Body of sailor lost in Farallones race found, identified

A body found off the Farallon Islands has been identified as Jordan Fromm, one of four sailors missing after a deadly April 14 yacht race, authorities said Saturday.

Fromm, a 25-year-old Kentfield resident, was lost at sea when a wave washed over the sailboat on which he was a crew member during an annual race around the islands.

The body was spotted Thursday and returned to the San Francisco medical examiner’s office, which determined Friday it was Fromm.

Still missing and presumed dead in the incident are Alexis Busch of Larkspur, Alan Cahill of Tiburon and Elmer Morrissey of Ireland.

A fifth crew member, Marc Kasanin, 46, of Belvedere, was found dead in the waters off the islands after the sailboat Low Speed Chase was thrown onto the rocks. The boat’s owner and two other crew members survived.

Early speculation that another body found in the ocean, this one in the surf off Bodega Head, may have been one of the yacht race victims was quashed when the man was identified as a 57-year-old Santa Rosa resident.

The body of Brian Christopher Abel was spotted Tuesday by hikers at the base of a steep cliff on the Sonoma County coastline, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday. Deputies were called at about 7:40 p.m., and Abel’s body was pulled from the water Wednesday morning with the help of the department’s helicopter.

A preliminary autopsy listed drowning as the cause of death and found no evidence of foul play. Toxicology tests could take weeks to complete and deputies are continuing to investigate the case.