FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — The families of three missing boaters from southeast Georgia are holding onto hope the men will be found soon.
Their search for Tyler Barlow, Caleb Wilkinson and Dalton Conway continued Tuesday from the St. Augustine area to Flagler Beach and Matanzas Inlet.
On Sunday, the discovery of the vessel’s bait box about 16 miles off the coast of St. Augustine sparked hope the men are in the area or nearby.
The families had two private planes and a helicopter out Tuesday, and one went to an eddy almost 26 miles off the coast of St. Augustine.
That’s where they believe the bait box and other debris came from.
They did not find anything today, but on the ground, Barlow’s grandparents walked the beach, hoping to find clues that could lead to their grandson and the other men.
The trio left Brunswick aboard the Carol Ann on Oct. 14 and haven’t been heard from or seen since that day.
Barlow’s grandparents CJ and Jim Hancock searched on the beach in Flagler County Tuesday.
CJ Hancock said they’re ready to bring the men home.
“We’ve been devastated,” CJ Hancock said. “All of the families have been devastated, but we’re just keeping the faith that God is going to bring them home safely.”
A good Samaritan found the bait box from the boat off the shore of St. Augustine Sunday.
Then Monday, a United Cajun Navy pilot snapped a photo of what the families believe could be a life raft. Coordinators sent a vessel to the location, but the object was already gone.
A spokesperson for the Coast Guard said the pilot told them it was no bigger than a life jacket. The debris has not been confirmed to be from the Carol Ann.
These images reignited hope for the families, friends and volunteers.
Together, the United Cajun Navy, the Coast Guard and volunteers have searched from the sky and on the water, covering 90,000 miles over the last several weeks.
Jim said the story has reached thousands, in and outside the community, who have lent a hand or offered kind words.
“There’s a ton of support,” Jim said. “The Coast Guard. The Cajun Navy and just people out there in boats and people walking the beach. We appreciate it all. The prayers are coming from across the country.”
They have a message for their grandson and the other men on board the Carol Ann.
“Son, hold on,” CJ Hancock said. “I know you’ve been talking to God. Just hold on. Your mom and dad are not giving up. None of us are giving up. All the families. You boys, hold tight. Hold on.”
Barlow's father Chris said search planes have been focusing on the shoreline from St. Augustine to Cape Canaveral and at an eddy 26 miles off the coast of St. Augustine.
Barlow said the family only has enough money in its GoFundMe to fund three to four more days of planes searching the air.
“I know people have been flooding Facebook people are probably sick of seeing it and we’re not trying to beg for anything, but this is what’s going to bring our boys home," Wilkinson's mother, Jennifer, said.
“I’m going to fight just as hard as I’m praying you know that my son is fighting and Caleb and Dalton to get back home," Barlow's mother, Kim, said.
They’re working to come up with a search plan for Wednesday.