3 Oct, 2025 @ 10:50
3 mins read

Police in Spain float new hypothesis over Brit, 34, who vanished off Gran Canaria coast during round-the-world trip – but family suspect foul play

SPANISH police hunting for a British sailor who disappeared off the coast of Gran Canaria during a solo round-the-world trip have revealed a new line of inquiry.

A desperate search for James โ€˜Jesmieโ€™ Nunan, 34, from Reading, was launched in late August after the Brit adventurerโ€™s yacht, Kehaar, was found by coastguards 50 miles off the coast of Gran Canaria with no sign of its owner – bar his trusty miniature Jack Russell companion.

The loyal pooch, Thumbelina, was discovered unharmed – but there is no sign of its free-spirited owner, who worked as a bricklayer for a year to save up before setting sail on his dream voyage in March.

Nunan, who had already made stops at Gibraltar and Lanzarote, last made contact with his mother, Maura Norton, 56, on August 18.

Authorities now believe Nunan may have โ€˜suffered an accidentโ€™ on his yacht in challenging sailing conditions.

READ MORE: Desperate search underway after Brit sailor, 34, vanishes 50 miles off Gran Canaria coast during round-the-world trip

Nunan was embarking on a solo round-the-world sailing trip, with ambitions to head to countries such as Brazil.

A source from the Guardia Civil, quoted by Spanish media, said: โ€œThe main hypothesis is that James could have suffered an accident as he tried to climb up the mast in adverse wind and sea conditions.

โ€œBut all lines of investigation are still being pursued and the case is not yet closed.โ€

According to cops, that hypothesis has become the centre of investigation because Nunanโ€™s life jacket and a chair used to climb up the pole were missing from the boat when it was discovered.

But Nunanโ€™s family are concerned a โ€˜third partyโ€™ was involved in his disappearance – pointing to foul play.

His mother said: โ€œI think somebodyโ€™s gone to great lengths to make it look like itโ€™s man overboard.

โ€œHe was quite openly telling people he was travelling on his own and with a dog. So, anyone could have targeted him for any reason.โ€

Nunaโ€™s half-sister, Nikita Goddard, added: โ€œWe believe there is a strong potential there was a third party involved.โ€

She said she found it โ€˜hard to believeโ€™ that Nunan fell overboard.

She also praised the โ€˜overwhelmingly positiveโ€™ support the family have received, adding: โ€œThereโ€™s been support from complete strangers, the local people in Gran Canaria, theyโ€™ve been helping us. The support from the sailing community has been amazing.โ€

But Goddard is questioning how Spanish police are leading the investigation. She said: โ€œThey reassure me that theyโ€™re looking into every eventuality but I do also feel like actions speak louder than words and I donโ€™t feel like theyโ€™re giving us a full story of what theyโ€™re actually investigating.โ€

At 6:16pm on August 18, Nunan filmed a Facebook Live video where he appeared to be walking among a group of migrants at Playa del Confital, an idyllic stretch of sand on Gran Canariaโ€™s southern coast.

READ MORE: TV team reopens case of the 1990 disappearance of Danish taxi driver Jan Sรธrensen Fogde

The 34-year-old was last seen ordering food at Rico Doner Kebab.

Later that night, Nunan left Paddyโ€™s Anchor, a popular British bar in Las Palmas, having told a fellow punter that he planned to travel back to Lanzarote.

According to the man he befriended, Nunan appeared drunk, but not troublesome.

CCTV footage then shows the nomad purchasing dinner at nearby Rico Doner Kebab.

He is seen to be wearing his passport around his neck, but had his backpack stolen while ordering food.

A day later, Nunanโ€™s passport was reported โ€˜lost or stolenโ€™ to an Irish consulate in Gran Canaria.

One week later, local officials located Nunanโ€™s vessel 50 miles off the southern tip of Gran Canaria – about 100 miles away from Las Palmas.

The day before, a pan-pan call – one step lower than a mayday alert – was made in relation to Nunaโ€™s yacht.

Nunanโ€™s half-sister added: โ€œHeโ€™s always been a free spirit. Before he went sailing he was living in a converted van, and he was travelling around Scotland in it.

โ€œWhen he was in Scotland he just got the idea that he was going to get a boat and sail around the world. Heโ€™s been doing that since late March this year. He waited until after my son was born so he could meet him and went pretty much straight after.โ€

A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office said: โ€œWe are supporting the family of a British man who has been reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.โ€

The investigation continues.

Click here to read more Spain News from The Olive Press.

Ben Pawlowski

Ben Pawlowski

Ben joined the Olive Press in January 2024 after a four-month stint teaching English in Paraguay. He loves the adrenaline rush of a breaking news story and the tireless work required to uncover an eye-opening exclusive. He is currently based in Barcelona from where he covers the city, the wider Catalunya region, and the north of Spain. Send tips to ben@theolivepress.es

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