Working offshore off Sanibel Island, the Coast Guard recovered one body Wednesday and a second Thursday as the search for a missing family continued.

Ace Kimberly, 45, and his three children Rebecca Kimberly, 17, Donald Kimberly, 15, and Roger Kimberly, 13, were reported missing Tuesday after their sailboat got caught in six-foot swells and failed to make landfall in Fort Myers.

The family was last heard from Sunday afternoon.

Ace Kimberly called family to say they were caught in heavy seas off Englewood en route from Sarasota.

The first body was found at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday approximately 40 nautical miles west of Sanibel. It was recovered by an MH-60 Helicopter crew from Air Station Clearwater and transferred to local authorities for identification.

A second body was recovered Thursday at 11:06 a.m. 4 miles southeast of location of first body by Cape Coral Fire and Rescue.

The names of the dead had not been released as of press time.

“We remain hopeful we’ll find survivors,” said Capt. Greg Case, commander of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg following the discovery of the first body. “We continue to keep close contact with the family and keep them updated on all developments during this difficult time.”

Searchers began finding items from the sailboat Wednesday morning when an HC-130 Hercules rescue aircrew from Air Station Clearwater located a debris field 37 miles west of Sanibel at approximately 10 a.m.

The debris field contained water jugs, tarps, six life jackets, a throwable life ring, a propane tank, a pair of shoes and a basketball and other items.

Additional finds were made through the day and on into Thursday:

n At 12:35 p.m. on Wednesday, a crew from Station Fort Myers Beach located a green sit-in kayak in the vicinity of the original debris field matching the description of a kayak known to be with the family.

n At 1:15 a.m. Thursday, an HC130-Hercules fixed-wing aircrew from Air Station Clearwater located a yellow kayak matching the description of a kayak also known to be with the family.

n At 2:26 a.m. Thursday, a Jayhawk crew and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew witnessed a white flare while conducting the search.

n At 8:13 a.m Thursday, a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Station Fort Myers Beach located a bucket in the search area containing the Kimberlys’ birth certificates, a GPS, a wallet, two cell phones, cigarettes, a tool box and a pool noodle.

n At 11:55 a.m., a Customs and Boarder Protection aircraft located a sailboat mast 101 miles offshore Fort Myers.

The Coast Guard has been able to attribute all of the early debris to the ongoing search for the missing sailboat.

The Coast Guard Cutter Alligator was sent to investigate.

Crews from the Coast Guard Cutter Alligator, Station Fort Myers Beach and Station Cortez, and helicopter and fix-wing aircrews from Air Station Clearwater, Coast Guard Auxiliary and Customs and Border Protection were continuing to search for the family late Thursday afternoon.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and Lee County Sheriff’s Office were also aiding in the search.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the Kimberly family is asked to contact the Coast Guard in St. Petersburg at 727-824-7506.