Australian Abduction off Queensland coast?

[mynameis]

'Ghost yacht' found off Australia
Last Updated: Friday, 20 April 2007, 05:16 GMT 06:16 UK

Emergency services in Australia have launched a search for the three-man crew of a yacht found drifting off the North Queensland coast.

The vessel was found with its engine running, and a table laid for dinner, but there were no signs of any people.

An air and sea rescue operation has been launched to retrace the yacht's voyage, and pinpoint the search area.

The three-crew members are thought to have set sail for Townsville from Airlie Beach on Sunday.

The 12m (40 foot) catamaran was spotted by a helicopter on Wednesday, but a rescue team only reached the boat on Friday, and confirmed that there was no one aboard.

Rescue crews say they are puzzled by the mysterious disappearance.

"The engine was running, the computers were running, there was a laptop set up on the table which was running, the radio was working... and there was food and utensils set on the table ready to eat," said Jon Hall, a spokesman for Queensland's Emergency Management office.

"It was a bit strange," he added.

All the vessel's sails were up, although one was badly shredded, and lifejackets were still on board.

Mr Hall said rescue workers had recovered the boat's global position system (GPS) device, which might give them more clues as to the crew's whereabouts.

"That will now enable us to track backwards where this yacht has actually been in the last few days, and we're hoping that can pinpoint the search area for the missing crew," he said.

Twelve aircraft are now searching for the boat, which according to the BBC's correspondent in Sydney Nick Bryant is already being dubbed "the ghost yacht".

[lumukanda]

ok, now that is just bloody freaky, unlikely it's pirates, they'd likely have taken the yacht, and at least ransacked the place. high strangeness on the open seas.

[father ted]

Maybe they got into a fight which didn't last long (because of ease of going overboard) and maybe it continued in the water (untill they got exhausted and drowned?). The fight could have been over the torn sail, someone tore it and they got into a fight.

Or then again maybe a reptilian came up and ate them.

Or they connected with oneness and left.

[i_am]

Very Strange indeed

3 hours ago:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3977/yacht372wy8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Rescuers in Australia are trying to solve the mystery of a yacht found drifting in calm waters off the Great Barrier Reef with food on the table, computers and engine running, but no sign of the three-man crew.
The 12-metre catamaran Kaz II was first spotted drifting off north Queensland on Wednesday by an aircraft on coastguard duty. A rescue helicopter was sent to the scene and circled overhead several times, with the pilot radioing back that there was no one aboard.

Emergency services who later boarded the craft found it in good order but said there was no sign of the crew of three men aged 53, 66 and 69.
Emergency Management Queensland spokesman Jon Hall said rescuers were puzzled because "everything appeared normal".

"It looked like the boat had been recently abandoned. The engine was still running in neutral [but] one of the sails had been damaged," he said.

"There was a laptop computer on board and running with power, the computers on board were running, all of their clothing was still there.

"The table was actually set for a meal with food and cutlery in place. The radio was working, the GPS was working and things below deck were normal except for the absence of crew."

Three lifejackets and survival equipment, including an emergency beacon, were found on board, but no life rafts.

Mr Hall said emergency crews returned to the boat this morning, around 160km east of Townsville, to check that no one was trapped inside.

He said they retrieved the boat's GPS system to analyse data for clues as to the crew's disappearance.

"It will enable us to track backwards where this yacht has actually been in the last few days, and we're hoping that can pinpoint the search area for the missing crew," he said.

Emergency workers have also retrieved computers, diaries and charts and the boat is being towed to shore for closer inspection.

"It seems very unusual," the north Queensland police chief Superintendent Roy Wall told, reporters in Townsville.

"The weather on Sunday, Monday wasn't too good - there was a fair sort of a wind blowing out there. But it's improved since then, so who knows what could have happened."

Police said they believed the three friends had bought the boat recently and were planning to sail it back to Western Australia. Their families have been informed.

[chattanova]

Are these 3 persons still missing? anybody know? :confused:

[yinjing]

I can't wait to hear the conclusion although I'm willing to bet the reports will be worthless if there's anything to this case at all. It could very well be an unconnected event, however it has this attention-drawing mind-occupying mystery-feel to it.

[i_am]

Are these 3 persons still missing? anybody know? :confused:

Yes! this report 6 hours ago


BRISBANE, Australia — The niece of an Australian captain whose yacht was found drifting off the Great Barrier Reef said Tuesday she believes he and his crew may have been kidnapped. Police maintain they probably drowned.

Skipper Derek 'Des' Batten, 56, and brothers Peter and James Tunstead, aged 69 and 63, were last seen on April 15 leaving the northeastern town of Airlie Beach, the first leg of a two-month trip around Australia's north coast.

The Kaz II was discovered three days later drifting some 95 miles offshore.

Rescuers who boarded the vessel found food and cutlery laid out for a meal, and the men's clothes folded in neat piles on the rear deck. A laptop computer was charging, the boat's engines were running and navigational equipment was laid out on the table.

An emergency beacon, three life jackets and a dinghy were also found on board. The yacht's headsail was shredded, but there was no other sign of damage.

Investigators who reviewed the boat's global positioning system said it had been drifting with the wind and currents since the day they left Airlie Beach.

On Sunday, police called off an air and sea search for the men, saying the trio were probably swept overboard in rough weather and had likely drowned.

The skipper's niece, Hope Himing, rejected this explanation.

"If it was bad weather why would their fishing line be out? Why would their clothes be piled up?" she told reporters in Brisbane. "If it was that bad that it would have knocked three experienced sailors off, why wouldn't they have put on their lifejackets? It just doesn't add up for us."

Himing said she believed another boat had pulled up alongside the 32-foot catamaran, and that the three men may have been kidnapped.

"The fenders were out on their yacht, and the only reason you ever put them out is when another boat comes aside or if you come to rest against a wharf," she said. "It looks like they've been boarded."

However, police have ruled out foul play, saying there was no suggestion that the men's disappearance was anything other than a tragic accident.

Answering questions about the fenders earlier this week, police inspector Warren Webber said it was not unusual for small-craft sailors to leave their fenders out at sea.

He said there was also no sign that the vessel was ransacked.

Queensland police said Tuesday they would reopen their investigation into the men's

[starfire56]

It Is A Bit Mysterious, Gone Just Like That,no Trace, No Nothing. There Must Be A Connection Somewhere Has Any Other Mariners Dissappeared Likethese Have.perhaps Similar Cases, Needs Looking Into. I Am Givento Understand They Would Want To Contact Loved Ones And Would Have Done So By Now.

Where Did The Boat Drift To?
Weather Conditions,
How Many Cases Like These Need To Be Cross Referenced.
There Must Be A Pattern To Follow Up Leads.
Someone Somewhere May Be Able To Add The Bits And Pieces Of Information And Come To An Explaination.

Have You Tried A Psychic Detective Of Phenominal Power To Tune In !:)