Nikita GoddardThe family of a man who vanished on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria said searching for him had been exhausting.
James “Jemsie” Nunan, from Colchester, was on a sail-around-the-world trip and planned to travel to Lanzarote before he disappeared in August.
Police found the explorer’s boat 100 miles (160km) from his last known location in Las Palmas, but searches for the 34-year-old have since entered their fifth week.
“It’s been emotionally and physically exhausting and draining for the family,” said his half-sister, Nikita Goddard.
Essex Police and the Foreign Office have been supporting the relatives since Mr Nunan, who grew up in Reading, Berkshire, disappeared.
The sailor had worked as a bricklayer to fund his once-in-a-lifetime solo trip, which he hoped would take him to countries including Brazil.
Nikita GoddardHis family initially believed he was last seen at about 22:39 BST on 18 August, having spent time at a pub and a kebab shop.
However, speaking to the earlier, Mrs Goddard, 31, said they had been told of a new sighting on 19 August – when Mr Nunan reported his passport missing at a police station at 06:15.
She said documents confirming this visit were discovered on his boat, which was found by police 50 miles (80km) off Gran Canaria’s south coast on 25 August – and 100 miles from Las Palmas.
Mrs Goddard, from Lincoln, stressed this showed her half-brother was thinking clearly and warned against assumptions that he was “drunk and fell off the boat”.
“Everyone is trying to live on the hope that he’s still alive,” she said.
How the disappearance unfolded
18 August, 18:16: Mr Nunan films himself on Facebook Live walking among a large group of people at Playa del Confital beach
About 22:00: He leaves Paddy’s Anchor bar in Las Palmas, having told a fellow customer he planned to travel to Lanzarote.
22:39: Mr Nunan purchases dinner at Rico Doner Kebab. He is seen to be wearing his passport around his neck, but has his backpack stolen while he ordered food.
19 August, 06:15: He attends a police station to report his passport missing
22 August: Mr Nunan’s mother reports him missing to Essex Police
Between 24 and 25 August: A pan-pan call is made in relation to his boat
25 August: Police locate Mr Nunan’s boat 50 miles (80km) off the south coast of Gran Canaria – about 100 miles from Las Palmas – and tow it to Arguineguin port. They say his dog, Thumbelina, was not onboard
27 August: Officers contact Mr Nunan’s family to say his dog, Thumbelina, has actually been found alive and well onboard the boat. She is taken in temporarily by a foster carer
In the hours before he went missing, Mr Nunan filmed himself on a Facebook Live broadcast while walking among a large group of people at Playa del Confital beach, north-west of Las Palmas city centre.
He also had his backpack stolen from outside the kebab shop where he was eating, but retained his passport as it was being worn around his neck.
Mr Nunan’s dog, Thumbelina, had been accompanying him on the trip and was found alive and well on the boat, which had its anchor raised and its engine off.
She was taken in by a temporary owner while the family finalised paperwork to bring her back to the UK.
James Nunan/FacebookMeanwhile, Mrs Goddard and other relatives have been on the island leading searches for Mr Nunan.
“We’ve also tried retracing his steps and spoken to people along the way, seeing if they’ve seen him,” said Mrs Goddard, who has appealed for CCTV footage of her half-brother.
Speaking of the moment she saw the boat, Mrs Goddard added: “It’s hard looking at it. It’s sad and frustrating.
“I know he was good at what he was doing. He’d done a lot of preparation and sailing ahead of the trip.
“We’re doing everything we can to try and find him, but it’s a lot on the family and especially my mum and Jemsie’s dad.”