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Missing yacht: Skipper's mother 'numb' Cheeki Rafiki: Missing yachtsman's daughter makes appeal
(about 2 hours later)
The mother of Andrew Bridge, skipper of the four-man British crew missing since their yacht capsized in the Atlantic Ocean, has said she feels numb. The daughter of one of four British sailors missing since they apparently capsized in the Atlantic Ocean has made an appeal to the US Coastguard.
Mary Bridge joined other family members and friends of the men in urging the US Coastguard to resume its search. Yachtsman Paul Goslin's daughter Claire called on rescuers not to give up.
The Cheeki Rafiki ran into difficulties late last week about 1,000 miles (1,600km) off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Contact with the 40ft Cheeki Rafiki yacht was lost on Friday after it got into difficulties 620 miles (1,000km) east of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.
The sailors' families have said the men would have escaped in a life raft. The search for Mr Goslin and three other men was called off in the early hours of Sunday morning local time.
'Want him back' Miss Goslin, a second-year nursing student at Plymouth University, thanked the coastguard for their "fantastic" work so far.
The four crew members are Mr Bridge, 22, from Farnham, Surrey, the yacht's skipper; Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset; Steve Warren, 52, also from Somerset, and 23-year-old James Male, from Southampton, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has said. "But I know what dad's like," she added. "He will be doing anything in his power to make sure he and his fellow three crew mates are safe.
The men were sailing the 40ft yacht back to the UK from a regatta in Antigua but diverted towards the Azores on Thursday when it started taking on water. "Don't give up, they need your help."
Nothing has been heard from them since Friday. The US Coastguard-led air and sea search for the men was called off on Sunday. She said she had been told by the yacht's owners Stormforce Coaching the life raft was designed for 12 people so would have had plenty of space and provisions for her father and the three other men.
'Rational thinking'
The four crew members are Mr 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.
The men were sailing back from a regatta in Antigua when the boat began taking on water and diverted to the Azores.
Their families believe they escaped into an on-board life raft.
The coastguard said locator beacons activated by the crew indicated they were in a position 1,000 miles east of Massachusetts on Friday morning.
"Those beacons don't work if they're wet so we've got reasons to believe they're in the life raft because they're dry and they're together," Miss Goslin added.
Mr Male's father told ITV Meridian: "They waited until the first beacon had run out before they actually set the second beacon - that's rational-thinking people."
'A bit numb'
A spokeswoman for the coastguard said on Monday morning that unless there were "new developments about the case" the search would not be resumed.A spokeswoman for the coastguard said on Monday morning that unless there were "new developments about the case" the search would not be resumed.
The skipper's mother Mrs Bridge told the BBC: "I'm a bit numb actually. We wanted him back. The mother of skipper Andrew Bridge, Mary Bridge, said: "I'm a bit numb actually. We wanted him back.
"We know they've worked hard for two days but my husband and I and my other son and the other families all wish them to resume the search for these four men.""We know they've worked hard for two days but my husband and I and my other son and the other families all wish them to resume the search for these four men."
Claire Goslin, daughter of Mr Goslin, said: "They had plenty of time to prepare the raft when they knew they were sinking and my dad would have done everything he could to get them all on the life raft.
"My dad has been sailing for years and he will know everything he has to do in the situation."
The Plymouth University nursing student said the life raft was designed for 12 people so would have had plenty of space and provisions for her father and the three other men.
Provisions for days
Mr Goslin's wife Cressida said the search should be resumed for a couple of days, adding: "We just feel that they're not being given a chance.Mr Goslin's wife Cressida said the search should be resumed for a couple of days, adding: "We just feel that they're not being given a chance.
"If we don't try to rescue them we're just going to leave them to starve to death.""If we don't try to rescue them we're just going to leave them to starve to death."
'Extreme conditions'
The RYA said typical supplies on a life raft would include survival suits, water, food, flares and a first aid kit.The RYA said typical supplies on a life raft would include survival suits, water, food, flares and a first aid kit.
Three US and Canadian aircraft and three merchant vessels looked for the men on Friday and Saturday but called off the search on Sunday at 5am local time.Three US and Canadian aircraft and three merchant vessels looked for the men on Friday and Saturday but called off the search on Sunday at 5am local time.
Two of the yachtsmen's locator beacons had been activated amid 15ft waves, 50mph winds and sea and air temperatures of 15C (60F). The yacht was facing 15ft waves, 50mph winds and sea and air temperatures of 15C (60F), the US Coastguard said.
The US Coastguard says it considers "weather conditions, emergency equipment, and the anticipated condition of the people for whom we are searching". The rescuers say they consider "weather conditions, emergency equipment, and the anticipated condition of the people for whom we are searching".
Calling off the hunt on Sunday, Capt Anthony Popiel said: "Based on the extreme conditions at sea, but assuming best-case emergency equipment, the estimated survival time past the time of distress was approximately 20 hours. Crews searched for 53 hours."Calling off the hunt on Sunday, Capt Anthony Popiel said: "Based on the extreme conditions at sea, but assuming best-case emergency equipment, the estimated survival time past the time of distress was approximately 20 hours. Crews searched for 53 hours."
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.
But Petty Officer Rob Simpson, from the US Coastguard, said the ship had "lacked the manoeuvrability, capacity and ability to help".But Petty Officer Rob Simpson, from the US Coastguard, said the ship had "lacked the manoeuvrability, capacity and ability to help".
"It has a fairly limited possibility of picking anything up," he added."It has a fairly limited possibility of picking anything up," he added.
"It is not designed for search and rescue capabilities or anything like that or trained to do anything like that.""It is not designed for search and rescue capabilities or anything like that or trained to do anything like that."
Meanwhile the yachtsman and four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie joined calls for the US coastguard to continue the search, while an online petition has gathered more than 37,000 signatures.Meanwhile the yachtsman and four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie joined calls for the US coastguard to continue the search, while an online petition has gathered more than 37,000 signatures.
Television presenter Ben Fogle also added his support, adding: "We've heard too many stories over the years of shipwrecked sailors found in tiny rafts.Television presenter Ben Fogle also added his support, adding: "We've heard too many stories over the years of shipwrecked sailors found in tiny rafts.
"If they don't have a beacon that's emitting, that doesn't mean they've perished.""If they don't have a beacon that's emitting, that doesn't mean they've perished."
The 12-person life raft they are believed to have had on board would typically be 1.66m high and 3.3m across.The 12-person life raft they are believed to have had on board would typically be 1.66m high and 3.3m across.
Alistair Hackett from suppliers Ocean Safety said it would have likely had one litre of water per person on board, as well as survival equipment like flares and thermal protective suits.Alistair Hackett from suppliers Ocean Safety said it would have likely had one litre of water per person on board, as well as survival equipment like flares and thermal protective suits.
'Highly unlikely''Highly unlikely'
Kay Coombes, sister of missing Mr Warren, said: "They are four strong-minded, physically strong sailors, they knew they were in difficulties and had every opportunity to get into the life raft which would have had provisions for several days.Kay Coombes, sister of missing Mr Warren, said: "They are four strong-minded, physically strong sailors, they knew they were in difficulties and had every opportunity to get into the life raft which would have had provisions for several days.
"But if no-one is looking for them, they won't be found.""But if no-one is looking for them, they won't be found."
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handedly around the world, said: "Knowing the US Coastguard, I do feel one's got to listen to them.Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handedly around the world, said: "Knowing the US Coastguard, I do feel one's got to listen to them.
"They know more about this than anyone else.""They know more about this than anyone else."
But he added: "Isn't it just worth just one more check, just to make sure?"But he added: "Isn't it just worth just one more check, just to make sure?"
However oceanographer Simon Boxall from University of Southampton said: "It is highly unlikely, beyond reasonable doubt, that they would have missed a life raft, they are bright red or bright orange. However oceanographer Simon Boxall from University of Southampton said: "It is highly unlikely, beyond reasonable doubt, that they would have missed a life raft; they are bright red or bright orange.
"And if the people were in a life raft and were aware there were rescue aircraft they would have had distress flares and beacons on board and they would have deployed them.""And if the people were in a life raft and were aware there were rescue aircraft they would have had distress flares and beacons on board and they would have deployed them."
The coastguard has said it extends its "deepest condolences to the family and friends" of the men.The coastguard has said it extends its "deepest condolences to the family and friends" of the men.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said it was aware of the missing yacht: "We are in continual contact with the US Coastguard and are providing consular assistance to the families."A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said it was aware of the missing yacht: "We are in continual contact with the US Coastguard and are providing consular assistance to the families."