Last text from missing US boat said sails shredded
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — An American schooner carrying seven people that’s missing in the South Pacific sent an undelivered text message a month ago saying its sails were shredded and it was traveling at four knots.
New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre released the last-known message from the Nina Thursday after seeking it from satellite phone company Iridium and the U.S. State Department.
The June 4 message with a misspelling read: “Thanks storm sails shredded last night, now bare poles. Goining 4kt 310deg will update course info (at) 6PM”.
Authorities believe the Nina likely sank in a storm that day but have continued an aerial search.
Aboard the boat were American skipper David Dyche, 58, wife Rosemary, 60, and son David, 17. Also aboard were Evi Nemeth, 73, two more Americans and a British man.