Missing sailor's boat had knife damage, say family

James Nunan, also known as Jemsie, has not been seen since 25 August

A boat belonging to a sailor who vanished while sailing around the world had knife cuts and "clear signs of a disturbance", his family claimed.

James "Jemsie" Nunan, from Colchester, with links to Reading, was last seen on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria in August.

Police found his boat 100 miles (160km) from where he was last seen in Las Palmas, but searches for the 34-year-old have since entered their 10th week.

"We just want to understand what happened to Jemsie and ensure no stone is left unturned," said his mum, Maura Norton.

The family feared a third party was involved in his disappearance, with Mr Nunan's half-sister Nikita Goddard saying there was "strong potential" for this theory.

Mr Nunan's family described him as an experienced and proficient sailor

The family said damage to the boat, missing personal items and "what appear to be knife cuts in the sails" fuelled their concerns.

But despite this, the family claimed no forensic examination of the vessel had taken place, and police were preparing to release it, leaving them to believe crucial evidence could be lost.

"It's heartbreaking to know that his boat - the last place he was known to be - hasn't been properly examined," Ms Norton said.

Police in Spain have been contacted for comment about the family's concerns.

Mr Nunan worked as a bricklayer to fund his once-in-a-lifetime solo trip, which he hoped would take him to countries including Brazil.

The last known sighting of him was early on 19 August when he was seen on CCTV at a police station, where he was reporting his passport as lost.

In the hours prior to this, he filmed himself on a Facebook Live broadcast while walking among a large group of people on a beach close to Las Palmas city centre.

James Nunan was captured on CCTV in Gran Canaria shortly before he disappeared

Mr Nunan was then spotted walking to a police station at about 05:55 on 19 August

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, but there was no sign of the sailor.

The dog was taken in by a temporary owner while the family finalised paperwork to bring her back to the UK.

Speaking previously to the BBC, Mrs Goddard said: "We have to keep hope, haven't we?

"I just have to keep believing that he's OK and he's going to come home."

Essex Police and the Foreign Office both said they had been supporting Mr Nunan's family since he went missing.