A 76-year-old man who was reported missing on Friday might be lost at sea after he failed to return from a boat trip in San Diego aboard his vessel "Princess," the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The San Diego Harbor Police and the Coast Guard started a search for Richard Byhre when his spouse of 34 years, Bonnie, reported that he did not return as scheduled after leaving his home in Palm Desert on February 10.

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Authorities described Byhre as a 5 foot, 8 inch tall white man, who weighs about around 210 pounds. His boat, "Princess," has a deep-blue hull.

Mrs. Byhre said her husband often went down to the boat to go sailing so she was not worried except when he failed to return home for Valentine's Day.

Coast Guard agents went looking for the recreational sailor in and around harbors and marinas, but they eventually stopped the search because Byhre, who has a hard time hearing because of a disability, did not inform anyone of his destination.

Rob Simpson, a Coast Guard public affairs official, said information about the boat got to authorities so late that they do not have a probable search area.

Officials said Mrs. Byhre got to talk to her husband on February 10 and she was told that he would depart from Shelter Island a couple of days later. She said her husband did not say where he was headed or for how long.

TagsSan Diego sailor, missing sailor, U.S. Coast Guard, Richard Byhre