Search for missing LI boater remains suspended

The search for a Long Island man believed to be missing in the waters off southern New Jersey remains suspended, the U.S. Coast Guard officials said Sunday.

The missing boater -- whose unoccupied vessel was found nine miles off the New Jersey coast -- was identified as Vincent Tangorra, 56, of Bethpage. Tangorra was towing a water scooter with the 37-foot sailboat Polaris from New York to North Carolina, according to his family, officials said.

The Coast Guard said two helicopters and three boats searched for Tangorra.

Coast Guard spokesman Nick Ameen said Sunday: "The active search is still suspended. If we receive new information, the case would be reopened."

A woman answering the phone at the family's home said only: "We're still waiting."

The search for Tangorra began Friday after a commercial salvage company employee reported an abandoned water scooter floating in Cape May Harbor about 11 a.m.