Seeking Info on Missing Boat and Crew

Relatives of the crew of the 45-ft steel cutter Columbia are desperately seeking info from anyone who may have seen this vessel since her departure from Salinas, Ecuador, on January 16. The British-flagged vessel was headed to Colquinbo, Chile, and is assumed to have been offshore when the Chilean tsunami hit. She is long overdue and has not been heard from.

The Columbia is run as an ‘adventure sailing’ vessel, which takes a small contingent of paying crew on passage legs. She is easily recognizable as her topsides bear the words "Discovery Sailing Academy."

A total of five people were aboard: the skipper, a French citizen named Boguslaw ‘Bob’ Norwid-Niepoko; his wife; two Canadians; and a 23-year-old Australian named Mitchell Westlake. U.S., Australian, Canadian, Ecuadorian, Peruvia and Chilean authorities are making efforts to locate the vessel, but so far no solid info has been received.

If you have seen this vessel, please contact us immediately, as we are working with Westlake’s anxious relatives.

Interestingly, a search was conducted for this same vessel in 2002, when she was long overdue on a passage from Vancouver, B.C., to Mazatlan, Mexico. In that case, we understand that Columbia eventually turned up with all crew safe and sound. We certainly hope this incident has a similarly happy ending.