The search is on for a Pepin, Wis., man whose empty boat washed up on the shore of the Mississippi River near Lake City on Sunday morning, according to Rochester-based KTTC.
The Wabasha County Sheriff's Office began looking for the 61-year-old man after someone found his sailboat running but unoccupied about 9:30 a.m. Sunday and told authorities.
The man, described as approximately 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds, planned on taking his boat out for a trial run for the start of the season and sleeping overnight on the channel. He was last seen Saturday night about 9:40 p.m. wearing a green long-sleeved shirt and khaki pants. Authorities aren't yet releasing his name.
Authorities said water conditions were rough and it was windy when the man was last seen, KTTC said.
The boat was found 1 mile north of Camp Lacupolis, a fishing camp, near Lake City. Lake City is split between Goodhue and Wabasha counties and sits on Lake Pepin, which is actually a wide segment of the Mississippi River.
According to the Wabasha County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page, the area being searched consists of the southern portion of Lake Pepin and south downriver. Search and rescue teams will start work again Monday morning, KTTC reported. Anyone with information should call the Sheriff's Department at 651-565-3361.
Erin Adler • 612-673-1781
