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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.
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 early on Friday as they diverted to the Azores and a coast guard search has been called off.
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. The Royal Yacht Association named four crew members as Paul Goslin, 56, and Steve Warren, 52, who are both from Somerset, Andrew Bridge, 21, from Farnham, Surrey, and 23-year-old James Male, from Southampton. All four were described as "very experienced offshore yachtsmen".
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".
'Lost contact''Lost contact'
Mr Innes said Cheeki Rafiki started taking on water on Thursday.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.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."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.""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".He added the search efforts were "exceptional" but the company was "devastated that the search has now been called off so soon".
In a press release issued on Saturday, the US Coast Guard said it located small pieces of debris, but no sign of the sailors.
Winds were said to have been blowing at more than 50mph while the sea reached heights of 15ft.
"It is extremely challenging to respond to a distress case so far off shore, which is why it takes a joint effort with our international partners to put forward an effective search," it said.
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."