An Emergency Mangement spokesman has described the discovery of a fully-operational but abandoned yacht as being "a bit strange." What could have happened to the crew?
A rescue search (by both air and sea) is underway to locate the missing crew of what is being referred to as a "ghost ship" off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The ship was spotted by a coastwatch plane. The vessel is a 12 meter (29 foot) catamaran. Rescue personnel found the yacht empty.
According to an Emergency Management spokesman, the vessel was found with the engine running. The sails were up; one was found to be badly torn. Computers on board the yacht were also running. The radio and GPS systems were both operational.
A laptop was found set up on a table. Like the other items on board, it was running. A table was set for a meal. All was in readiness - the food and utensils were on the table. The only thing missing were the people waiting to eat.
Police have advised that the yacht was purchased by three men. Apparently, the trio were sailing it back to West Australia. Emergency workers did find three lifejackets on board, along with an emergency beacon. No life rafts were found.
Rescuers are using the yacht's navigational systems to try to retrace her movements. It is hoped that this action will help to shed some light on this mystery. In what I would consider to be a great understatement, the spokesman described the situation as being "a bit strange."
This certainly is a puzzle. If the radio is working, why wouldn't the crew call for help? Why abandon ship without life jackets and the emergency beacon? If the yacht was set-upon by pirates, they would have taken the vessel. What are we left with then? Sea monsters? Alien abductions? What do you think?
