Missing catamaran found off Phuket, Canadian sailor safe
Boat found near Racha Noi Island, foreigner found alive
A solo sailor vanished, a luxury catamaran went silent, and fears of a maritime disaster gripped Phuket, until a dramatic twist yesterday saw the missing boat found bobbing near Koh Racha Noi, with the Canadian sailor alive and well.
The search for the catamaran Liliput, which sparked a marine alert across southern Thailand, ended on a high note yesterday, May 5, after the 13-metre vessel was found safely moored off Koh Racha Noi.
Canadian national Jonn Gregory Dyck, the only person onboard, was discovered in good health, according to a statement from the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai MECC 3).
The saga began on Saturday morning, May 3, when Dyck set sail alone from Chalong Bay aboard Liliput, reportedly heading towards Koh Racha Yai. However, his exact destination remained uncertain, with possible anchor points including Ao Tawan, Ao Bangkae, or Ao Khon Kae.
When relatives lost contact with Dyck later that day, alarm bells rang. By 2.40pm on Sunday, May 4, the Phuket Tourist Police had filed a missing vessel report with Thai MECC 3. Fearing that the Canadian may have fallen ill or encountered trouble at sea, the family also contacted the Canadian Embassy for support.
Marine Police began tracing the vessel’s last known location, discovering its final recorded coordinates at 9.30am on Sunday, west of Koh Racha Yai. Repeated radio attempts to reach the catamaran failed.
Officials quickly launched a public call for help from nearby fishing boats, speedboats, and marine traffic. The breakthrough came around 7pm, when a network of local speedboats spotted Liliput tied to a buoy on the southeastern side of Koh Racha Noi. Fortunately, there were no signs of damage to the vessel.
Further checks revealed the catamaran was built in Indonesia in 2009 and registered in Langkawi, Malaysia, in 2019. Dyck entered Thailand on March 7 and was required to either leave the country or extend his visa by May 5—the very day he was found.
Marine Police Region 3 are continuing to oversee the situation to ensure Dyck’s safe return to shore and confirm his compliance with immigration rules, reported The Phuket News.
Latest Thailand News
Follow The Thaiger on Google News:
