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UK yacht Cheeki Rafiki missing in mid-Atlantic | UK yacht Cheeki Rafiki missing in mid-Atlantic |
(35 minutes later) | |
Four Britons have been reported missing in the mid-Atlantic Ocean while sailing a yacht back to the UK from a regatta in the Caribbean. | Four Britons have been reported missing in the mid-Atlantic Ocean while sailing a yacht back to the UK from a regatta in the Caribbean. |
The crew of the Cheeki Rafiki 40ft performance racer-cruiser ran into difficulties on Thursday while returning from Antigua Sailing Week. | The crew of the Cheeki Rafiki 40ft performance racer-cruiser ran into difficulties on Thursday while returning from Antigua Sailing Week. |
Contact was lost in the early hours of Friday as they diverted to the Azores. | Contact was lost in the early hours of Friday as they diverted to the Azores. |
They are feared to have capsized and abandoned to a life raft, Southampton charter firm Stormforce Coaching said. | They are feared to have capsized and abandoned to a life raft, Southampton charter firm Stormforce Coaching said. |
US and Canadian aircraft and merchant vessels looked for them on Friday and Saturday but have now called off the search, Stormforce director Doug Innes said. | US and Canadian aircraft and merchant vessels looked for them on Friday and Saturday but have now called off the search, Stormforce director Doug Innes said. |
Three of the four crew members were named by the company as Andrew Bridge, 21, Paul Goslin, 56 and Steve Warren, 52. | Three of the four crew members were named by the company as Andrew Bridge, 21, Paul Goslin, 56 and Steve Warren, 52. |
They are thought to have been delivering the vessel back after it participated in Antigua Week, regarded as one of the world's top regattas. | They are thought to have been delivering the vessel back after it participated in Antigua Week, regarded as one of the world's top regattas. |
All three were described as "very experienced offshore yachtsmen". | All three were described as "very experienced offshore yachtsmen". |
'Lost contact' | |
Mr Innes said Cheeki Rafiki started taking on water on Thursday. | |
He said: "We were in contact with the skipper and at the time the yacht and crew were keeping the situation stable. | |
"They had not been able to ascertain where the water ingress was from and were diverting to the Azores. | |
"Unfortunately we lost contact during the early hours of Friday morning and we believe it is possible the crew abandoned to the life raft." | |
He added the search efforts were "exceptional" but the company was "devastated that the search has now been called off so soon". | |
The Foreign Office confirmed it was aware of the missing yacht. | The Foreign Office confirmed it was aware of the missing yacht. |
"We are in contact with the US Coastguard and have offered consular assistance to the families". | "We are in contact with the US Coastguard and have offered consular assistance to the families". |