APA-Cape Town (South Africa) South African maritime officials have launched a search for a French sailor who has been missing at sea since early March when he left Cape Town aboard his South African-registered yacht.
South Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute issued an alert on Wednesday after it emerged that the vessel skippered by French sailor Emmanuel Dailler had not arrived at its destination more than 40 days after leaving Cape Town’s Hout Bay.
It said Dailler left Hout Bay on March 2 aboard the 37ft SV AKELA II and was headed for Martinique in the French Caribbean.
The solo sailor had by Wednesday not arrived at his destination, raising fears that he could be missing at sea.
“NSRI, in cooperation with the SA Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, are appealing to seafarers on the Atlantic coast, islands across the Atlantic coast and West Africa coastal ports to keep a lookout and report any sightings or contact with AKELA II,” NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said.
He said the last known contact with the 56-year-old sailor was when he left Hout Bay.
JN/APA