Appeal launched to find missing sailor (From Bournemouth Echo)

Appeal launched to find missing sailor

8:11am Monday 29th October 2012 in News

POLICE are appealing for help in trying to find a missing London sailor who set off on his boat from Poole at the weekend.

Hany Nabil Mustapha’s boat was found unoccupied off the Isle of Wight on Saturday.

A major sea and air search was launched but called off around 3.40pm on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Mustapha bought the small yacht through a private sale on Saturday morning and sailed away from Poole Yacht Club, where the boat was moored, at 10.05am on the same day.

Mr Mustapha, aged 46 and from the Kingston area of London, told staff at Poole Yacht Club that he intended to sail the boat to Hayling Island, near Portsmouth.

At 5.36pm, Hampshire Constabulary was notified by HM Coastguard that the boat had been located beached at Grange Chine, off the coast of the Isle of Wight, with no crew on board.

Mr Mustapha is described as around six feet three inches tall, of mid-European appearance with a stocky build.

He has short, dark receding hair and a goatee beard and was last seen wearing a white sailing jacket, sunglasses and a hat.

DI Pete Little said: “We are obviously concerned about Mr Mustapha and I am releasing an image of him in the hope that the public may be able to assist us in locating him.

“Mr Mustapha’s boat was found with nobody on board and with the motor still running off the coast of the Isle of White.

“We know he left Poole Yacht Club at 10.05am on Saturday 27 October, and we believe he was planning on sailing to Hayling Island near Portsmouth.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101.