Mt Barker man reported missing off Albany coast as huge search effort continues after boat found

A major search is under way off the coast of Albany after a 62-year-old Mt Barker man failed to return from a solo boating trip on Tuesday, with his boat found adrift near Michaelmas Island overnight.

WA Police report that the man’s family alerted authorities about 7.20pm on Tuesday after he did not return home.

Crews from the Water Police and volunteer marine rescue, alongside the RAC Rescue helicopter launched a search to locate the man on Tuesday night.

They found his 8m catamaran adrift near Michaelmas Island, about 30km east of Albany, but the man was not aboard the vessel.

A WA Police spokesman confirmed the multi-agency search would continue on Wednesday, with a police air wing aircraft, drones, Department of Transport vessels and additional volunteer marine rescue crews joining the operation.

Beaches along the mainland near Nanarup, and waters in the vicinity of Breaksea and Michaelmas islands, will be scoured during the search.

Albany Sea Rescue Squad commander Colin Bairstow said he was aboard one of two ASRS vessels that were sent out just after 7.30pm on Tuesday to help with the search.

“We were out there conducting a grid search pattern, and conditions were pretty ideal in that there was no wind, until about 10.30pm when a heavy mist came in and obstructed our vision, just as the rescue helicopter arrived,” he said.

“We stayed out until 1am to continue searching to no avail.”

He said the empty catamaran was found near Michaelmas Island in the early evening, with his crew tasked with towing it back to Emu Point Boat Harbour.

Albany officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Carlos Correia said the bolstered operation would continue in force today.

“We are conducting a full search of the area, including looking for any patterns and currents to see where someone might drift if they did fall into the water,” he said.

“Our search efforts will be maintained in full.”

More to come.