The body of a Breton sailor who left for a world tour was found in his sailboat off the coast of Japan

His relatives had little hope of finding him alive. Missing at sea for almost four months, a Breton sailor was discovered dead aboard his sailboat on Sunday by the Japanese authorities, reports The Telegram. Originally from the island of Ouessant (Finistère), Joël Lanilis, described as an “experienced navigator”, had started a solo round the world trip in June 2019 aboard the Kezakoa 12 meter long boat.

He had not given any sign of life since October 13. That day, the Breton sailor, on a stopover in Tahiti, had announced to his family that he was heading for New Caledonia. Worried not to hear from him, his relatives had given the alert in December.

The sailboat located in the middle of the Pacific

His ship was finally located a few days later, drifting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. After a distress beacon was triggered a week ago, a Japanese Coast Guard patrol boat set out to find him. Approaching the ghost ship over the weekend, they discovered the lifeless body of the Breton sailor on board.

His body was taken care of by the Japanese authorities. She will be repatriated to France in the coming days. An autopsy must also be carried out to determine the causes of the sailor’s death. According to the daily, he would have succumbed to a malaise.

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