BRISBANE - Three Australian sailors have been reported missing after their catamaran was found drifting in the Coral Sea with no sign of its crew.

The three sailors, ages 56, 63 and 69, had been heading around Australia from Airlie Beach to Perth when they mysteriously vanished from their vessel, the Kazz II, Sail World reported Friday.

The boat's headsail was shredded but the mainsail was still set, the report said.

Rescuers said the boat did not appear to have encountered any weather severe enough to have thrown the men overboard and three life jackets and other survival equipment was found on board the ship.

Emergency Management Queensland spokesman Jon Hall said rescuers were baffled by the scene aboard the boat, the Brisbane Courier Mail reported.

"They got on board and said the engine was running, the computers were running, there was a laptop set up on the table which was running, the radio was working, the GPS was working and there was food and utensils set on the table ready to eat, but no sign of the crew," he said.

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