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Missing yacht: US Coast Guard resumes search Missing yacht: US Coast Guard resumes search
(about 2 hours later)
The search for four British sailors missing in the Atlantic has resumed after it was called off on Sunday.The search for four British sailors missing in the Atlantic has resumed after it was called off on Sunday.
Ministers said the US Coast Guard had agreed to continue searching after a request from the UK government.Ministers said the US Coast Guard had agreed to continue searching after a request from the UK government.
Cheeki Rafiki, the 40ft racing yacht, was sailing from a regatta in Antigua back to the UK when it got into difficulties. Contact with the men was lost on Friday. Cheeki Rafiki, a 40ft racing yacht, was sailing from a regatta in Antigua back to the UK when it got into difficulties. Contact with the crew was lost on Friday.
Members of the sailors' families said they were "over the moon" at the news.Members of the sailors' families said they were "over the moon" at the news.
They met with Foreign Office Minister Hugh Robertson before leaving to go to the US Embassy to meet the homeland attaché.They met with Foreign Office Minister Hugh Robertson before leaving to go to the US Embassy to meet the homeland attaché.
'Holding out hope''Holding out hope'
A spokeswoman for the US Coast Guard said the "planning process" for the renewed rescue effort began just after 7:30 local time (12:30 BST). The four missing crew members are Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset; Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham, Surrey, the yacht's skipper; Steve Warren, 52, also from Somerset, and 23-year-old James Male, from Southampton.
A spokeswoman for the US Coast Guard said the "planning process" for the renewed effort to rescue the men began just after 7:30 local time (12:30 BST).
"It'll be co-ordinated by air and sea as before but the details are still being worked out," she told BBC News."It'll be co-ordinated by air and sea as before but the details are still being worked out," she told BBC News.
She said she could not at this stage say why the search had resumed. The coast guard had previously said it would only start searching again if new information came to light.She said she could not at this stage say why the search had resumed. The coast guard had previously said it would only start searching again if new information came to light.
But Mr Robertson said on Tuesday afternoon the Foreign Office had been "impressing on them the need to continue the search" since the weekend.But Mr Robertson said on Tuesday afternoon the Foreign Office had been "impressing on them the need to continue the search" since the weekend.
"They're human beings and they absolutely understand what is going through the minds of the families and the relatives of all those affected," the minister said."They're human beings and they absolutely understand what is going through the minds of the families and the relatives of all those affected," the minister said.
Aircraft are flying from North Carolina to the coastguard in Boston where they are expected to arrive later.
'Very positive''Very positive'
Laura Carpenter - whose father Steve Warren is one of the missing sailors - said she had been told that a plane was in the air and on the way to the area - and would take about three to four hours to get there.
Speaking outside the Foreign Office after what he described as a "very positive meeting", Graham Male - father of missing James - thanked the UK, Canadian and US authorities and urged people to continue signing an online petition which has attracted more than 200,000 signatures.Speaking outside the Foreign Office after what he described as a "very positive meeting", Graham Male - father of missing James - thanked the UK, Canadian and US authorities and urged people to continue signing an online petition which has attracted more than 200,000 signatures.
"Let's bring our loved ones home," he told waiting reporters."Let's bring our loved ones home," he told waiting reporters.
The racing yacht began taking on water 620 miles (1,000km) east of Cape Cod in Massachusetts and diverted to the Azores on Thursday.The racing yacht began taking on water 620 miles (1,000km) east of Cape Cod in Massachusetts and diverted to the Azores on Thursday.
The four missing crew members are Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset; Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham, Surrey, the yacht's skipper; Steve Warren, 52, also from Somerset, and 23-year-old James Male, from Southampton.
Mr Warren's son-in-law, Dan Carpenter, said: "We are holding out hope. We are aware that it is still a long shot but while there is some hope, we are concentrating on that."Mr Warren's son-in-law, Dan Carpenter, said: "We are holding out hope. We are aware that it is still a long shot but while there is some hope, we are concentrating on that."
Earlier, the UK government said it had been assured the US rescuers "did everything they could".Earlier, the UK government said it had been assured the US rescuers "did everything they could".
'You never know''You never know'
The Americans had said the estimated survival time past the time of distress was approximately 20 hours and that their crews had searched for 53 hours.The Americans had said the estimated survival time past the time of distress was approximately 20 hours and that their crews had searched for 53 hours.
But the decision to resume searching came after family members insisted they could still be alive in the yacht's 12-man life raft.But the decision to resume searching came after family members insisted they could still be alive in the yacht's 12-man life raft.
Twelve-person life raftTwelve-person life raft
A raft, such as that on board the Cheeki Rafiki, is required to meet the international standard ISO 9650, which stipulates how the craft must be constructed and what it must have on board. The rafts are highly visible and buoyant and can be boarded quickly in an emergency.A raft, such as that on board the Cheeki Rafiki, is required to meet the international standard ISO 9650, which stipulates how the craft must be constructed and what it must have on board. The rafts are highly visible and buoyant and can be boarded quickly in an emergency.
More: How long can you survive on a life raft?More: How long can you survive on a life raft?
Skipper Mr Bridge's grandmother Valerie said: "We are delighted. It is at least something and that is all we were asking for, all we wanted was another search.Skipper Mr Bridge's grandmother Valerie said: "We are delighted. It is at least something and that is all we were asking for, all we wanted was another search.
"It might not come to anything but people want them to do it and they are trying. It seemed too quick, just two days and we were saying 'if only they could do it for a bit longer'. You never know what could happen.""It might not come to anything but people want them to do it and they are trying. It seemed too quick, just two days and we were saying 'if only they could do it for a bit longer'. You never know what could happen."
The men's families met Foreign Office Minister Hugh Robertson in London while Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, local MP to one of the sailors, tweeted his appeal to the US Coast Guard to keep searching.
Mr Goslin's daughter Claire, who on Monday made an emotional plea to the Americans, said she was "over the moon".Mr Goslin's daughter Claire, who on Monday made an emotional plea to the Americans, said she was "over the moon".
"I just hope and pray with all my heart that now they find them.""I just hope and pray with all my heart that now they find them."
'Appalling' 'Saturated area'
Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-women crew around the world, said the men had been failed by the coastguard.Tracy Edwards, who skippered the first all-women crew around the world, said the men had been failed by the coastguard.
"I'm absolutely delighted they've resumed the search, appalled that it's taken the British public to force the prime minister to do something," she told BBC News."I'm absolutely delighted they've resumed the search, appalled that it's taken the British public to force the prime minister to do something," she told BBC News.
"These men are experienced, fit, healthy and they've got modern equipment. How sad they they should've done all the right things... and then we failed them.
"The US Coast Guard and the UK coastguard have decided they haven't survived and I think that's appalling."
The US Coast Guard said locator beacons activated by the crew indicated they were in a position 1,000 miles east of Massachusetts on Friday morning.The US Coast Guard said locator beacons activated by the crew indicated they were in a position 1,000 miles east of Massachusetts on Friday morning.
The yacht was facing 15ft waves, 50mph winds and sea and air temperatures of 15C (60F), the US Coast Guard added.The yacht was facing 15ft waves, 50mph winds and sea and air temperatures of 15C (60F), the US Coast Guard added.
A spokesman said over the weekend it had "saturated the area" in a two-day search involving three US and Canadian aircraft and three merchant vessels and "we would have found them" if it had been possible.A spokesman said over the weekend it had "saturated the area" in a two-day search involving three US and Canadian aircraft and three merchant vessels and "we would have found them" if it had been possible.
'Fly to the hull''Fly to the hull'
On Saturday, a cargo vessel which was helping with the search spotted and photographed an overturned hull which matched the description of the Cheeki Rafiki.On Saturday, a cargo vessel which was helping with the search spotted and photographed an overturned hull which matched the description of the Cheeki Rafiki.
Nicola Evans, a friend of Cheeki Rafiki's skipper Mr Bridge, said: "When we started this campaign, we didn't know who would listen, just that our boys were lost at sea and we refused to let go of hope."Nicola Evans, a friend of Cheeki Rafiki's skipper Mr Bridge, said: "When we started this campaign, we didn't know who would listen, just that our boys were lost at sea and we refused to let go of hope."
But his sister Kay Coombes said: "It's a shame that it has taken this long for them to change their mind and go back out there.But his sister Kay Coombes said: "It's a shame that it has taken this long for them to change their mind and go back out there.
"I feel that we may have wasted a couple of days.""I feel that we may have wasted a couple of days."
Sir Ben Ainslie, the four-time Olympic yachting champion, said: "If there is a chance they are still out there, then we need to keep looking for them."Sir Ben Ainslie, the four-time Olympic yachting champion, said: "If there is a chance they are still out there, then we need to keep looking for them."
And Sir Richard Branson, who also backed the online petition, urged any vessels in the area to aid the mission.And Sir Richard Branson, who also backed the online petition, urged any vessels in the area to aid the mission.
"I would urge any local ships or merchant ships crossing the Atlantic, and boats returning from the Caribbean to Europe, to divert through the area and join the search party."I would urge any local ships or merchant ships crossing the Atlantic, and boats returning from the Caribbean to Europe, to divert through the area and join the search party.
"As well as the need to conduct a private search on water, I believe that the coastguard now needs to fly to the capsized hull to determine whether or not the raft is still there.""As well as the need to conduct a private search on water, I believe that the coastguard now needs to fly to the capsized hull to determine whether or not the raft is still there."