Missing NZ Yachtie - Pacific

[rustytruck]

We are currently searching for a yacht possibly called the Sea Scamp which is being skippered by my father Vivian Archie (Tony) Smith. The last contact from him was in August 2009 when he was sailing from the Solomon Islands to New Caledonia. He is a New Zealand citizen, approx 65 years old, is of slight build, little or no hair and no teeth. I believe he is travelling alone. The trip was expected to take 14 days and he was to contact us when he arrived. It is understood the name of the yacht may have been changed however it has not been registered in NZ. We are very concerned for his safety and whereabouts and anyone who has information can contact me directly on anaquoia@bigpond.com

[Jim D]

Have you obtained any info on this matter from any other sources? Is there a website, perhaps, that tells this story and collects any clues or thoughts? Is "Sea Scamp", the name the boat had, or the name you think it might have become?

The truth is that I don't have anything at all to offer, but this post certainly is intriguing. I haven't, but will, go google on some of these words and names.

I would hate to loose a family member as you describe, but there is some chance that I might some day use a sailboat to get away. Is it possible that Tony was actually intending to slip away?

Jim

~

[Ocean Girl]

Are you saying he departed on April of 2009? Are the authorities involved? Have you been searching all this time?


Some things you can do
*Contact the authorities and anyone who will listen including TV stations
*Get in contact the Marinas Association for the areas he sails, they can put out a mass email to the marinas to look out for this vessel and your dad.
*You need to post a picture of the boat and of your father here and on sailnet.com include as much info as possible of the boat (length of boat, color of canvas, hull, boot stripe) and of your father (tattoos? scars etc).

65 is pretty young, my dad sailed around the world at 70, hopefully he is just having a blast escaping from the outside world.

I hope you find him soon,
Erika

[GordMay]

This V.A. (Tony) Smith (from 2006)?

NZ sailor disappears

➥ NZ sailor facing sex charges in Vanuatu disappears - National - NZ Herald News

[KestrelBuck]

There is a SSB cruisers' net for that part of the Pacific. You should try to contact them and ask them to make an announcement regarding possible sightings of your father.

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by GordMay

This V.A. (Tony) Smith (from 2006)?

NZ sailor disappears

➥ NZ sailor facing sex charges in Vanuatu disappears - National - NZ Herald News

Gord, you never cease to amaze me!

[Dockhead]

"Rustytruck" is not the man's son at all, but the authorities, I guess. Clever, if not very honest, to try to track him down by getting us alarmed and eliciting our sympathy. Well, I guess it's none of our business anyway.

[Hampus]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

"Rustytruck" is not the man's son at all, but the authorities, I guess. Clever, if not very honest, to try to track him down by getting us alarmed and eliciting our sympathy. Well, I guess it's none of our business anyway.

Yeah, a son should know the age of his father more accurately.

/Hampus

[Ocean Girl]

If it is the cops GOOD JOB!! Very clever to tap into the community he may be hiding in. Also, it may be the victims family.I hope you find him.

In my twenties I crewed on boats. The crewing lifestyle, it is very easy to fall in the hands of a predator, it is transient and you can isolate the victim very easily. I had a close encounter with a guy while crewing on his boat, thankfully I got away. I still get the willies thinking about what could of happened! After that I only crewed boats with families on them.
Erika

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

... I hope you find him ...

Indeed - whether you are authorities, the alleged victim's or Tony's family.

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Well, I guess it's none of our business anyway.

Seriously?

I'd like to think that any of us would help bring someone in to face SEXUAL ASSAULT charges. I'm not convicting the guy, but he needs to go to trial and let the courts decide, at the very least. And I hope they get him before he does it again.

[Jim D]

Originally Posted by Jim D

Is it possible that Tony was actually intending to slip away?

Well, I got this part more or less right.

Right after I posted the first reply to Rustytruck, I made a note of the skipper's name mentioned, "Vivian Archie Smith." The first hit is the NZ news story that Gord posted. There are quite a few other stories on this matter. But I didn't see anything recent to suggest he has been found. Perhaps the fellow really did end up lost.

[cat man do]

The OP doesn't sound like cops to me

AnaQuoia Home

[rjrap]

I agree with Hampus. His son should know his age. It was the statement "approx 65 years old" that convinced me the OP wasnt a family member.

[rustytruck]

Thank you for your feedback, and yes it is the same person. I am not his son, I am his daughter and he is missing. If I were the police I'd know his exact date of birth from his passport. It may not have been right for him to leave Vanuatu the way he did, but he had his own reasons and it happened. I am worried about him and was hoping against hope that someone here would be able to assist.