Police hope members of the public can help find Amber Nitchman, whose sailboat was found washed ashore off north Nanaimo on Thursday afternoon. (Nanaimo RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW staff

search continues

Nanaimo RCMP identify missing woman after boat found washed ashore

May 16, 2025 | 3:08 PM

NANAIMO — Police hope the public can help find a woman who’s the source of an extensive marine search and rescue operation.

Nanaimo RCMP are trying to locate Amber Nitchman, 34, the registered owner of sailboat named Gypsy Soul.

The boat was located on Thursday, May 15 just after 2 p.m. on the shoreline near north Nanaimo’s Bayshore Dr. off Hammond Bay Rd., the Nanaimo RCMP stated in a news release.

“An extensive ground and water search involving the Nanaimo Search and Rescue, the Joint Rescue Coordination Center, Coast Guard, and the Nanaimo RCMP has proved unsuccessful.”

Amber Nitchman is the registered owner of this sailboat, pictured moored in Nanaimo’s harbour after it was retrieved. (Nanaimo RCMP)

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Anybody with information on the whereabouts of Amber Nitchman is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP’s non-emergency line at: 250-754-2345.

As of Friday afternoon, marine SAR resources continue looking for any sign of Nitchman.

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