The National Sea Rescue Institute has appealed to the broader maritime community to help find a missing French sailor, who left Hout Bay on his yacht, the Akela II, on 2 March.

Emmanuel Dailler set sail for Martinique in the Caribbean aboard the Akela II, but he has not arrived, and there has been no sight of him since.

The NSRI are now calling on the Maritime Community and Maritime Rescue Services across the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean as well as the Maritime Community at large in the ongoing efforts to determine the whereabouts and well-being of Dailler.

NSRI, in cooperation with French Authorities and the South African MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre), have asked sea farers on the Atlantic ocean, islands across the Atlantic ocean, West Africa coastal Ports, Caribbean Ports, and now also across the Indian Ocean, East Coast African Ports and the Australia’s, to keep a look-out and report any sightings or contact with Akela II.

The yacht only has marine VHF radio communications onboard. The yacht is plain white with no yacht name appearing on the hull.

*NOTE: An Akela II that is currently in the Caribbean is NOT related to the missing Akela II with solo sailor Emmanuel Dailler. It is only a coincidence that a second yacht bares the same name

At this stage the last known contact with Dailler was on his departure from Hout Bay Yacht Club on 2 March, 2023.

There are no new leads to assist in finding Akela II and her solo sailor.

It was earlier suspected he was headed across the Atlantic to the French Caribbean but with no formal clarity to determine if he had set sail for the French Caribbean we are widening our efforts to include the Indian ocean, as he has a sister residing in Australia, and we simply have no way and no new leads to suggest he went either way, across the Atlantic or across the Indian Oceans.

NSRI CEO, Dr Cleeve Robertson says at this stage no formal search can be launched because there is no indication that he is in distress, other than that he left Hout Bay Yacht Club on 2 March, expecting to head towards the French Caribbean.

Had he changed his mind and gone East is a mystery that we are hoping our wide appeal can help to determine. We are extremely grateful, on behalf of the family, to all who have responded with their concerns. We are hoping someone comes forward, maybe fellow sailors, maybe fishermen, maybe a commercial motor vessel, who may have seen the plain white yacht at sea. This may help us to put one piece of this puzzle together in our ongoing efforts.

Anyone with information, any sightings or contact with Akela II and Emmanuel Dailler, may contact MRCC (SA MARITIME RESCUE COORDINATION CENTRE) +279383300 mrcc.ct@samsa.org.za or NSRI EOC +27829947555 operations@searescue.org.za

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