Rough waters have hampered search efforts for a man who remains missing after he went out onto Lake Michigan near Lake Forest and his boat was found overturned Sunday.
The Lake Forest Fire Department and Lake Forest Police Department responded around 2:45 p.m. Sunday to the Lake Forest Harbor boat ramp, 601 Forest Park Road, for a report of a water rescue.
The wife of a man called 911 to report she arrived at the boat launch to pick up her husband, according to fire department radio traffic.
Lake Forest Fire Chief Pete Siebert said the man was scheduled to have returned to the launch point at 2 p.m. but never returned. His trailer was still near the boat launch.
Fire department boats were launched onto Lake Michigan and a drone was also launched to aid in the effort, Siebert said.
The drone located the 15-foot catamaran-style sailboat five miles from shore south of the Lake Forest Harbor Boat Ramp.
Siebert said the man, a 43-year-old Lake Forest resident, was not located in the area.
Multiple fire departments and a U.S. Coast Guard boat and helicopter were called to assist in the search for the man.
“The water conditions were challenging, with waves reaching 4 to 6 feet,” Siebert said Sunday.
A gale warning was in effect at the time for Lake Michigan off of the Illinois and Wisconsin shores.
The National Weather Service warning said high wind gusts and waves 7-10 feet were expected.
“Mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe conditions,” the warning said.
Rescue crews received information that the man’s cell phone pinged near Glencoe Beach and the Wilmette and Evanston fire departments were dispatched to search.
The departments launched their rescue boats and assisted in the search.
“Despite the combined efforts of all agencies involved, the water search was halted around 5:30 pm,” Siebert said.
U.S. Coast Guard helicopters took over the search but those efforts were suspended at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Siebert said the missing boater was not wearing a personal flotation device at the time of the incident.
The Lake Forest Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit resumed surface searches on Monday morning.
Lake Forest Deputy Fire Chief Mike Gallo said that the lake was too rough to go out on Tuesday. Crews conducted some searches by shore.
The Lake Forest and Highland Park fire departments were evaluating the lake Wednesday morning and potentially launching a boat to continue search efforts, Gallo said.