The heartsick girlfriend of a New Jersey boater who vanished off the coast of Long Island says she’s mystified by his disappearance because he’s a highly experienced seaman who never takes chances.
“The only thing I can think is that he fell overboard and something happened to him,” Donna Stancavage told The Post last night.
“The sea is in his blood, and he can handle himself in any situation.”
Frank Delusia, 38, of Highlands, last contacted Stancavage Wednesday night to say he was heading back to the Atlantic Highlands Marina after a day of fishing for bass and fluke off Long Island.
About four hours later, Delusia’s empty, yellow, 19-foot boat washed ashore in Long Beach.
His wallet and cell phone were on board, the radio was on, the keys were in the ignition and the fishing poles were still out.
Coast Guard boats and the marine units of the NYPD and Nassau County police were searching the area off of Long Beach.
Adding to the mystery is that Delusia, a part owner of the Nick Meile Trucking Co. of New Jersey, had sent out no distress signals.
“He sounded fine when he called. He said he was only an hour away,” Stancavage said.
“He can handle himself in storms, and he’s a very safe boater – he doesn’t take chances.”
Police said they would continue an air-and-sea search for Delusia through the night.
Authorities said that because ocean temperatures were fairly mild, there’s a chance that if he fell overboard, he could still be alive.
Delusia’s boat was discovered shortly after midnight yesterday by area resident Ed Adler, who was taking a late-night stroll on the beach with his girlfriend.