Search called off for missing Kingston yachtsman
5:52pm Monday 29th October 2012 in News
Search called off for missing Kingston yachtsman
A Kingston man is still missing after his boat was found empty with its engine still running just off the coast of the Isle of Wight
Hany Nabil Mustapha, 46, went missing on Saturday. A search operation to find him has been called off.
Mr Mustapha bought a small yacht in 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.
He told staff at Poole Yacht Club that he planned to sail the boat to Hayling Island, near Portsmouth.
By 5.36pm Hampshire police notified the coastguard that the boat had been found beached at Grange Chine, off the coast of the Isle of Wight, with no crew on board.
The coastguard launched a search operation with helicopters, lifeboats and broadcasts to other vessels, which lasted nearly 24 hours until 3.40pm yesterday.
Mr Mustapha is described as being approximately six feet three inches tall, of mid-European appearance with a stocky build. He has short, dark receding hair and a goatee beard.
He was last seen wearing a white sailing jacket, sunglasses and a hat.
Detective Inspector Pete Little, from Dorset police, said: "Mr Mustapha’s boat was found with nobody on board and with the motor still running off the coast of the Isle of Wight.
“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.
“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.”
Mr Mustapha, who is married, is a member of Thames Motor Yacht Club in Hampton Court.
