Coast Guard Seeking Assistance, Overdue Boater

UPDATE: 10:40am, 9-9-16. Small Fry and Ira Rote have been found, safe and sound.

The Coast Guard is seeking assistance in locating an overdue boater last seen entering Friday Harbor, Thursday morning.

Ira Rote, 75, was last seen aboard his 16-foot wooden antique boat, white, green and red in color, named Small Fry.

Rotes destination is unknown, but is believed to be any Washington or British Columbian harbor in the vicinity of the San Juan Islands. He has not checked in with anyone, and his concerned wife reported him missing to the Coast Guard Thursday night.

“We received a call from Ira’s wife and she is very concerned,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Chason Ashworth, operations specialist, Sector Puget Sound Command Center. “Looking for people is what we do, but we need to at least narrow the search area to help find Ira and bring him home to his family.”

Any information that may assist the Coast Guard in locating Ira should be reported to Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound at 206-217-6001, nearest law enforcement agency or marina office.