Family says search for missing sailor James 'Jemsie' Nunan is exhausting as searches enter fifth week
Boat found 100 miles from Las Palmas; dog recovered from vessel as relatives and authorities continue searches on Gran Canaria
Searches for a British sailor who vanished from the Spanish island of Gran Canaria in late August have entered a fifth week, and his family described the effort as "emotionally and physically exhausting." James "Jemsie" Nunan, 34, from Colchester, had been undertaking a solo sail-around-the-world trip when he was last seen in the Las Palmas area on the night of 18 August.
Spanish police located Mr. Nunan's boat on 25 August about 50 miles (80 kilometres) off Gran Canaria's south coast — roughly 100 miles from Las Palmas — after a pan‑pan call was made between 24 and 25 August. The vessel was towed to Arguineguin port. Authorities said the boat's anchor was raised and its engine was off. Mr. Nunan's dog, Thumbelina, was later confirmed to have been on board and was taken into temporary care while family paperwork was arranged to bring the pet back to the United Kingdom.
Family members and police have pieced together a timeline of Mr. Nunan's movements in the hours before he disappeared. On 18 August at 18:16 BST he filmed himself on a Facebook Live broadcast amid a crowd at Playa del Confital, northwest of Las Palmas city centre. He spent time at a local bar, left around 10 p.m. and bought dinner at a kebab shop at about 10:39 p.m., at which point he was seen wearing his passport around his neck. His backpack was stolen while he ordered food. At 06:15 on 19 August, Mr. Nunan reported his passport missing at a police station, according to family statements and documents later found on the boat.
Mr. Nunan's half‑sister, Nikita Goddard, said the family initially believed his last confirmed sighting was at 10:39 p.m. on 18 August but that police documents revealed a later visit to a station the following morning. "It's been emotionally and physically exhausting and draining for the family," she said, urging people not to assume he had been "drunk and fell off the boat." She described her brother as a proficient sailor who had done substantial preparation for the voyage.
The sailor, who grew up in Reading, Berkshire, and worked as a bricklayer to fund the trip, had planned to continue to Lanzarote and other destinations, including Brazil. Mr. Nunan's mother reported him missing to Essex Police on 22 August, and Essex Police and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office have been supporting relatives.
Relatives have been on Gran Canaria assisting searches and retracing Mr. Nunan's steps, speaking to people in the area and appealing for CCTV footage that might show his movements after he left the bar. The family reported seeing documents on the recovered vessel that corroborated the 06:15 police visit on 19 August.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed details of any ongoing maritime or aerial search operations since the boat was recovered, and they have not released information about any evidence indicating what happened to Mr. Nunan after he left the Las Palmas area. The discovery of the vessel without its owner aboard and with its anchor raised prompted the initial search and recovery efforts.
Investigators confirmed that Thumbelina, the dog, was found alive on the boat; officers informed the family on 27 August and the animal was placed with a foster carer. The family has continued to press for more information, including CCTV from the night of 18 August, and urged anyone with relevant footage or knowledge to contact authorities.
Essex Police and the Foreign Office declined to provide further comment beyond confirming they were assisting the family. Relatives said they are continuing to cooperate with Spanish authorities and remain hopeful that additional evidence will clarify Mr. Nunan's disappearance.
As searches continue, the family has asked the public for privacy while they manage the practical and emotional challenges of coordinating with police and organizing care for the dog. The investigation remains ongoing, with family members and local authorities continuing efforts to establish Mr. Nunan's whereabouts and the circumstances of his disappearance.