Friends and former colleagues of a man who has gone missing while sailing around the English coast are hoping for his safe return.
Guy Nelson, a former production manager at the National Arts Festival, has been missing for more than three weeks.
The Devon and Cornwall police have called on members of the public with any information about the whereabouts of Nelson, 57, to contact them.
In a statement, they said Nelson, from Leamington Spa, was last known to be in or around the Drake’s Island area of Plymouth on Monday September 8.
Nelson had been sailing around Cornwall and Devon on his boat named Swallow, a Trident 24 yacht.
“It is believed it was Guy’s intention to sail from Plymouth along the coast, but he has not been heard from since,” the statement said.
They published a picture of him in St Dominick in Cornwall, taken on Friday September 5.
“Guy has no known links to Devon and Cornwall other than sailing in the area,” the English police said.
They described him as 1.77m tall, of medium build, with short curly brown hair and brown eyes.
“Guy usually wears glasses, a black T-shirt and jeans,” the police said.
Mike Loewe, who knows Nelson through reporting on the National Arts Festival, said his sudden disappearance was a shock.
“Guy is a much-loved person with incredible technical skills and his home in Makhanda was a touchpad for many creatives to connect. That crew and others who love Guy are very distressed.”
Former colleague Nicci Spalding said they were deeply concerned and hoping for good news.
Spalding, who is the technical director at the National Arts Festival, said: “We are deeply concerned for our dear friend, Guy Nelson, who is currently missing in the English Channel off the coast of Devon.
“Guy is a remarkable person whose adventurous spirit and openness to life have touched many people.
“He is an immensely talented theatre practitioner who worked at Rhodes University, the Monument in Makhanda and multiple projects for the National Arts Festival.
“He is respected not only for his creativity and skill but also for the generosity with which he shares his knowledge and supports others.”
Spalding said that though he was currently exploring the English coast, Nelson was looking forward to returning to the Eastern Cape — a place for which he had a deep love and enduring connection.
“Those of us who know and love him are united in our worry and in our hope for his safe return.
“He has built a community of friends and colleagues who hold him in the highest regard, and it is a testament to the person he is that so many are standing together, waiting and hoping for good news.
“Our thoughts remain with him and his family during this very difficult time.”
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