The Region - News from Jan. 1, 1987

Coast Guard planes and helicopters were to resume a search this morning for at least three people believed to have abandoned a sinking boat about 11:30 a.m. The identity of the boat and its occupants remained a mystery despite an all-day search, said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Joseph Hartline, at the Rescue Coordination Center in Long Beach. Hartline said the Coast Guard picked up a distress call at 11:31 a.m. “It was a one-time signal, and that’s all we got,” he said. “The radio operator who made the call sounded panicky. He said two people from the boat were already in the water and he was abandoning ship. He said the boat was ‘five miles east off Clemente.’ ” Hartline said Coast Guard planes flew initially to an area east of San Clemente Island and then checked the ocean off the city of San Clemente.