He said more details of the proposal would be announced Thursday when the plan is submitted to congress.

Protesting students argued the plan falls short of the transformation of the system that they have been demanding for more than a year.

The government estimated 30,000 university and high school students joined the march in Santiago. Student leaders put their numbers at more than 50,000. They were mostly peaceful, carrying a large banner with an image of Albert Einstein wearing an Ernesto “Che” Guevara-style beret. Later, a small group of protesters set a guard booth on fire, tried to vandalize a traffic light and threw rocks at police, who responded with water cannons.

Education Minister Harald Bayer said the march wasn’t justified, noting that only Monday the government announced the creation of a state agency to replace private lenders and reduce the interest rate on student loans from 6 percent to 2 percent.

Student leader Gabriel Boric said the government still treats education as a consumer product, rather than a universal right.

Students want to return the government to the center of Chile’s largely privatized education system, while Pinera’s government has instead sought to lower lending costs and otherwise make private educations more accessible to working classes.

Pinera said the effect of his tax plan would be “huge,” providing not only for loans but for scholarships for the neediest students. He planned to meet with leaders of his center-right governing coalition to discuss more details before unveiling the plan

Pinera’s tax bill faces opposition from both the left and right in the Senate. Socialist lawmakers want more profound changes to the tax system, so the burden falls far more heavily on corporations that have reaped the benefits of a commodities boom in Chile, the world’s top copper producer. The president’s right-wing allies want the government to reduce taxes on fuels that they say feed inflation.

The plane had to return to Easter Island and refuel before going out again and spotting the tiny boat, Captain Jorge Bastias, the navy’s top spokesman, told The Associated Press.

It was stranded in relatively stable weather, but with ocean swells of about 15 feet.

The Navy then arranged for a Japanese merchant ship, the “White Kingdom,” to rescue the sailor. The ship was about 250 nautical miles away when it joined the search and was expected to reach him Wednesday night, local time, Bastias said. A frigate with a helicopter and medical team will then pick him up and take him to the mainland in Valparaiso, probably on Saturday, the navy said.

The broken mast wasn’t Corogin’s only mishap during this adventure — he had sent an email saying he was briefly hospitalized in Ecuador with a cut to his leg, said a friend and fellow sailor, Jack Majszak.

“Tom is the most unique person I’ve ever met,” said Majszak, who invited Corogin to lecture to his Modern Sailing School and Club in Sausalito, Calif., last year after meeting with him in the Panama Canal.

Majszak described Corogin as an experienced sailor and storyteller — he even wrote a spy novel, “Agape” — who felt comfortable on his Westsail32, a boat known for its stability more than its speed.

“He should be fine, it’s a very stable boat,” Majszak said. “The 15-foot swells shouldn’t be too bad as long as they don’t come too quickly. If he battens up the hatches and goes down below the boat will bob like a cork and he should be fine. As long as he’s not seriously hurt, that’s the key.”

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Michael Warren contributed to this story from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He can be reached at www.twitter.com/mwarrenap

The plane had to return to Easter Island and refuel before going out again and spotting the tiny boat, Captain Jorge Bastias, the navy’s top spokesman, told The Associated Press.

It was stranded in relatively stable weather, but with ocean swells of about 15 feet.

The Navy then arranged for a Japanese merchant ship, the “White Kingdom,” to rescue the sailor. The ship was about 250 nautical miles away when it joined the search and was expected to reach him Wednesday night, local time, Bastias said. A frigate with a helicopter and medical team will then pick him up and take him to the mainland in Valparaiso, probably on Saturday, the navy said.

The broken mast wasn’t Corogin’s only mishap during this adventure — he had sent an email saying he was briefly hospitalized in Ecuador with a cut to his leg, said a friend and fellow sailor, Jack Majszak.

“Tom is the most unique person I’ve ever met,” said Majszak, who invited Corogin to lecture to his Modern Sailing School and Club in Sausalito, Calif., last year after meeting with him in the Panama Canal.

Majszak described Corogin as an experienced sailor and storyteller — he even wrote a spy novel, “Agape” — who felt comfortable on his Westsail32, a boat known for its stability more than its speed.

“He should be fine, it’s a very stable boat,” Majszak said. “The 15-foot swells shouldn’t be too bad as long as they don’t come too quickly. If he battens up the hatches and goes down below the boat will bob like a cork and he should be fine. As long as he’s not seriously hurt, that’s the key.”

___

Michael Warren contributed to this story from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He can be reached at www.twitter.com/mwarrenap

The Navy then arranged for a Japanese merchant ship, the “White Kingdom,” to pluck Corogin off the vessel and its captain reported that he was in good health. The Navy said the “White Kingdom” with the U.S. sailor on board is en route to Chile and probably will arrive at Valparaiso on Saturday.

Corogin, a lawyer who runs a small marina in Port Clinton, Ohio, set sail from Easter Island on Dec. 27. The broken mast wasn’t his only mishap during this adventure — he had sent an email saying he was briefly hospitalized in Ecuador with a cut to his leg, said a friend and fellow sailor, Jack Majszak.

“Tom is the most unique person I’ve ever met,” said Majszak, who invited Corogin to lecture to his Modern Sailing School and Club in Sausalito, California, last year after meeting with him in the Panama Canal.

Majszak described Corogin as an experienced sailor and storyteller — he even wrote a spy novel, “Agape” — who felt comfortable on his Westsail32, a boat known for its stability more than its speed.

“He should be fine, it’s a very stable boat,” Majszak said. “The 15-foot swells shouldn’t be too bad as long as they don’t come too quickly. If he battens up the hatches and goes down below the boat will bob like a cork and he should be fine. As long as he’s not seriously hurt, that’s the key.”

Rex Damschroder, a sailor and state lawmaker from Ohio considers Corogin a sailing mentor as well as a friend, said it had always been Corogin’s dream to sail around Cape Horn.

He never gave up on the idea despite past failed attempts, Damschroder said.

“Each time he’s had different issues, whether mechanical or physical,” Damschroder said. “He might be 84, but he’s got the body and stamina of someone much younger.”

Damschroder, who’s from Fremont, Ohio, said he and his friend sailed across the Atlantic Ocean together in 2005, making their way to Ireland.

“I’ve sailed and spent a lot of time with Tom, he knows what he’s doing,” said Damschroder, who added that some of his equipment is on Corogin’s boat, including an anchor and life raft. “It’s risky for anyone of any age. I’d take him over any 20-year-old sailing.”

___

Michael Warren contributed to this story from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and John Seewer from Toledo, Ohio. Warren can be reached at www.twitter.com/mwarrenap

The Navy then arranged for a Japanese merchant ship, the “White Kingdom,” to pluck Corogin off the vessel and its captain reported that he was in good health. The Navy said the “White Kingdom” with the U.S. sailor on board is en route to Chile and probably will arrive at Valparaiso on Saturday.

Corogin, a lawyer who runs a small marina in Port Clinton, Ohio, set sail from Easter Island on Dec. 27. The broken mast wasn’t his only mishap during this adventure — he had sent an email saying he was briefly hospitalized in Ecuador with a cut to his leg, said a friend and fellow sailor, Jack Majszak.

“Tom is the most unique person I’ve ever met,” said Majszak, who invited Corogin to lecture to his Modern Sailing School and Club in Sausalito, California, last year after meeting with him in the Panama Canal.

Majszak described Corogin as an experienced sailor and storyteller — he even wrote a spy novel, “Agape” — who felt comfortable on his Westsail32, a boat known for its stability more than its speed.

“He should be fine, it’s a very stable boat,” Majszak said. “The 15-foot swells shouldn’t be too bad as long as they don’t come too quickly. If he battens up the hatches and goes down below the boat will bob like a cork and he should be fine. As long as he’s not seriously hurt, that’s the key.”

Rex Damschroder, a sailor and state lawmaker from Ohio considers Corogin a sailing mentor as well as a friend, said it had always been Corogin’s dream to sail around Cape Horn.

He never gave up on the idea despite past failed attempts, Damschroder said.

“Each time he’s had different issues, whether mechanical or physical,” Damschroder said. “He might be 84, but he’s got the body and stamina of someone much younger.”

Damschroder, who’s from Fremont, Ohio, said he and his friend sailed across the Atlantic Ocean together in 2005, making their way to Ireland.

“I’ve sailed and spent a lot of time with Tom, he knows what he’s doing,” said Damschroder, who added that some of his equipment is on Corogin’s boat, including an anchor and life raft. “It’s risky for anyone of any age. I’d take him over any 20-year-old sailing.”

___

Michael Warren contributed to this story from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and John Seewer from Toledo, Ohio. Warren can be reached at www.twitter.com/mwarrenap