Colchester man missing while sailing around the world
He last made contact on August 18th
Last updated 3rd Sep 2025
The family of a missing man from Colchester, who's not made contact for more than three weeks whilst sailing around Europe, are desperately trying to find answers.
James Nunan was last seen in Gran Canaria, with police finding his boat days after his last known sighting.
He last made contact with his mum on the 18th August, the last record of his bank card being used was later that night at a local takeaway.
It's also reported that his backpack was stolen on the same evening.
James, who's also known as Jemsie, half-sister Nikita Goddard has built a thread of updates via her Facebook page, on the ongoing search since last Wednesday (27th August).
His boat was located by police 50 miles from shore and moored back into, Harbour ArguineguÃn.
The latest update from Nikita read: "We had already been told that Jemsie’s backpack was stolen on the 18th while he was at the kebab shop, but we’ve now learned that his passport may also have been taken later that night. He usually carried it in a lanyard around his neck, and I know it wasn’t in his bag as the person who told me about the backpack being stolen also confirmed that Jemsie still had the lanyard with his passport on him at the time.
"Records show that Jemsie reported his passport as lost or stolen at the Irish Embassy on 19th August. We have asked for CCTV to confirm that it was indeed Jemsie who attended. If so, this would confirm he was still on the island on the 19th."
A spokesman for Essex Police said: "We’re in touch with James family to provide support to them at this very difficult time.
"We have submitted a number of queries through our international liaison officers and Interpol to Spanish authorities.
"At this stage we are awaiting response.
"We dearly hope James can be located safely as soon as possible and we will continue to be in contact, alongside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with his family and help where we can."