SAN DIEGO -- Ex-Marine Ron Simpson's plan to sail around the world nearly ended in disaster.

10News first met Simpson a little more than a week ago as he was saying goodbye to friends and preparing for his adventure of a lifetime.

"It sounded like the right idea so I put my house up for sale and came out here and bought a boat," said Simpson.

Never mind that the 23-year-old former Marine Lance Corporal and wounded Iraq War veteran never sailed a boat until three months ago.

Simpson departed Point Loma, but hundreds of miles from Hawaii a Web site dedicated to the voyage reported this week that Simpson had to be rescued at sea.

In the short time he was in San Diego, Simpson didn't have a whole lot of friends but certainly a lot of people knew him and he's certainly the talk of the marina.

A sign at the marina store In Harbord Island revealed what happened.

"He had experienced rudder problems. He lost helm and there were 30-foot seas and he decided to abandon ship," said boater Mike Lee.

Marina resident Dawn Wilson knows all about 30-foot seas.

Wilson said, "Where I was coming from was Easter Island to Chile. It was pretty scary."

Simpson might be the talk of the marina but no one, including boater Ken Evans, faults him for trying.

"Oh no, I don't fault him for trying; not a bit in the world," said Evans.

Evans said if he were younger he would probably do the same thing.

Simpson, after alerting the Coast Guard, was picked up by a freighter and is OK.

Instead of getting to Hawaii, the freighter he is currently on is headed to China.