Missing sailor Maurice Saunderson described by friends as experienced yachtsman
Police have called off a sea, land, and air search for Maurice Saunderson and his yacht, pending further information. (Supplied: Tearaway Marine)
In short:
Friends have described a sailor, believed to be missing off the WA coast, as an experienced yachtsman who was well-known and respected.
Maurice Saunderson has not been seen since late December when he set sail from Emu Point in Albany to Busselton.
What's next?
Police have suspended a sea, land, and air search but are continuing to appeal for information.
Friends of a missing sailor have described him as an experienced yachtsman well-known and respected in Western Australia's sailing community.
Police say 77-year-old Maurice Saunderson has not been seen since leaving Emu Point Marina in Albany just after midday on December 29, 2024.
The retiree, who lives on his yacht, had planned to sail to Busselton — a journey of approximately 230 nautical miles.
Friend Coby Lane said it should only have taken Mr Saunderson about 48 hours.
"Maurice has done this voyage many times as a solo sailor; it's not out of character for him," Mr Lane said.
"He is one of the most experienced yachtsmen I know.
"While his vessel would be considered small and minimalistic by modern standards, it was not an unusual thing for him to do and I had no reason to be concerned."
Mr Lane said he last spoke to his friend on December 30 and alerted authorities on Friday concerned that he and other friends had not heard from him.
Mr Saunderson has not been seen or heard from since late December. (Supplied: Tearaway Marine)
Mr Lane said Mr Saunderson was well-known and respected in sailing circles and was a valued mentor to many new sailors learning their craft.
"He amazed me with his sailing skills, navigating out of his pen through a maze of jetties and boats at Fremantle Sailing Club under sails with a yacht that had no engine," Mr Lane said.
"Many onlookers have witnessed this man's sailing abilities regularly sailing from Emu Point to the Albany Marina for coffee and to read the newspaper in the morning."
Friend Darren Russell said Mr Saunderson did not have "a bad done in his body" and leaned towards a life off-grid.
"He'd spend some time here in Albany and then would spend time in Bunbury, Quindalup, Rottnest," friend Darren Russell said.
"He's probably been sailing these areas for 40 years."
Weather ideal, according to fellow sailor
Mr Russell believed the weather conditions at the time of Mr Saunderson's voyage were ideal for sailing.
"It probably got up to 15 knots, which isn't huge at all. Nothing he couldn't have managed," Mr Russell said.
"I know he got a brand new EPIRB before he left and he registered it.
"The biggest thing is probably fatigue … it's a very busy corner … and the seas can be a bit unpredictable."
Former commodore of Fremantle Sailing Club Gary Martin got to know Mr Saunderson during his time in the city.
"Maurice was quite a large personality around Fremantle in the respect that he was a lone wolf, so to speak," Mr Martin said.
"He lived on his boat by himself down at the fishing boat harbour for many years.
"He definitely preferred sailing on his own."
Friends say Maurice Saunderson is a well-known and respected figure in the WA sailing community. (Supplied: Tearaway Marine)
Mr Martin said in his decades in the sailing fraternity he had only met a handful of people with Mr Saunderson's passion and described him as "sailing mad" and "a nautical hippy".
"These people enjoy their own company, enjoy their modest little boats, and live life to the fullest," he said.
"He is a very intelligent person who could have good conversations with anyone.
"He was very respectful; I never heard him talk out of turn about anyone."
Friends eager for answers
Like many in the sailing community, Darren Russell was eager to know what had happened to Mr Saunderson.
"I'm surprised this has happened to someone with his calibre of experience. I'd love to know how and why … we all would," Mr Russell said.
Police launched a sea, air, and land search for Mr Saunderson after concerns were raised on Friday.
On Sunday the search was suspended, pending further information.
Police said it was still unclear whether anything had happened to Mr Saunderson or whether he was travelling on his own and had not made contact.
Anyone with information about Mr Saunderson's whereabouts is urged to call police immediately on 131 444.