Missing Yachtsmen Search To Last One More Day

Sky News – 

The US Coast Guard has said the search for four British sailors missing in the Atlantic will last for one more day.

Speaking in Boston, Massachusetts, the man leading the hunt said that if nothing was found the search would be called off at midnight on Friday - 5am on Saturday UK time.

Captain Anthony Popiel said he had phoned the men's families: "I informed them that the search would continue throughout the night and into tomorrow.

"If by midnight tomorrow (5am UK time) there are no further developments to indicate search efforts would locate the crew alive we will suspend the search."

"It is only after deepest consideration that we suspend active search efforts," he added.

Debris was found in the search area on Thursday, however Captain Popiel said none of the objects located so far match the missing yacht.

"We've informed the British consulate of our plans and appreciate the support we've received with this decision," he told a news conference.

"With sincere compassion for the families of these four men, our thought and prayers are with them all during this difficult time."

Steve Warren, 52, Andrew Bridge, 22, James Male, 23, and Paul Goslin, 56, were on board the 40ft yacht when it ran into difficulties a week ago while returning to the UK from a regatta in Antigua.

An initial search for the stricken vessel was called off on Sunday amid bad weather in the Atlantic Ocean, but began again on Tuesday after pressure from the men's families.

More than 200,000 people also signed a petition demanding the operation be resumed.

And the families of the four sailors have written to President Barack Obama to thank him for his support.

The search, around 1,000 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, now involves six ships and seven planes - including three Hercules aircraft from the US Coast Guard in North Carolina, Moody Air Force Base in Georgia and one from the Royal Air Force.

So far it has covered an area of 17,500 square miles.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/search-british-sailors-last-one-more-day-224736125.html