The story before us could be labeled as "legends", but when dealing with a real, open, and three families are unaware of what happened to their loved ones, takes us out of respect and solidarity, not to classify it and let as an open case that is, until clarification of the events of that summer of 2006 and to this day remain a mystery.
On 26 July 2006, the EFE news agency published:
"Santa Cruz de Tenerife .- A device continues to air and sea search for the pleasure boat" Mencey Taoro II ", with three crew on board, has been missing since Sunday, sources said the central government representatives in the Canaries.
The search for the boat, six meters in length, began last Sunday after family members notified of the occupants of the boat had not returned to Puerto de la Cruz, from whence I set out to Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera, to fish. "
all started on Saturday July 22, 2006 when three good friends, Don Antonio de la Cova Antonio Castro called "The Rape" holder of a Guinness record sport fishing, Don Luis González Avellaneda and Agricultural Don Pedro Santos, much to fill up early on weekends to his hobby: fishing. They had planned to go to Valle Gran Rey, on the west coast of the neighboring island of La Gomera, where they expected a friend to just about 18 miles away. They went to the dock Tenerife resort of Puerto de la Cruz was docked MENCEY TAOR II, his boat. After the appropriate preparation, including highlighting the stowage of food and water, at five in the morning, before dawn, they sailed to the jubilant joy that inspires dedication to a hobby in good company. The sea that was not entirely calm and submit something strong breeze did not prevent the three sailors, experts worry, this state of affairs is not unusual in this coastal area and in any case, this route made it quite frequently.
At 11:30 pm that same morning, the boss, Don Antonio Cova, called his wife to tell her they had caught a great specimen. He explained that they were already in front of Valle Gran Rey and the weather was great. They all had cell phones and no wonder they wanted to share with their families on fishing success. However, an hour later one of his relatives wanted to contact them, but then did not answer phones.
families became alarmed, the three sailors were knowledgeable, they each had the title of skipper and experience in navigation. Iban in a pleasure boat brand "Trophy" in green and white, of 5.60 m. length, 2.32 m. 1.20 beam and draft, single deck, double hull made of fiberglass, unsinkable, with a 140-horsepower outboard motor, equipped with GPS, sounder and other communication systems, but lacked the marker. But was carrying ten flares, some of them with parachutes and several life jackets. In addition, the friend who waited in La Gomera reported that they had not even seen when he went fishing in his boat.
definitely was an anomalous situation, it was decided to put the matter to the attention of the authorities. Tenerife Coast Radio tried to communicate with MENCEY TAOR II at 21:27 pm that Sunday VHF channel 16, the security channel. After repeated calls, the Coast Radio called the 1-1-2 emergency service at 01:10 hours, ie more than three hours after receiving notice of loss of contact. This suggested to some that may be wasted precious time that would have prevented the great efforts and the frustration of the families.
From early on Monday following the search operation was conducted in the channels separating the islands and the possible drift that might lead to different streams, all without result. On Tuesday joined craft operations PUNTA SALINAS Maritime Rescue, Save me and save me Alphecca ALPHERATZ and a helicopter "Helimer Canary." Also attended an Air Force plane, a helicopter from the Emergency Operations Group, a Civil Guard helicopter and several boats of the Red Cross of Puerto de la Cruz and Garachico, both locations of the north coast of Tenerife. Do not forget to send the notice to all ships and airborne traveling through the area, while a search began for all commercial ports, fishing and leisure in the area. The search will also be developed on land. The device is extended to the suspicion that they might have been swept out to sea. It tracked an area not less than 150,000 km ² between the islands and offshore to the southwest and west.
All efforts were unsuccessful, we could not find even the smallest debris or any track that could shed some light on the disappearance of MENCEY TAOR II. One of the biggest search operations have been active ever in the Canaries, and not a single sign, within two months of the transaction, taking into account that was most critical times of the massive arrival of canoes and boats the Canary Islands (1), so that surveillance systems were constantly alert to anything suspicious on the surface of the sea.
same time, the English Foreign Ministry, began investigations of whether any of the three sailors could have reached any foreign country, nor it worked.
On 23 September 2006 ended the search operation. To some extent, the issue recalled the case of Faust, a small motopesquero disappeared in the Canary Islands of La Palma and El Hierro the end of July 1968 (2).
Although the search had been suspended, even the Civil Guard was attentive, and this caused a very sad accident. On September 26, about two-thirty in the afternoon, a group of agents of that Civil Guard were in a Zodiac off the coast of Valle Gran Rey. An unfortunate sea surge swept them towards the rocks and caused the overturning of the boat. One of the occupants, Don Nicanor E. Mora García, 38 years old, was killed and four other inmates were injured to varying degrees.
At this point in history, families of the missing began to harbor the suspicion of a possible hijacking, but the courts dismissed the complaint for lack of evidence. Still, families did not desist. Sent letters to the Head of State and the Prime Minister, participated in television programs nationwide. Even the matter came to be in the Congress of Deputies. Despite all efforts, no one could solve the mystery of the whereabouts of MENCEY TAOR II and its three crew members.
inclement Time passed until finally, a year later, a disturbing news was a shock to the family and the public canaria: at first thought he had recovered a boat from MENCEY TAOR II. According to some media a English-flagged fishing that, after leaving Panama, sailed bound for Catalonia, had found a lost dinghy boat with a life jacket and two forms of identity in mid-Atlantic. But the news was inaccurate, they had actually found the MENCEY TAOR II.
The meeting took place a thousand miles from Miami and about two thousand miles to the west of the Canary Islands, apparently on the position 28 º 24'N-52 ° 21'W in the Sargasso Sea, on Friday 27 July 2007 at 22:45 pm, by the ICE RUNNER merchant flag of the Cayman Islands under the command of Captain Weaver had just crossed the Panama Canal and travel to Tarragona where he was scheduled to arrive on Friday 5 August. MENCEY TAOR II found the semi-submerged and some life jackets around, which at first suggested to the crew of the sinking RUNNER ICE was recently MENCEY did not know that already a year that had been reported missing. After hoisted on board, checked that inside there were 5 adult life jackets. We also found identification documents of two people, one belonged to Don Antonio de la Cova, and the other to his father, who was the owner of the boat. Not found the existence of flares on board, or any other object worthy of reference.
On August 5, 2007 at ten o'clock, ICE RUNNER made his entrance in the spring Reus-Tarragona south of the port where landed under the watchful eyes of relatives and friends of the missing crew members had been transferred there from the Canary Islands. A board member of the team climbed the Scientific Police to initiate an investigation. Family members were also invited to climb aboard. Everyone could see that the MENCEY TAOR II had indeed been semi-submerged for some time judging by the presence of small molluscs everywhere, but it was obvious that had long been in a state of buoyancy and stability normal, since different brands of metal oxide had a downward direction. Showed no signs of violence, although one of the propeller blades was slightly bent and inside was found much rust. We also found the broken rudder. Inside were the five life jackets, fishing equipment, snuff, some drugs and a toolbox. Became aware of the fact that all missing the flares that were claimed on board. Struck by the fact that the engine had no protective shell, which in principle could mean that someone had to remove it, inspiring the possibility of a breakdown. Perhaps it could have happened that fails at the same time the battery and motor, so could not give notice of the situation and circumstances. We could not obtain information on the amount of fuel he had in his time it was found. Also, it seems, could see a dent in the band with traces of red paint and yellow, indicating the possibility of a rear-end collision, and mulling theories of abduction and abandonment. In short, nothing conclusive.
The hypothesis presented is that the MENCEY TAOR II suffered the violence of a sea surge that threw away his three crew members. But we do not know at what point could have occurred. We know The problems began after eleven in the morning of July 22, 2006, ie six hours after having left its port in question. The search began more than forty hours after starting to miss them. Perhaps due to the currents at the time of starting the operation could have found more than 200 miles to the west. If the boat was left without propulsion or no government, only six meters in the immensity of the sea is almost imperceptible, especially if sailing between two stools. And the area where it was found is the one where, due to prevailing currents, often end up drifting boats.
Family members had difficulty understanding how MENCEY was not detected either by the large search and rescue operation unfolded shortly after the disappearance or any ship in the Atlantic full of them. Neither could explain what had happened, and they even consider that perhaps could have gone to one of the deserted islands of the Atlantic.
The reality is that four years later still do not dissipate the sadness and bewilderment of both families and the lovers of the sea, not knowing what happened to these men, especially when one of them is the father of young children. It is difficult to recover from the unrest that produces the lack of timely and accurate information by the authorities during the period of the location and rescue operation but perhaps there was not much to report. In any case, there had been more a greater degree of sensitivity on the part of experts who are well aware of the sea and the taxes charged, but completely ignore the feelings of wives, mothers and children who do not necessarily have the as scholars have a duty to know but at least the need to be wrapped by the Administration.
From the pages of this blog will always have a light on in memory of all men and women of the sea that never came home. To them, their families and for themselves were able to return at all, our most fond memories.
© Coral González
___________________________ (1) .- In 2006, broke the record of illegal migrants arriving by sea (in canoes and boats) in the Canary Islands, exceeding 31,000 people, compared to approximate total of 8,000 who came ashore from the rest of Spain.
(2) .- To learn more about the mysterious story of Faust, see the link below this blog: http://escoben.blogspot.com/2010/05/fausto.html
Main sources consulted:
Agencia EFE, the newspaper El Dia de Tenerife, Canary Ahora.com, Nortecastilla.es, "Diario de Avisos" newspaper "La Opinion.
Photos taken by the family obtained by this blogger on the Web
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