloper so I?m thinking they might have gotten caught down,” said Falasca. “Scallopers dredge the bottom for scallops with a cable. If the cable gets hung down on something, it?s not going to break. If you don?t think fast enough to release the winch to let the cable free and a big wave comes, it?s going to swamp you. I think that?s what could have happened.”Falasca said the rescue capsules are water tight and have an automatic release that detaches them from the boat. They also come equipped with an air vent and a battery for light.But even with a raft, Falasca said going in the water is any fisherman?s worst fear.?Especially in the winter time,” said Falasca. “This time of year, you?re lucky if you can tread 20 minutes, then you?re done. The water is so cold. Hypothermia takes over and you?re done.”(Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.)Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].