Empty Derelict Yacht Discovered Off the Canary Islands
“The more we learn about the case, the more it appears that a crime has been committed,” wrote the sailor’s sister on social media, sharing the latest details gathered in the investigation.
Disappearance of British Sailor James Nunan
A yacht found adrift, silent and empty, with only one passenger—a dog named Thumbelina. This was the scene discovered by Salvamento Marítimo last Thursday, 94 kilometres south of Gran Canaria in the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel belonged to James Nunan, a British man who intended to cross the ocean alone, accompanied only by his dog, Thumbelina.
During his journey, he stopped in Gran Canaria, where he lost track. The last communication from his family was on 18 August when he spoke to his mother from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Four days later, alarmed by the lack of contact, they reported him missing.
Last Known Movements
James’s sister shared on Facebook the details known by the family thus far. According to her, their mother spoke with him on the evening of the 18th, and that day his bank card made a final transaction at a restaurant in the Las Canteras area.
Authorities, along with his family, are now attempting to piece together the puzzle of his last moments to discern how his boat ended up in that location and what happened to the young sailor. They are investigating whether he was the victim of an unfortunate accident, recklessness, or, as some family members suggest, a crime.
As it stands, Nunan dined on the night of the 18th in the vicinity of Las Canteras, where he visited several establishments. He was reportedly the victim of a robbery, as someone took his backpack while he was waiting for a takeaway order at a kebab shop. His sister believes he may have also had his passport stolen that night since someone filed a report about it at the Irish consulate the following day, 19 August. The family, she noted, has requested CCTV footage to confirm that it was James (or ‘Jemsie’, as he was affectionately known) who reported the incident.
Paddy’s Anchor Bar Incident
British tabloids have reported that, according to security cameras and witness accounts from the kebab shop staff, the young man was in an evident state of intoxication.
His sister recounted on social media that, based on footage shared with the family by acquaintances of Nunan who encountered him and his boat in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, he visited Paddy’s Anchor bar. There, he conversed for about 20 minutes with someone and notably had Thumbelina with him. “He wasn’t causing a scene, but he had clearly had a bit too much to drink. The bartender gave him a bottle of water and advised him to return home around 10:00 PM,” James’s sister wrote on Facebook.
Following that night, there has been no sign of the sailor.
Search and Discovery
His disappearance was reported on 22 August, prompting a search. On 4 September, a rescue aircraft, conducting a service south of the Canary Islands, spotted the yacht. The condition of the boat, with some torn sails, suggested that no crew members were aboard.
Salvamento Marítimo requested a nearby vessel to signal to the yacht to ascertain if any occupants responded, but there was silence. No one answered from the boat.
Subsequently, the Salvamar Macondo was dispatched, and upon arrival, it confirmed that there were no persons onboard. Initially, Thumbelina was also not found. The yacht was then towed to the port of Arguineguín in southern Gran Canaria, where it was sealed and secured.
Thumbelina’s Rescue
The sister has also confirmed that the dog was later found onboard and that the chip she carried verified her identity “without a doubt.” She is currently in a municipal shelter, according to reports.
Additionally, the Civil Guard confirmed that a Pam-Pam call regarding Nunan’s yacht was made before his family reported him missing. This signal indicates an emergency in maritime terms, although it does not denote a life-threatening situation. “If you were the one who made that call or know who did, please provide us with information,” she urged on Facebook.
Appeal for Information
The family is also appealing for anyone who might have been in the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria area at the time of Nunan’s disappearance to review videos or photos in case he appears, which might provide a lead in this investigation and help clarify what happened.
They raise several questions that need addressing to resolve this mysterious disappearance: who stole the backpack, what happened to the passport, what time did he return to the yacht, in what condition, whether he was onboard, and, of utmost importance, who made the Pam-Pam call alerting to an emergency onboard.
“The more we learn about the case, the more it appears that a crime has been committed,” concludes the sailor’s sister.
