The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY six months after Spanish-American sailor Miguel Campoy vanished off South Abaco, his family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to finance private investigators, satellite analysis and legal action in a bid to uncover what happened at sea.

The campaign, organised by relatives, seeks to raise €18,000. As of press time, €5,932 had been collected from 90 donors.

Mr Campoy, 56, disappeared on September 6 after departing South Abaco that morning aboard his 44-foot blue-hulled sailboat, Hella. His last contact with family came around 6pm, when he reported calm seas and said the journey was taking longer than expected.

He was reported missing the following day. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the United States Coast Guard launched search operations. The Coast Guard later suspended its search in line with protocol. The RBDF indicated efforts could shift to recovery, citing the time elapsed and slim chances of survival.

Only Mr Campoy’s support dinghy has been recovered. It was found with his personal belongings inside, including identification documents. No confirmed debris from the sailboat itself has been publicly reported.

The fundraising page states that the family financed private searches by sea and air after official efforts ended, straining their resources. It says those resources are now “increasingly limited”.

According to the page, satellite imaging and maritime traffic tracking were used to analyse vessel movement in the area when contact was lost. The analysis suggested that a vessel transited through the same area at roughly the relevant time. The family said authorities were informed but that it has not been possible to establish contact with the vessel’s captain or shipping company.

Miriam Campoy, the sailor’s sister, said the family is not accusing any vessel of wrongdoing but believes it is reasonable to determine whether anyone in the vicinity saw anything unusual.

The page also states that attempts to obtain data from Mr Campoy’s telephone service provider and phone manufacturer to determine the last use and location of his mobile device have not succeeded. It adds that neither Spanish nor Bahamian authorities have been able to secure that information.

Ms Campoy said the family is now seeking legal representation in the United States to pursue a court order to access mobile phone records and last known location data.

While expressing appreciation for the courtesy shown by Bahamian officials, she said resource constraints may have limited the investigation.

“They were really nice with me. I’m not saying they weren’t. But they got no resource, basically. That’s what they told me, ” she said.

The campaign states that funds will be used exclusively to continue search and investigative efforts and to clarify the circumstances of Mr Campoy’s disappearance. A monetary reward is being offered for accurate information or verifiable proof of life.

Ms Campoy dismissed suggestions that her brother staged his disappearance.

“No,” she said. “He didn’t have any reason why to. He had a nice family and nice friends, and he was waiting to meet his friends two days later.”