Catamaran owners send out search vessel
The owners of the missing 444 catamaran will charter a vessel in search of the upturned hull.
FIVE months have passed, yet the families of three missing SA yachtsmen are hopeful of finding their loved ones following the latest developments in the search.
According to Nicole Payne, the boat owners, Sunsail, will charter a vessel from Port Louis to search for the upturned hull of the Leopard 444 catamaran, which was reported missing earlier this year.
Payne wrote on the Searching for Anthony, Reg and Jaryd Facebook page, “Following an e-mail to the families from MRCC on Friday, we were further notified earlier today (17 June) that the boat owners will charter a vessel from Port Louis to search for the upturned hull. We do not have any specific details around their action at this stage but we will endeavour to get this information as a matter of urgency. Mention has been made that an independent observer will be present, and we are in negotiations with the parties involved regarding this issue and the many questions we have around the boat owner’s plans.”
The post further stated the latest drift coordinates from MRCC, and this will be valid until 21 June. The co-ordinates of the area are as follows: 27° 47.693′ S, 065° 55.810′ E; 29° 22.863′ S, 065° 58.471′ E; 29° 24.551′ S, 064° 09.735′ E, and 27° 49.274′ S, 064° 08.693′ E. The centre coordinates are 28° 36.277′ S, 065° 03.177′ E. The search area is 9015.3nm².
Payne added that the families continue to pray for the safe return of their family members and remain humbled and grateful for all the love, support, prayers, valuable input and generous donations that they have received during this traumatic time.
“Today, 18 June, marks five months since the last contact from Moorings A5130, and we cannot begin to explain how incredibly difficult it has been to get through each day, but we stand strong in our faith and hope that by God’s grace, our men will return home to us. We could not have done it without you. Thank you,” said Payne.
Durban’s Reginald Robertson (59), former Cowies Hill resident, Anthony Murray (58) and Cape Town’s Jaryd Payne (20) were on board the catamaran which was to be delivered in Phuket, Thailand for renowned maritime leisure business, Tui Marine.
Their expected date of arrival was 2 February, but Murray’s family reported to Cape Town’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre that the arrival of the catamaran was late, 10 days after it was supposed to arrive in Thailand.
