Online search for missing yacht turns up possible clue

THE families of three South African yachtsmen who disappeared at sea more than two months ago have been given a glimmer of hope after an online search of satellite images spotted what is believed to be a life raft.

Reg Robertson, Anthony Murray and Jaryd Payne set sail from Cape Town on December 14 to deliver a catamaran to Phuket, Thailand.

The last time they made contact with family and friends, by satellite phone, was on January 18. Their last reported position was 2 000 nautical miles from their destination.

An online service, Tomnod.com, which allows users to study satellite images of all parts of the world, this week turned up an “object” in the region of the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

Joint search operations are already being conducted by the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Cape Town, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and TUI Marine — to which the Leopard 44 catamaran was to be delivered.

Murray’s sister-in-law, Diane Coetzer, said: “The Australians are still verifying the sighting. They are quite cautious. It is quite hard because the image looks like it could be a life raft, but they need to confirm this for themselves. They have protocols before dispatching any search parties.”

But the families, said Coetzer, were hopeful. “The sailing community has been putting out the word to sailors. The support has been phenomenal. That one sighting has certainly galvanised efforts. The bottom line is that we still have not found them. It is agonising for us all.”