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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. | 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 early on Friday as they diverted to the Azores and a coast guard search has been called off. | 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. |
The Royal Yachting Association named the 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. It described all four 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. |
'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. | 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. | 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. | "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." |