Local shipwright Darren Russell expresses shock and worry over missing yachtsman Maurice Saunderson

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Local shipwright Darren Russell expresses shock and worry over missing yachtsman Maurice Saunderson

A friend of missing man Maurice Saunderson has told of his shock at the disappearance of the skilled yachtsman who hasn’t been seen since he set off from Albany on December 29.

Local shipwright Darren Russell said he was “in shock” over the disappearance of his friend Mr Saunderson who lives in Emu Point on a converted life boat, which is still docked at the marina.

Mr Russell said he had bonded with the retiree over their shared love of sailing, describing Mr Saunderson as a skilled and experienced yachtsman.

“He lived off the grid a little bit and he was a boating fanatic,” he said.

“He had a lot of experience over his years, and he always had some good yarns to tell of the some of the epic sea voyages that he’d done over the years.”

Camera IconMaurice Saunderson set sail for Busselton from Emu Point Marina on Sunday, December 29 and hasn’t been heard from since. Credit: WA Police

“He had a little yacht that he used to come and sail over to Princess Royal Harbour — never had an engine in his boats.”

Mr Russell said Mr Saunderson has previously sailed the route from Albany to Busselton.

“I think it’s a shock to us all, because I’m a sailor myself and I do some single-handed sailing — and I’ve actually sailed with Maurice in company alongside him to Busselton to Esperance, and we’ve covered some miles together,” he said.

“I’ve always been amazed at his experience and skills and so when I look at somebody who’s skilled and is lost, as we presume he’s lost, it’s a really big shock.”

Mr Russell said he hopes that if anybody saw Mr Saunderson they would “give him a hand”, saying he has not given up hope of a rescue yet.

“One thing about Maurice — he’s very resourceful, and he’s not one to cry for people to come and give him a hand,” he said.

“He would like to get himself out of situations he’s put himself into, and as a sailor that’s generally what we do.

“It’s a cruel mistress we play with, and we understand the dangers and the difficulties involved, especially when you’re single-handed sailing.”

Camera IconMr Saunderson was sailing in a 9.1-metre white-coloured yacht called Spear. Credit: WA Police

77-year-old Mr Saunderson set off alone from Emu Point Marina in Albany to sail to Busselton on December 29, but never arrived.

Family and friends alerted police on January 10 to his failure to appear in the South West, in a journey that should have taken between four to seven days according to WA Water Police acting Sergeant Mark Shortland.

Mr Saunderson’s mobile phone was last tracked to Broke, near Walpole, about 130km west of Albany on December 31 at about 10.35pm.

WA Police used air, sea, and land assets in an attempt to locate Mr Saunderson in an area between Bunbury and Walpole, but suspended the search on Sunday.

Mr Saunderson was travelling in a 9.1 metre white yacht named SPEAR with a white sail with the letter “Z” embossed on it, and an arrow-shaped symbol on the vessel’s bow similar to the Air New Zealand logo.

Mr Saunderson “picked his weather” according to Mr Russell, taking advantage of “lovely breezes” that were ideal to sail to Cape Leeuwin, describing him as an “old-school sailor”.

“He didn’t have many electronics on the boat — he was a very old-school sailor, and the nice thing about old-school sailors is they sail by intuition,” he said.

“They haven’t got the modern gadgets to tell them, they go by feel and experience.

“He would probably be getting plans or probably making the most his situation and maybe waiting for help.”

Camera IconMaurice Saunderson, 77, is described as an experienced and skilled old-school sailor by friend Darren Russell. Credit: WA Police

Mr Russell is holding onto hope that his friend is found and that it would be become an “epic adventure” for the books — but says he is realistic and knows that it has been 12 days since Mr Saunderson disappeared.

“That’s a hell of a lot of time,” he said.

“I know in that part of the coast there’s a lot of tourists around there for New Year’s, so I’m just hoping somebody was gazing out at the sea on about the second of January and they could see a little yacht in those rough conditions — because they were choppy seas at the time.”

Mr Saunderson is described as being 185 centimetres tall, of medium build, with grey hair and beard, and blue eyes.

Anyone with any information in relation to the whereabouts of Maurice Saunderson is urged to contact police immediately on 131 444.

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