[Robert DeLong]

clews

Are you British, or speaking in nautical terms? 8>)

4. also clue Nautical
a. One of the two lower corners of a square sail.
b. The lower aft corner of a fore-and-aft sail.

2. also clue Nautical To raise the lower corners of (a square sail) by means of clew lines. Used with up.

n. & v. Chiefly British
Variant of clue

Since the word fits in both scenarios, I thought I would ask. 8>)

So they never knew what happened to him? Was the boat recovered?

[Oldexpat]

The boat was recovered. No evidence of foul play. Sometimes I haven’t a clew.