Mystery at sea: Two men leave on the trip of a lifetime, but only one returns. Now family and friends embark on a quest to solve this baffling disappearance in the remote Pacific Ocean. Courtesy ABC.
Andrew Witton was an experienced sailor who loved the ocean.
WHEN a beloved, experienced sailor from Coffs Harbour disappeared overboard in calm conditions, his friends and family were mystified.
The only person who could tell them what had happened was his sole crewmate Simon Golding, who said he was sleeping below deck when Andrew Witton vanished in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
But as more details emerged, doubts were raised about Golding’s story. And when he was convicted last year of taking part in one of Australia’s biggest cocaine smuggling operations, Andrew’s family were convinced he was leaving out some vital details.
“I did not push Andrew overboard,” says Golding in an exclusive interview with the ABC’s Australian Story tonight. “I’m not pretending to be an angel. But I’m not a murderer ... I lead an adventurous life. I’m not going to abide by all laws, no. But I do have good morals.”
The pair had been sailing from Tahiti to the Galapagos Islands on Andrew’s yacht, Kaileia, when the 51-year-old builder disappeared.
Simon Golding was the only other person on board when Witton mysteriously disappeared in calm seas. Picture: Jono Searle.Source:News Corp Australia
Louise Witton, pictured with her partner Geoff Campbell, is determined to find out what really happened to her brother.Source:News Limited
The 2007 coronial hearing heard that Golding dreamt of owning a yacht, but couldn’t afford it, once joking to his then-girlfriend Kylie Dean that the only way he would get a yacht was “to go sailing and push someone overboard”.
Golding, who was convicted last August of trying to import nearly 400kg of cocaine with a street value of at least $160 million into Brisbane, denied any interest in the vessel. “I never liked Andy’s boat,” he said. “I could quite easily go to any marina and pick out a boat of my choice and take it.”
Andrew’s sister Louise, who has led her family’s investigation into his death, told news.com.au she thought Golding’s comments to the program were “awful”.
“It was good enough for him to make friends with Andrew, to sail with him to Tahiti, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands,” she said.
Andrew was a “free spirit” who lived for his adventures on his yacht, his sister said.
Golding was convicted of taking part in one of Australia’s biggest cocaine smuggling operation.Source:Supplied
‘HE LOOKED AT ME AND LOOKED AWAY’
Louise first heard her brother was missing after Golding made a report when he arrived in the Galapagos. Her first instinct was to “call the police, call the fire brigade, anything”, but it was “a great shock to learn it had happened a month earlier.”
Golding claimed he had been unable to report the disappearance on January 13, 2007 because his radio wasn’t working, and had instead searched up and down for three days before sailing on.
But when he came across another boat a day later, he refused an offer to radio for help and carried on to the Galapagos before notifying the authorities.
Having spoken to boating experts and sailors, Louise said it would have been “impossible” for the yacht to meet the other boat where it did unless Golding had sailed straight on, not searching for her brother at all.
He made contact with Andrew’s family, but as the emails flew back and forth, he quickly became impatient to return. “When we became doubtful we were being told the truth, Simon was very forceful that he wanted to continue,” said Louise. “He said his only aim was to get the boat to Australia and Andrew’s possessions to his family. His attitude changed.”
It was at the inquest into Andrew’s death that Louise and her family saw Golding tell his version of events.
“Simon never came across to talk to us. I was at the Supreme Court for his drug trial too. He looked at me, and looked away.”
Golding denied wanting to take control of the vessel, Kaileia. Pictured, Andrew on the boat.
Golding’s ex-girlfriend said he had joked about pushing someone overboard so he could have his own yacht.Source:Supplied
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The last entry in Andrew’s boat log reveals that the day he vanished was calm and clear with very little wind. Golding kept no records after that.
Andrew’s friend Hamish Dickson, an experienced sailor, coincidentally arrived in the Galapagos Islands a few weeks after he disappeared and found the boat deserted and stripped.
“Someone that’s been at sea for 40-plus years falls off the side of his own yacht in flat, calm conditions; it’s pretty unheard of,” he told Australian Story. “It grates on me. What really happened?”
Another witness, Andrew’s friend Mark Ovens, told the program the Coffs Harbour sailor told him he had been offered $2 million to help bring cocaine back from South America but had “knocked it back”.
Just months before Golding’s arrest for the cocaine haul, NSW state coroner Mary Jerram referred the matter for federal prosecutors to consider whether there was sufficient grounds to charge him over Andrew’s disappearance.
The drug case took precedence, but now Louise and her family hope there is enough new evidence for the matter to be looked at again.
“Andrew was a very capable sailor, very strong and fit,” said Louise. “To accept he fell off is totally out of the question.
“Money didn’t mean much to Andrew, as long as he had food and fuel, he worked hard to afford his next adventure.
“His free spirit, his love of the ocean, his love of life that was taken from him is very sad.”
Australian Story: Sea Of Doubt airs tonight at 8pm on ABC & iview.
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