pegasos
New member
We are wintering on the Maltese island of Gozo. Approx 8 weeks ago a yacht was brought into the harbour having been discovered by local fishermen abandoned, drifting, engine running, hank on headsail in the water and main half lowered, some 30 nm offshore towards Scicily. She is named Xenia, Austrian flagged, steel, white hull of about 11.5m. Well equipped with radar, SSB and solar panel along with expensive luxury kit like stainless steel anchor chain. She has the distinguishing feature of having cartoon of a mouse painted on the stbd bow and port qtr.
As we last saw this vessel in August anchored close to us in Port Mahon, Menorca we took an interest in the situation. We reported our facts to the Malta Maritime authority and the Gozo Police Station (who had it on their computer under 'lost and found'!). We gave then the dates of our sighting along with the phone and fax number of the port authority in Mahon who would have a record of crew details. Both agencies gave us a metaphorical shrug of the shoulders and told us it was out of their hands(!). The yacht is currently on the visitors pontoon in Gozo Harbour.
Yesterday, the Gozo fishermen returned and filled some ten large bags of gear, loaded it into a truck and disappeared. They also went some way to stripping the electronics.
We, and other liveaboards of various nationalities. are somewhat exasperated at the apparent attitude of officials towards this event. We feel that the two most likely scenarios are: a: The crew have been lost overboard under adverse conditions (the weather was a bit iffy at the time) or b: The boat has been wintering in Tunisia, has been stolen by economic migrants, motored to the West coast of Sicily, turned around and abandoned to its fate - the rightful owners sitting in Austria blissfully unaware of what is going on. In both cases there should be evidence of ownership on board and contact should be made.
Has anybody out there any information on this boat or can anyone advise us how we may pursue the matter of tracing ownership, next of kin or whatever?
As we last saw this vessel in August anchored close to us in Port Mahon, Menorca we took an interest in the situation. We reported our facts to the Malta Maritime authority and the Gozo Police Station (who had it on their computer under 'lost and found'!). We gave then the dates of our sighting along with the phone and fax number of the port authority in Mahon who would have a record of crew details. Both agencies gave us a metaphorical shrug of the shoulders and told us it was out of their hands(!). The yacht is currently on the visitors pontoon in Gozo Harbour.
Yesterday, the Gozo fishermen returned and filled some ten large bags of gear, loaded it into a truck and disappeared. They also went some way to stripping the electronics.
We, and other liveaboards of various nationalities. are somewhat exasperated at the apparent attitude of officials towards this event. We feel that the two most likely scenarios are: a: The crew have been lost overboard under adverse conditions (the weather was a bit iffy at the time) or b: The boat has been wintering in Tunisia, has been stolen by economic migrants, motored to the West coast of Sicily, turned around and abandoned to its fate - the rightful owners sitting in Austria blissfully unaware of what is going on. In both cases there should be evidence of ownership on board and contact should be made.
Has anybody out there any information on this boat or can anyone advise us how we may pursue the matter of tracing ownership, next of kin or whatever?
