Fears 'third party' involved over missing sailor

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

The family of a man who vanished on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria have said they are concerned a "third party" was involved in his disappearance.

James "Jemsie" Nunan, from Colchester and with links to Reading, was on a sail-around-the-world trip and planned to travel to Lanzarote before he disappeared in August.

Police found his boat 100 miles (160km) from his last known location in Las Palmas, but searches for the 34-year-old have so far proved unsuccessful.

His half-sister, Nikita Goddard, said his family believed there was a "strong potential" that someone else was involved in his disappearance.

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

The sailor had 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.

In the hours before he went missing, Mr Nunan had filmed himself on a Facebook Live broadcast while walking among a large group of people at Playa del Confital beach, north-west of Las Palmas city centre.

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, which had its anchor raised and its engine off.

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

Mr Nunan's half-sister Nikita Goddard travelled to Gran Canaria after he went missing

His mother Maura Norton said aspects of the case were a "mystery" and admitted the family had "no idea" about his whereabouts.

"I think somebody's gone to great lengths to make it look like it's man overboard," she said.

"He was quite openly telling people he was travelling on his own and with a dog. So, anyone could have targeted him for any reason.

"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."

Other members of Mr Nunan's family have travelled to Gran Canaria to help with searches for him.

Speaking after a meeting with police investigators, Ms Goddard said the family were "just running on the hope of Jemsie still being alive".

She said she found it "hard to believe" that her half-brother fell overboard.

"We believe there is a strong potential there was a third party involved," she said.

She added the support they had received from both the UK and Spain had been "overwhelmingly positive".

"There's been support from complete strangers, the local people in Gran Canaria, they've been helping us. The support from the sailing community has been amazing," she added.

But she said it was unclear how Spanish police were undertaking their investigation.

"They reassure me that they're looking into every eventuality but I do also feel like actions speak louder than words and I don't feel like they're giving us a full story of what they're actually investigating," Ms Goddard said.

"It's really hard to tell [what they are investigating]."

Mr Nunan's family described him as a proficient sailor

James Nunan's disappearance

• 18 August, 18:16: Mr Nunan films himself on Facebook Live walking among a large group of people at Playa del Confital beach

• About 22:00: He leaves Paddy's Anchor bar in Las Palmas, having told a fellow customer he planned to travel to Lanzarote

• 22:39: Mr Nunan purchases dinner at Rico Doner Kebab. He is seen to be wearing his passport around his neck, but has his backpack stolen while he ordered food

• 19 August, 06:15: He attends a police station to report his passport missing

• 22 August: Mr Nunan's mother reports him missing to Essex Police

• Between 24 and 25 August: A pan-pan call is made in relation to his boat

• 25 August: Police locate Mr Nunan's boat 50 miles (80km) off the south coast of Gran Canaria - about 100 miles from Las Palmas - and tow it to Arguineguin port. They say his dog, Thumbelina, was not onboard

• 27 August: Officers contact Mr Nunan's family to say Thumbelina has been found alive and well onboard the boat. She is taken in temporarily by a foster carer

In the hours before he disappeared, Mr Nunan broadcasted himself on Facebook Live among a group of people gathered on a beach