This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8389459.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Concern grows over UK yacht crew | Concern grows over UK yacht crew |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Iran's failure to explain why a UK yacht crew were seized by its navy almost a week ago is of "increasing concern", the Foreign Office has said. | Iran's failure to explain why a UK yacht crew were seized by its navy almost a week ago is of "increasing concern", the Foreign Office has said. |
| After a diplomatic meeting in London with Iran's ambassador, it called for clarity on Iranian intentions. | After a diplomatic meeting in London with Iran's ambassador, it called for clarity on Iranian intentions. |
| Permanent under secretary Peter Ricketts said he wanted to know where the five Britons were being held and requested consular access to them. | Permanent under secretary Peter Ricketts said he wanted to know where the five Britons were being held and requested consular access to them. |
| The crew may have inadvertently strayed into Iranian waters heading to a race. | The crew may have inadvertently strayed into Iranian waters heading to a race. |
| Following the meeting, a Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Ricketts had "stressed the need for Iran to confirm where the yachtsmen are being held, to grant us formal consular access to them, and the need for a speedy resolution to this matter. | Following the meeting, a Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Ricketts had "stressed the need for Iran to confirm where the yachtsmen are being held, to grant us formal consular access to them, and the need for a speedy resolution to this matter. |
| 'Evil intentions' | 'Evil intentions' |
| "Since it was now almost a week since the yachtsmen were held, the delay in providing a full explanation of what had happened and clarity on Iranian intentions were a matter of increasing concern." | "Since it was now almost a week since the yachtsmen were held, the delay in providing a full explanation of what had happened and clarity on Iranian intentions were a matter of increasing concern." |
| The five Britons are being detained after the Iranian navy stopped their Volvo 60 yacht in the Gulf on 25 November. | The five Britons are being detained after the Iranian navy stopped their Volvo 60 yacht in the Gulf on 25 November. |
| The Team Pindar-backed yacht was sailing from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race. | The Team Pindar-backed yacht was sailing from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race. |
| ANALYSIS By Jon Leyne, BBC Tehran correspondent Comments about possible hard and serious measures against them are particularly ominous because of the person they have come from, Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaie. He is probably the closest ally of Mr Ahmadinejad in the government, very much his ideological mentor, so a real hardliner. We will have to see how they play it, but there is always the danger of some sort of tussle within the machine, with some wanting a hard line, others thinking it might harm Iran's interests. There are a couple of other issues. The foreign secretary is using diplomatic channels, he's hoping to speak to the Iranian foreign minster - but the Iranian foreign minister may not run far with the Revolutionary Guards because they basically think they are in charge. Iran also has the most public holidays of any country in the world and they have two more coming up, so even in the normal run of things it is going to be a lengthy process. class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/7064353.stm">Profile: Iran's Revolutionary Guards class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8388668.stm">Profile of seized British sailors class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8387670.stm">Analysis: Bridget Kendall | |
| The Foreign Office said Luke Porter, Oliver Smith, David Bloomer, Oliver Young and Sam Usher may have "strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters". | The Foreign Office said Luke Porter, Oliver Smith, David Bloomer, Oliver Young and Sam Usher may have "strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters". |
| The Foreign Office says it believes the five sailors are being held on the island of Sirri. It said it was seeking confirmation of this from the Iranian authorities. The sailors are understood to be safe and well. | The Foreign Office says it believes the five sailors are being held on the island of Sirri. It said it was seeking confirmation of this from the Iranian authorities. The sailors are understood to be safe and well. |
| Earlier, an Iranian official said "serious" measures will be taken against the crew if it is proved they had "evil intentions". | Earlier, an Iranian official said "serious" measures will be taken against the crew if it is proved they had "evil intentions". |
| However Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "This is a human story of five young yachtsmen. It's got nothing to do with politics, it's got nothing to do with nuclear enrichment programmes... it has no relationship to any of the other, bigger issues." | However Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "This is a human story of five young yachtsmen. It's got nothing to do with politics, it's got nothing to do with nuclear enrichment programmes... it has no relationship to any of the other, bigger issues." |
| Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race organisers said the crew of the Kingdom of Bahrain yacht may have been "drifting" after experiencing propeller problems. | Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race organisers said the crew of the Kingdom of Bahrain yacht may have been "drifting" after experiencing propeller problems. |
| 'Fanatical yachtsman' | 'Fanatical yachtsman' |
| Louay Habib, from the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, told the BBC the shore crew for the boat had said "there was no wind at the time, and they told us that they were organising for a tow to come and get them". | Louay Habib, from the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, told the BBC the shore crew for the boat had said "there was no wind at the time, and they told us that they were organising for a tow to come and get them". |
| He added: "It's purely speculation but they would have probably been drifting... in 10 hours they could well have strayed into Iranian waters." | He added: "It's purely speculation but they would have probably been drifting... in 10 hours they could well have strayed into Iranian waters." |
| Andrew Pindar, chairman of Sail Bahrain and owner of the boat, described the crew as "a close-knit group" with "extensive experience". | |
| Mr Pindar added: "Olly Smith, who was skippering the crew during the delivery, has been involved with the team for many years and has over 100,000 sailing miles under his belt." | |
| He also said that "through the limited contact" he has had with the crew, he could confirm that they were in good spirits were being well treated. | |
| David Young, said his 21-year-old son, Oliver, was a "fanatical yachtsman" with a great deal of experience and that he was certain his son would be able to "cope with this very well". | David Young, said his 21-year-old son, Oliver, was a "fanatical yachtsman" with a great deal of experience and that he was certain his son would be able to "cope with this very well". |
| Luke Porter's parents say they have 'grave concerns' for his welfare | |
| But Charles Porter, of Weston-super-Mare, who is the father of 21-year-old Luke, said he and his wife Beverley were concerned. | But Charles Porter, of Weston-super-Mare, who is the father of 21-year-old Luke, said he and his wife Beverley were concerned. |
| He said: "We are holding things together as a family at the moment. I haven't spoken to him since yesterday. He was as good as can be expected." | He said: "We are holding things together as a family at the moment. I haven't spoken to him since yesterday. He was as good as can be expected." |
| The fiancee of Sam Usher, 26, Nicola Drayton, said: "It's difficult but you just get on, you have no choice." | The fiancee of Sam Usher, 26, Nicola Drayton, said: "It's difficult but you just get on, you have no choice." |
| Of the remaining two captives, Mr Smith, 31, is an engineer from Southampton and his teammate Mr Bloomer is said to work as a sports broadcaster in Bahrain. | Of the remaining two captives, Mr Smith, 31, is an engineer from Southampton and his teammate Mr Bloomer is said to work as a sports broadcaster in Bahrain. |
| The British Embassy in Tehran is demanding the immediate release of the five but has so far only had indirect contact with the crew members. | The British Embassy in Tehran is demanding the immediate release of the five but has so far only had indirect contact with the crew members. |
| It is thought the Eid holiday could have delayed proceedings in Iran. | It is thought the Eid holiday could have delayed proceedings in Iran. |
| The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said the FCO had wanted to keep the matter "private" in order to increase the chance of a resolution. | The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall said the FCO had wanted to keep the matter "private" in order to increase the chance of a resolution. |
| But after five days the details emerged and they had no option but to confirm the story. | But after five days the details emerged and they had no option but to confirm the story. |
| Our correspondent said the timing was awkward, coming after the UK condemned Iran's plan to extend its nuclear programme. | Our correspondent said the timing was awkward, coming after the UK condemned Iran's plan to extend its nuclear programme. |
| YACHT CREW Oliver Smith, 31, an engineer from Southampton, yacht's skipperOliver Young, 21, professional yachtsman from PlymouthLuke Porter, 21, professional sailor from Weston-Super-MareDavid Bloomer, radio presenter based in BahrainSam Usher, 26, owns sailing academy in Scarborough | YACHT CREW Oliver Smith, 31, an engineer from Southampton, yacht's skipperOliver Young, 21, professional yachtsman from PlymouthLuke Porter, 21, professional sailor from Weston-Super-MareDavid Bloomer, radio presenter based in BahrainSam Usher, 26, owns sailing academy in Scarborough |
| The government feared Iran might see the detention as an opportunity for "extra leverage" in relation to the nuclear dispute, she added. | The government feared Iran might see the detention as an opportunity for "extra leverage" in relation to the nuclear dispute, she added. |
| The 360-nautical mile Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race began on 26 November and ended two days later in the Omani capital's Bandar Al-Rawdah marina. | The 360-nautical mile Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race began on 26 November and ended two days later in the Omani capital's Bandar Al-Rawdah marina. |
| The Kingdom of Bahrain yacht is owned by the Sail Bahrain project, which aims to promote the island as a yachting destination and was recently launched by Team Pindar. | The Kingdom of Bahrain yacht is owned by the Sail Bahrain project, which aims to promote the island as a yachting destination and was recently launched by Team Pindar. |
| Team Pindar is owned by G A Pindar & Son Ltd, a family-owned print and publishing business based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. | Team Pindar is owned by G A Pindar & Son Ltd, a family-owned print and publishing business based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. |
| In a statement, Team Pindar confirmed Kingdom of Bahrain was stopped by Iranian navy vessels, as it headed to the start of the race. | In a statement, Team Pindar confirmed Kingdom of Bahrain was stopped by Iranian navy vessels, as it headed to the start of the race. |
| It is not the first time British sailors have been detained after being accused of straying into Iranian waters. | It is not the first time British sailors have been detained after being accused of straying into Iranian waters. |
| In March 2007 there was a prolonged stand-off between the UK and Iran after a 15-strong Royal Navy crew was detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. | In March 2007 there was a prolonged stand-off between the UK and Iran after a 15-strong Royal Navy crew was detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. |
| And in 2004, eight British servicemen were held in Iran after being seized in the Shatt al-Arab waterway, where they were training the Iraqi river patrol service. | And in 2004, eight British servicemen were held in Iran after being seized in the Shatt al-Arab waterway, where they were training the Iraqi river patrol service. |
| In both instances, the crews were paraded on television by the Iranian authorities and Bridget Kendall said British diplomats are worried it might happen again in the latest case. | In both instances, the crews were paraded on television by the Iranian authorities and Bridget Kendall said British diplomats are worried it might happen again in the latest case. |
| IRAN'S MARITIME CLAIMS In 1993 Iran informed the UN of its claims over a territorial sea, a contiguous zone and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extending to the continental shelf. Territorial sea: Iran claims sovereignty over a belt of sea, measured 12 nautical miles from its baseline. This extends to the air space above it as well as to its bed and subsoilContiguous zone: An area adjacent to the territorial sea with an outer limit of 24 nautical miles from the baseline. The Iranian government claims the right to take steps to prevent the infringement of laws and regulationsEEZ and the continental shelf boundary: Within the EEZ, which extends out to the continental shelf line, Iran claims exclusive rights to all natural resources, research and the building of structures. Source: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, US Department of State | IRAN'S MARITIME CLAIMS In 1993 Iran informed the UN of its claims over a territorial sea, a contiguous zone and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) extending to the continental shelf. Territorial sea: Iran claims sovereignty over a belt of sea, measured 12 nautical miles from its baseline. This extends to the air space above it as well as to its bed and subsoilContiguous zone: An area adjacent to the territorial sea with an outer limit of 24 nautical miles from the baseline. The Iranian government claims the right to take steps to prevent the infringement of laws and regulationsEEZ and the continental shelf boundary: Within the EEZ, which extends out to the continental shelf line, Iran claims exclusive rights to all natural resources, research and the building of structures. Source: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, US Department of State |
| Do you know any of the yacht crew? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below: | Do you know any of the yacht crew? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |