UPDATE: ATLANTIC AND INDIAN OCEANS – Wednesday, 19 April. Search and enquiries are ongoing for missing French solo sailor

SEA RESCUE ATLANTIC OCEAN and INDIAN OCEAN: NSRI (South African National Sea Rescue Institute) are appealing to the Maritime Community and Maritime Rescue Services across the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean as well as the Maritime Community at large in our ongoing efforts to determine the whereabouts and wellbeing of French solo sailor Emmanuel Dailler aboard the sailing yacht Akela II.

NSRI, in cooperation with French Authorities and the South African MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), are keeping the family in our hearts and care in this difficult time.

Solo sailor EMMANUEL DAILLER, age 56, a Frenchman, aboard the AKELA II, a mono hull white sailing yacht, departed Hout Bay Yacht Club on 2 March, 2023, destination Martinique, Caribbean, and the yacht and solo sailor may now be overdue.

NSRI, in cooperation with MRCC, are appealing to sea farers on the Atlantic ocean, islands across the Atlantic ocean, West Africa coastal Ports, Caribbean Ports, and now also across the Indian Ocean, East Coast African Ports and the Australia’s, requested to keep a look-out and report any sightings or contact with AKELA II.

AKELA II only has marine VHF radio communications onboard. The yacht is plain white with no yacht name appearing on the hull.

NOTE: /// An AKELA II that is currently in the Caribbean is NOT related to the missing AKELA II with solo sailor EMMANUEL DAILLER. (It is only a coincidence that a second yacht bares the same name)! ///

At this stage the last known contact with Mr. Dailler was on his departure from Hout Bay Yacht Club on 2 March, 2023.

There are no new leads to assist in finding Akela II and her solo sailor.

It was earlier suspected he was headed across the Atlantic to the French Caribbean but with no formal clarity to determine if he had set sail for the French Caribbean we are widening our efforts to include the Indian ocean, as he has a sister residing in Australia, and we simply have no way and no new leads to suggest he went either way, across the Atlantic or across the Indian Oceans.

Hence we are widening our appeal to include these area’s.

NSRI commend the media for their efforts to echo our massive appeal for anyone with any information pertaining to this matter to come forward.

NSRI CEO, Dr Cleeve Robertson, said: While at this stage no formal search can be launched because we have no indication other than that he left Hout Bay Yacht Club on 2 March, expecting to head towards the French Caribbean. Had he changed his mind and gone East is a mystery that we are hoping our wide appeal can help to determine. We are extremely grateful, on behalf of the family, to all who have responded with their concerns. We are hoping someone comes forward, maybe fellow sailors, maybe fishermen, maybe a commercial motor vessel, who may have seen the plain white yacht at sea. This may help us to put one piece of this puzzle together in our ongoing efforts.

Anyone with information, any sightings or contact with AKELA II and Emmanuel Dailler, may contact MRCC (SA MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE) +279383300 mrcc.ct@samsa.org.za or NSRI EOC +27829947555 operations@searescue.org.za

SEE ORIGINAL MEDIA STATEMENT BELOW:

https://www.nsri.org.za/2023/0...