St Lucia Star. By Keryn Nelson.
What happened to Roy Broughton? Hardly anyone seems able to provide details other than that the British yachtsman was last seen around ten at night on Thursday, November 15, 2018.
Boughton, who frequented the IGY Rodney Bay Marina, normally docked his sea vessels in the open bay several feet from land. Police say they received a report on Monday, November 19, that the 72-year-old man, originally from Liverpool, England, was missing.
So far, searches have been conducted along the coast from Pigeon Point to Vigie.
“Searches have also been done from the air. Boughton owns two yachts. Both were searched but no blood or signs of distress were found,” said one police officer who also added that authorities in Martinique have been alerted and the search is ongoing.
Another source told the STAR that Roy was last seen on a dinghy leaving the Rodney Bay Marina. The source says it is believed Boughton came in on Thursday afternoon and was having drinks at one of the marina’s bars, along with other sailors who came in on a mega yacht. When they were leaving, Boughton allegedly fell on an outside pavement. Some asked that the man, who seemed out of sorts, be placed in a room for the night. Instead he was helped onto his dinghy, which was started for him before he left the marina’s dock. He hasn’t been seen since.
The management of the Rodney Bay Marina say they have no substantial information and referred us to the police. As to why search notices for Roy Boughton were limited to online postings by sailors and acquaintances, the authorities had no comment.
One of the missing man’s acquaintances claims that Broughton has been living alone in Saint Lucia for the past several years. The following was posted to Broughton’s blog, yachtguidinglight.blogspot.com on November 22: “Roy Boughton, the author of this blog, went missing on 15th November 2018. This is a message from his sister Lynne: For all Roy’s friends who may visit this page:-Thank you for asking sailors far and wide to look out for Roy and for your concern. As yet there is still no news or sightings, the coastguard have had an air and sea search going on today. We hope and pray for a happy outcome. Will post any further news here as well as contacting others. Anyone with any information should contact the Coastguard or the UK Foreign Office. You can also leave a comment on this blog – click the title of this post to open it in a new page, and enter your comment in the box at the bottom. This message was posted by his concerned friends in Beaumaris, Anglesey, which Roy called home for 30 years.”
Boughton’s love for boats and life on the sea dates back to 1962 when he left school to work at an engineering firm on the docks in Liverpool. According to his blog, after a six-year apprenticeship he was declared a “skilled man” and was catapulted into a long life on the ocean. His interests are listed as “boats of every type and description, science fiction, girls and travel.”
