Former Olympic Sailor’s Empty Boat Found Off Cayman Islands Coast

October 23, 2013 – Authorities in the Cayman Islands are continuing their search for missing Olympic sailor Mark Clarke, whose boast was found lodged on reefs off the Cayman Kai last night after the 63-year-old was last seen setting sail on Monday morning.

Clarke, who was born in Jamaica before moving to the Cayman Islands in the 1980s, is reported to have left Rackley’s Canal in the North Sound on a solo fishing trip on Monday (October 21) last on board his 25-foot boat called “Badger” before the unmanned vessel was found wedged in coral early yesterday.

The Joint Marine and Air Operations Units of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) have been carrying out a comprehensive search around the North Sound area where the empty boat was found but as of yet no sign of Clarke has been found.

The RCIPS are being assisted in the search by local boat owners, while police officers have also been scouring the shoreline around the North Sound in case Clarke managed to swim ashore.

“We have civilian crafts assisting police marine and air units, as well as land patrols,” said Inspector Ian Yearwood, who is leading the search effort and is a former colleague of Clarke from his time in the police force.

“We remain very hopeful at this time.

“He has been described as an excellent swimmer and a veteran sailor – a sailing instructor, in fact.

“The conditions were very good, they are still very good.

“We are looking at all aspects of this.” Full Story