WA: Missing yacht found floating in Indian Ocean

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-1999
WA: Missing yacht found floating in Indian Ocean

PERTH, April 13 AAP - A luxury yacht which disappeared from its moorings off Western
Australia's south-west coast on New Year's Eve has been found in good condition floating in
the middle of the Indian Ocean.

The fishing vessel Austral Leader located the 12.5-metre Windblown two weeks ago about
3,000km south-west of Perth after the yacht was detected by radar. There was no-one aboard.

Police originally believed the yacht, valued at $400,000, had been stolen.

"It's pretty amazing actually," Austral Fisheries spokesman Richard Elvin said today.

"It's one of those needle in a haystack things."

Mr Elvin said they contacted Windblown's owners, Paul and Dianne Hayter, after the
discovery but found out that they had already been paid out by the insurers, Club Marine.

Club Marine had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the boat's recovery.

Mr Elvin said Austral Fisheries had since bought the boat from the insurers but did not
disclose the amount paid.

Mr Hayter launched a sea and air search for the yacht after it disappeared on New Year's
Eve.

The Hayters were returning from a party on shore when they noticed the boat had disappeared
from its moorings 100 metres off shore at Broadwater Resort, Geographe Bay (Geographe Bay).

Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Smith from the Water Police said today the yacht's
discovery was bizarre but he did not believe its disappearance and recovery were suspicious.

He said it now appeared the yacht had floated into the Indian Ocean and had not been stolen
as earlier thought.

"It appears to have lived up to its name and been carried out to sea," he said.

"The guys who found it said everything was intact on board and all the things you might
expect to be stolen -- wallets, purses and things -- were all there."

Mr Elvin said when Windblown was discovered its anchor was still down, indicating it had
slipped its moorings.

Three Austral Leader crew members were sailing the refuelled and restocked boat back to
Perth. It is due to arrive at Hillarys Boat Harbour tomorrow.

AAP pr/jnb/de

KEYWORD: YACHT

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