has turned up safe and sound in the Dominican Republic wondering what all the fuss was about.

The US Coast Guard in Puerto Rico found Canadian Neil Willoughby aboard West Man shortly after he arrived on the island nation, nearly 800 miles west of his intended destination.

The search was initiated by Harbour Radio, which grew concerned about the 65-year-old sailor's safety on the high seas when he failed to arrive in Barbados five weeks after leaving Bermuda.

The trip should have taken no more than three weeks, experts said. Harbour Radio's concern for Mr. Willoughby took root in November after he ran aground off Bermuda despite repeated radio warnings.

Marine Police rescued Mr. Willoughby and his 32-foot cutter boat as she was sinking on reefs near Chubb's Head.

Mr. Willoughby arrived in local waters on November 10 from Norfolk, Virginia without navigational charts for local waters. His boat was also low on fuel.

Harbour Radio warned the incoming sailor of the treacherous reefs around the Island and gave him a safe course to steer. They asked him to call back within two hours, but he failed to make contact until a panic call saying he had struck rocks and was taking on water.

Marine Police rescued the stricken boat two miles northeast of Chubb's Head beacon. Extensive repairs to West Man's hull were eventually carried out at Mill's Creek.

Mr. Willoughby left aboard West Man on December 8. On January 8, Harbour Radio asked Antigua and Barbados officials for news of his whereabouts.

Yesterday, a Harbour Radio spokesman said Mr. Willoughby arrived in the Dominican Republic about 11 a.m. on Wednesday. He told Coast Guard officials he'd been delayed by weather. He also informed them he had changed his mind about going to Barbados.

A Harbour Radio spokesman said Mr. Willoughby "now plans to winter in Florida and then go back to Canada.''