A 40-foot catamaran found drifting off Australia's Great Barrier Reef had sails up, engines running and food on the table, but no crew.
The Kaz II found drifting in mysterious ciriumstance swithout its three crew aboard
A massive search for what is believed to be three missing men has been launched after a coastal patrol aircraft spotted the Kaz IIon Wednesday but rescue workers only reached the boat early today.
"They got on board and said the engine was running, the computers were running, there was a laptop set up on the table which was running, the radio was working ... and there was food and utensils set on the table ready to eat, but no sign of the crew," said Jon Hall, a spokesman for Queensland state's Emergency Management office.
The 36-feet catamaran was found 80 nautical miles off Townsville on the northeast coast after setting saild sail from Queensland bound for Australia's west coast on Sunday.
An emergency management official said the yacht's sails were up but that one was badly shredded. Three life jackets and survival equipment, including an emergency beacon, were found on board - but no life rafts.
Media reports said the missing men are skipper Derek Batten (56) and his neighbours, brothers Peter and James Tunstead, aged 69 and 63 - from the Western Australia state capital Perth - although police would not confirm their identities.
AP