Mystery of Mary Celeste yacht drifting off Queensland

[#juan]

A modern Marie Celeste

Australia puzzles over missing yacht crew mystery


Associated Press

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — A 12-metre catamaran found drifting off Australia's Great Barrier Reef had sails up, engines running and food on the table but no crew, officials said Friday after launching a massive search for the missing men.
A coastal patrol aircraft spotted the vessel Kaz II on Wednesday but rescue workers only reached the boat early Friday, confirming there was no one aboard.
Officials said they were puzzled by what they found.
“They got on board and said the engine was running, the computers were running, there was a laptop set up on the table which was running, the radio was working ... and there was food and utensils set on the table ready to eat, but no sign of the crew,” said Jon Hall, a spokesman for Queensland state's Emergency Management office.



http://tinyurl.com/2rx5gq

 

[#juan]

The Marie Celeste was a ship that was found in 1872 in good shape with nobody on board. There was food on the table but no people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Celeste

 

[Tonington]

Odd, very odd.

 

[darkbeaver]

Perhaps they we're taken by giant squid.

 

[hermanntrude]

copycat crime?

 

[#juan]

It's hard to imagine all three men going overboard at the same time. They were all experienced sailors who knew what they were doing. The first thing that comes to my mind is fowl play of some sort, either that or alien abduction...:-|:smile:

 

[Pangloss]

Piracy is not unknown in those waters; nor is kidnapping. If the pirates were spooked while killing the crew and taking the boat, they might have skedaddled without the yacht.

Or maybe alien abduction. Any anal probes left on deck?

Pangloss

 

[hermanntrude]

maybe the food was awful?

 

[#juan]

Piracy is not unknown in those waters; nor is kidnapping. If the pirates were spooked while killing the crew and taking the boat, they might have skedaddled without the yacht.

Or maybe alien abduction. Any anal probes left on deck?

Pangloss

This is a tough one. The Marie Celeste at least had 1700 barrels of grain alcohol and a few of the barrels were empty..........which leaves the possibility that under diminished judgement, they all went for a swim or something.

 

[Blackleaf]

Rescuers baffled over yacht's missing crew

by FRANK THORNE
20th April 2007

The yacht was found drifting off the Australian state of Queensland


A Mary Celeste-type mystery is unfolding in Australia after a yacht was found drifting off the coast with computers running and food on a table ready to eat — but no crew.

Rescuers who boarded the yacht noted that three life jackets and the emergency beacon were still on board, but there was no sign of the yacht's lifeboat.

Mystery: the Kaz II had table set for meal but the crew had gone


A search and rescue operation was under way for three men missing from the 12-metre catamaran Kaz II, which left Airlie Beach in northern Queensland on Sunday.

It was spotted adrift on Wednesday.

Emergency Management Queensland spokesman Jon Hall said: "The engine was still running in neutral but one of the sails had been damaged.

"The table was actually set for a meal with food and cutlery in place. It's a complete mystery."

The yacht's GPS will be analysed for clues. Search and rescue teams said sailing conditions when the men set off were rough.

dailymail.co.uk