The whereabouts of Jabe Carey's 15.85m double-masted, steel-hulled ketch remain a mystery, as there've been no reported sightings of the vessel since police left it unoccupied and unsecured during a rescue mission conducted on December 2 last year.
The whereabouts of Jabe Carey's 15.85m double-masted, steel-hulled ketch remain a mystery, as there've been no reported sightings of the vessel since police left it unoccupied and unsecured during a rescue mission conducted on December 2 last year.
Northland harbourmaster Jim Lyle said there had been no reported sightings of the missing boat, The Never Ending, since he was alerted to its absence on December 3 last year.
The boat’s owner Jabe Carey, 48, claimed police left his ketch drifting, unoccupied, with loose sails when they removed him and his shipmate from it on December 2 during a rescue operation about 18kms off Ninety Mile Beach.
At 15.85m in length, the steel-hulled pilot house ketch poses a concerning hazard, especially for a single-handed sailor on a smaller vessel who might be below deck at times and unaware the obstacle was out there, Lyle said.
The boat’s whereabouts are a complete mystery – it was presumed to be still adrift and could end up in Australia or circling Antarctica, he said.
Carey has complained to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) that a series of “incompetent” police decisions during the rescue caused the loss of his boat – his home for the past two and a half years.
He was considering legal action against police, Carey said. However, he noted the ketch was his major asset and without it, he had no equity to secure the necessary funds for a civil case.
Lawyer Steve Keall has confirmed he will take on some of the legal work involved. He was confident Carey could potentially have a strong case against police.
Yachtsman Jabe Carey (right) spent $8000 in an unsuccessful attempt to spot his missing ketch from the air. He hopes police will be ordered to reimburse him for the vanished vessel at very least.
Police say they are unable to go into any detail or substantiate any claims on the matter while the IPCA’s investigation is ongoing.
Carey made a mayday call for help after an unexpected incident involving his shipmate.
While grateful when rescuers turned up, Carey said he was in disbelief at their refusal to let him secure the vessel or to do so themselves before removing him and his shipmate from it.
The allegedly ill-conceived police-led operation had caused not only the loss of his boat but about $85,000 worth of personal belongings he had aboard, Carey said.
In addition, he claimed he and his shipmate were subjected to an unsafe, night-time crossing of the dangerous Hokianga Bar in an already crowded rescue vessel.
Carey questioned the police’s reasoning in removing him from The Never Ending on a historic arrest warrant for which he wasn’t held for any longer than that night.
Carey claims police should either find and return The Never Ending or compensate him for his losses, including the $8000 he spent on a private aerial search and the anguish of being made homeless. He put the cost of rebuilding the ketch between $450,000 and $1 million.
Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on numerous issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference, especially environmental issues.
