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Round-world sailor goes missing Round-the-world yacht sailor safe
(20 minutes later)
A British sailor attempting to sail round the world non-stop has gone missing during storms off the west coast of France. A British sailor feared missing in a round the world attempt has contacted his family saying he is safe and well.
Paddy Macklin, 52, set sail from Falmouth, Cornwall, in December. Paddy Macklin, 52, who set sail from Falmouth, Cornwall, in December, was thought to have got into trouble during storms off the west coast of France.
He radioed coastguards several days ago from the Bay of Biscay to say he was experiencing difficult weather conditions in his 27ft yacht Tessa.
Fears rose on Thursday when he failed to contact family on his satellite phone as intended.Fears rose on Thursday when he failed to contact family on his satellite phone as intended.
'Very concerned' But he contacted them late on Friday saying he had been prevented from calling because of the bad weather.
Spanish coastguards have been alerted, but so far no trace of the yacht has been found. Mr Macklin said he had heard a report about him on the radio.
Coastguards said they did not believe he was carrying a distress radio beacon. Spanish coastguards launched an air and sea search after Mr Macklin radioed coastguards several days ago saying he was experiencing difficult weather conditions in his 27ft yacht Tessa.
He was about 200 miles from shore when he first called coastguards during force nine gales. He was about 200 miles from shore when he called coastguards during force nine gales.
Marc Thomas, duty watch manager at Falmouth Coastguard said: "We are very concerned for Mr Macklin, particularly as the hours tick by with no word.
"Our Spanish colleagues have undertaken electronic and visual searches over a huge sea area and have come up with nothing.
"We are particularly alarmed knowing the kind of fearsome conditions at this time of year in the Bay of Biscay.
"The weather forecasts for the area are for heavy seas to continue."
He added that Mr Macklin's radio could have broken and he could still appear at a port in the Canaries.
Mr Thomas added: "He is in that vast expanse of sea, and we can only hope a passing vessel may spot something, but we must bear in mind that survival time in the water is measured in hours and minutes, not days."
Former painter and decorator Mr Macklin is aiming to break Robin Knox-Johnston's record and sail solo around the world in the smallest boat.Former painter and decorator Mr Macklin is aiming to break Robin Knox-Johnston's record and sail solo around the world in the smallest boat.
He is paying for the £40,000 expedition himself and has enough food to last 600 days.He is paying for the £40,000 expedition himself and has enough food to last 600 days.