Cape Town - Families of the missing catamaran Sunsail’s crew have called for a full investigation into the incident.
The Leopard 44 catamaran went missing a year ago with Skipper Anthony Murray, 58, and his crewmen Reginald Robertson, 59, and Jaryd Payne, 20, aboard.
On Monday, families of the missing crewmen held a press briefing at the Marina Centre parking lot at the V&A Waterfront.
A joint statement was read out by Jeremy Savage, Murray’s brother, who said the families wanted answers.
Savage said: “We are calling for an inquest into the incident and full investigation.
“We hereby commit to dedicate ourselves to finding, not just answers of what happened to our loved ones, but to improve conditions establishing fairer practices and enforcing compliance with legislation for working sailors…”
Police spokeswoman Noloyiso Rwexana said there were no new developments to report on and no inquest case had been opened.
The catamaran departed from Cape Town in December 2014 sailing to Phuket, Thailand.
The crew last made contact on January 18, 2015; the family said they only found out about their disappearance four days later.
Last week, the capsized hull of a boat believed to be that of the catamaran was recovered, but was later lost.
After recovery efforts, the hull was being towed back to Cape Town, but was lost at sea again on Wednesday.
The families said they did not understand how it was possible that the hull could have been lost again.
Savage said: “For reasons that we don’t fully understand, and which add to our ongoing pain and suffering, the tug lost the hull during the journey back to the port and it has not been seen or found since.
“We have suffered and we keep on suffering.”
Payne’s mother, Lisa Green, was comforted by his stepfather, Paul Green. She could not hold back her emotions as she sobbed while looking at some of the boats at the harbour.
Due to emotional distress, she was unable to speak about the trauma she was experiencing.
Diane Coetzer, Murray’s sister-in-law, said it was almost impossible for the crew to have survived. She said: “We are not expecting them to be alive. We just want answers of what happened and what will happen.”
Cape Argus