Update: As of April 8, 2025, there is still no news of SV Venture from the family, the Canadian JRCC, USCG or MRCC Trinidad. The family is working with the local police and a notice has been posted on Interpol.
Keep a sharp lookout for this boat, debris or any sign of the Captain Jay Caunter for the family.
https://torontosun.com/news/world/friends-of-canadian-sailor-missing-in-caribbean-fearing-the-worst
Friends of Canadian sailor missing in Caribbean fearing the worst
Now, they worry the experienced sailor who sold all his possessions to live out his dream may have fallen overboard.
“I am still hoping Jay is out there. (That) he will show up in Carriacou. But as the days pass, my hopes get bleaker,” friend Doug Prince says.
Caunter, 68, sailed from Chateaubelair, St. Vincent, on Feb. 24, and has not been heard from since. He was reportedly having engine trouble at sea.
“I would like to tell people close to Jay and his family we were with him the last week or so,” Prince said, adding that Caunter was sailing with friends in the Grenadines.
VENTURE: Missing in the Caribbean. supplied“We had a solo Canadian sailing group of three boats. Myself on Sabbatical II, Ron Hamilton on Moxie V and David James aboard Robin. We met Jay first in Bequia. We asked Jay if he would like to join us while we were in Martinique. He agreed. We invited him into our WhatsApp group contact.”
Prince said the group broke up briefly and he was in St. Lucia with Hamilton while James was in St. Vincent and Caunter was in Martinique.
“Eventually we were all able to meet in Chateaubelair, St. Vincent. Jay had lost use of his prop coming down to Chateaubelair so we ended up towing him in on Monday, Feb. 17,” Prince said. “In discussion with Jay about his prop problem, it was decided he would have to haul his boat out of the water. The best place for that was Carriacou.”
Prince said the following day Caunter was dragging anchor as he headed out into the bay.
“I was ready in my dinghy to tow him back in. David had just received a text from Jay saying no don’t come out, he would put up his sails and continue on to Bequia and meet us there,” Prince said.
Caunter’s last WhatsApp message that day was at 4:49 p.m.
“He said he had been hit by a squall with 44 kt winds but was able to get back on course. He also said he had to bail his dinghy. I assume the squall filled up his dinghy with water. He said he had never done this while under sail,” Prince said.
“I am speculating could he have fallen overboard.”
He was the lone occupant of Venture when he set sail.
Caunter had moved from Toronto to his hometown in Quebec’s Eastern Townships several years ago to take care of his ailing father. After his dad died, he sold all his possessions and hit the high seas.
He purchased Venture in Sarnia and then sailed the vessel down Lake Huron and through Lake Erie to Buffalo before heading down to New York City on the Erie Canal and the open sea. His final destination was St. Vincent.
Venture is 10.3 metres long, has a white hull, bimini, white sails, and green accents, and a registration number of ON1637651.
Broadcast Version For Maritime Mobile Service Network and Other Networks
BOLO for SV “VENTURE” on passage from Chateau de Lair, St. Vincent to Grenada. SV “VENTURE” left St. Vincent on Monday February 24, 2025, and has not been heard from since Tuesday February 25, 2025 when he advised he was without an engine. He was communicating via Messenger with family in Canada.
Last recorded position on Feb.25 Feb 06:21 UTC
Lat 13.26367°N
Long 61.4017°W
-Speed/Course 1.2knots/211°
Solo Captain Jay Caunter is 68 years old and a Canadian citizen. The SV is a 34 foot Sabre, white hull, white sails with green trim, a red dinghy, solar panels and a registration of ON1637651.
Keep a sharp lookout, assist if possible and advise of any reports to MRCC Port de Spain (Trinidad) or your nearest Coast Guard.
