Mystery after bricklayer on round-the-world yacht trip vanishes leaving tiny but loyal dog onboard

The family of a bricklayer who vanished on a round-the-world yacht trip with his dog have released a heartfelt plea for answers.

James Nunan was last seen eating a kebab on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria on August 18.

Police found his boat a week later 100 miles away with his tiny but loyal dog, Thumbelina barking on board in the middle of the ocean.

The 34-year-old was last seen leaving Paddy’s Anchor Bar in Gran Canaria at 10pm that day. About four hours prior, he was spotted with a passport around his neck but no backpack at Rico Doner Kebab.

His half-sister Nikita Goddard told Metro that she was informed by another family – also at the kebab shop – that her brother’s backpack had been stolen.

Nikita, who is on maternity leave, has not seen her half-brother, known as ‘Jemsie’, since.

She told Metro: ‘It has been really difficult managing everything – the whole family has been running on adrenaline to be honest, trying to push emotion out of everything so we can just try and focus on finding him.

‘There’s almost no time to be sad,’ she said. ‘If anybody has seen him or believes they’ve seen him, no matter how insignificant, let us know.’

James, described as ‘happy and adventurous’ by Nikita, filmed himself during a Facebook Live on August 18 at 6.16pm. In it, he was seen walking with migrants on Playa del Confital beach, Gran Canaria.

He then moored his boat nearby and visited Paddy’s Anchor bar where he reportedly told a customer he was travelling to Lanzarote.

At about 10pm, the time James was last sighted, he bought dinner at the kebab shop where he was seen wearing a passport around his neck.

On August 19, his passport was reported lost or stolen to an Irish consulate on the Spanish island. Three days later, his mother reported him missing to Essex Police.

His boat was found on August 25, 50 miles off Gran Canaria’s south coast, and towed to Arguineguin port.

Police initially told the family his dog, Thumbelina, was not onboard, but they later clarified she was found alive and well on the boat. She has been taken to a shelter.

James had funded his five-and-a-half-month solo sailing trip by working as a bricklayer and had hoped to end up in Brazil.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Nikita praised the support from people on social media in helping to find her half-brother.

‘The support from social media has been really really helpful – we’ve managed to find a lot of information,’ she said.  

‘It’s reassuring to think there’s reason to believe that perhaps he didn’t just fall overboard and drown.’

Essex Police said they have been talking to Interpol and Spanish authorities to find James.

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