4 people missing off San Mateo coast

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REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Coast Guard crews searched for four missing people -- two adults and two children less than 8 years old -- off the San Mateo County, Calif., coast.

The Coast Guard said the four people were forced to abandon their sailboat, which had taken on water possibly 65 miles from Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay Sunday, the Oakland Tribune reported.

The Coast Guard said it didn't know the names of those in the lost party, where the journey began or was to end, or the boat's location when a distress signal was called in Sunday afternoon, Coast Guard Lt. Heather Lampert said.

"They told us they were taking on water and their electronics were failing," Lampert said of the sailboat's only contact with the Coast Guard.

The boat's navigation system was failing, but the caller said the boat might be 65 miles off the San Mateo County coast, further than most sailboats typically go, Lampert said. The lieutenant said it was unclear how a boat of that size would be that far away from shore, if the location estimate were correct.

"That's what we're trying to figure out right now," Lampert said.