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A massive search operation for a 60-year-old solo sailor from Mossel Bay ended in tragedy on Saturday afternoon when the yachtsman was found deceased on his vessel.
An SA Air Force 22 squadron Oryx helicopter located the yacht - the Panacea - approximately 30 nautical miles South South West of Stilbaai on the South Coast.
An NSRI Airborne rescue swimmer was deployed from the helicopter into the sea, he swam to and boarded the yacht where he found the sailor deceased below decks.
The NSRI says that with limited aviation fuel remaining, the rescue swimmer placed a signaling beacon on the yacht before being recovered into the helicopter and they returned to base.
An operation by authorities and the SA Police Services is now underway to safely recover the body from the yacht and to safely recover the yacht.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town says they had previously been made aware of a sailor onboard the Panacea that had departed Cape Town on Friday the 12th of August and was headed to Mossel Bay.
After three days of no contact with his family, the sailor's mother informed MRCC that she was concerned however not overly so, as her son was reportedly in no immediate rush to reach Mossel Bay.
MRCC Cape Town sent out a maritime alert and on Friday 19 August, a report from a passing vessel was received that it had sighted the Panacea.
