Around 5.20 pm of monday october the 19th a sailing boat without crew was discovered motoring in circles on the IJsselmeer, the large central lake in the Netherlands, close to the shore of the province of Friesland. After entering the boat it was assumed that there had only been a crew of one on board, later identified as an 68 year old man from Leeuwarden.

After searching by a total of 12 boats, a plane and a helicopter the search was called off at 11 pm because of the darkness, the water temperature (14 celcius) and the slim chances of anyone surviving for that long.