Durban - Families of the missing Sunsail RC044-978 yachtmen might consider raising funds to have the vessel, floating upside down in the Indian Ocean and believed to be their catamaran, salvaged.
Matthew Thomas, who is serving as an advisor to the families of the missing yachtsmen, said this could be one of the steps the families might consider to get the catamaran back to the country.
A container vessel last week reported sighting the upturned hull of a catamaran 600 nautical miles from Port Louis, Mauritius, and sent pictures to the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre.
But, before any salvage operation could begin, Thomas said the families would be hoping for another sighting of the vessel so that its exact location and the general direction of it drift could be determined.
The yacht and crew disappeared in January while on the way from Cape Town to Thailand.
Skipper Anthony Murray, 58, Reginald Robertson, a member of the Royal Natal Yacht Club, 59, and first time sailor, Jaryd Payne, 20, who were delivering the luxury catamaran, are missing.
Thomas told the Daily News on Tuesday it was unlikely that any freighter or commercial vessel that identified the yacht would salvage it because they were not equipped for this.
He said the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre might ask nearby vessels or authorities from Reunion, Madagascar or Mauritius to help them.
Centre chief Jared Blows said they were trying to identify vessels near where the hull was spotted.
Daily News