Ghost ships

This has got to be an unsolved mystery of the decade.


Last Thursday (19 Apr 2007), the Australian Navy boarded a 40-foot yacht off Queensland to find it mysteriously empty of its occupants.

What could have happened to its three owners - all retired West Australian sailors - who had purchased the yacht and were planning to sail back to Perth via Cape York, Darwin and Broome?

A few days later, their boat was found drifting 80 nautical miles off the north-eastern coast with its engine running, saloon lights on and sails set, a laptop computer turned on, radio and global positioning satellite (GPS) working, food on the table but without a crew. Three life jackets and survival equipment, including an emergency beacon, were found on board, but no life rafts.

Indeed, the only two things found amiss was the absence of the three-man crew and a sail which was badly shredded.