just goes to show, never believe everything thing you read in papers
here is the full and correct story.
left Miri on Thursday 8/12 and sailed towards SW with NE winds of 10-15 knots and reasonable conditions, around midnight winds swung around to SW and increased to estimated 20 knots with rising seas deciding to
head for Bintulu under
motor and wait for better conditions. During morning
engine overheated, so turned it off and with still worsening conditions decided to turn back to Miri under sail only, arriving off shore around midday, finding I was past the entrance to small marina, approaching coastal area and not making headway called friend in marina and then anchored in bay off Miri. During evening Coast Guard vessel came and attempted to get line on board but failed due to nasty wave action making all very difficult. During night storm with winds in excess of forty knots parted
anchor rode and vessel drifted NNE for about 1.7 nautical miles and beached herself in area north of Miri. At around 3.30 am I went ashore seeing lights nearby hoping to find someone to report to, but found no one. So after retrieving some clothes, my documents and wallets, I walked approx. 10 km into town arriving there at dawn. My friends hired
fishing boat to search for me and found the vessel, but not me (reason for lost person report). No real damage to vessel was sustained, but having lots of trouble trying to refloat her at high tide, but we hope to make further attempts shortly
thank you all for your concerns