At the end of August, Spanish maritime authorities discovered an unmanned sailing vessel in the waters south of Gran Canaria. On board was a dog belonging to British citizen James Noonan, who had previously set out on a solo transatlantic voyage.
The vessel was spotted approximately 94 kilometers from the island. According to rescuers, there were no people on the yacht when it was found. The animal on board was in satisfactory condition and was taken to the municipal shelter in Mogán.
Noonan’s relatives reported that they last communicated with him on August 18. That evening, he was having dinner at a venue on the Las Canteras promenade in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. His bank card was used that same day, and earlier, he had streamed live from the El Confital area.
The family also noted that on the day he disappeared, the man might have had his backpack and passport stolen. After the disappearance was reported, the Sasemar 101 search plane spotted the drifting vessel. Rescue forces were dispatched to the location, confirmed there were no people on board, and towed the yacht to the port of Arguineguín.
The dog, named Thumbelina, was unharmed. She is currently under the care of specialists. The Guardia Civil is investigating the circumstances of James Noonan’s disappearance. No further details of the investigation have been released.
