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| Cheeki Rafiki search may be suspended - US Coast Guard | Cheeki Rafiki search may be suspended - US Coast Guard |
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| The search for the four sailors on board the yacht Cheeki Rafiki will be suspended if nothing is found by Friday night, the US Coast Guard has said. | The search for the four sailors on board the yacht Cheeki Rafiki will be suspended if nothing is found by Friday night, the US Coast Guard has said. |
| Captain Anthony Popiel has told the yachtsmen's families that the search in the mid-Atlantic could be suspended. | |
| However, an RAF Hercules plane will continue searching for 24 hours after the US search ends, the partner of one of the yachtsmen has said. | However, an RAF Hercules plane will continue searching for 24 hours after the US search ends, the partner of one of the yachtsmen has said. |
| The search was originally called off on Sunday but resumed on Tuesday. | The search was originally called off on Sunday but resumed on Tuesday. |
| The Cheeki Rafiki, based in Southampton, was sailing back to the UK from Antigua when it went missing. | The Cheeki Rafiki, based in Southampton, was sailing back to the UK from Antigua when it went missing. |
| Capt Popiel said: "I informed them [the families] that the search would continue throughout the night and into tomorrow. | Capt Popiel said: "I informed them [the families] that the search would continue throughout the night and into tomorrow. |
| "If by midnight tomorrow [05:00 BST Saturday] there are no further developments to indicate search efforts would locate the crew alive we will suspend the search." | "If by midnight tomorrow [05:00 BST Saturday] there are no further developments to indicate search efforts would locate the crew alive we will suspend the search." |
| He also said he had "sincere compassion" for the families of the four men, and that his "thoughts and prayers" were with them. | He also said he had "sincere compassion" for the families of the four men, and that his "thoughts and prayers" were with them. |
| The crew members are Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset; skipper Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham; Steve Warren, 52, from Bridgwater; and 22-year-old James Male, from Romsey. | The crew members are Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel, Somerset; skipper Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham; Steve Warren, 52, from Bridgwater; and 22-year-old James Male, from Romsey. |
| Mr Warren's partner, Gloria Hamlet, told BBC Somerset she had been informed the British Hercules C-130 plane would continue scouring the search area on Saturday. | Mr Warren's partner, Gloria Hamlet, told BBC Somerset she had been informed the British Hercules C-130 plane would continue scouring the search area on Saturday. |
| The military aircraft was deployed on Tuesday to help with the international search effort. | The military aircraft was deployed on Tuesday to help with the international search effort. |
| Mr Bridge's family told the BBC they remained "hopeful" and "appreciate everything that is being done". | Mr Bridge's family told the BBC they remained "hopeful" and "appreciate everything that is being done". |
| Families of all four missing men will be updated at another meeting with Foreign Office officials on Friday afternoon. | |
| The search has so far focused on an area some 1,000 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. About 17,500 square miles of ocean have been covered by planes and boats working on behalf of the US Coast Guard. | The search has so far focused on an area some 1,000 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. About 17,500 square miles of ocean have been covered by planes and boats working on behalf of the US Coast Guard. |
| Capt Popiel also said his team's focus remained on "this very active and very dynamic search". | Capt Popiel also said his team's focus remained on "this very active and very dynamic search". |
| Hopes were briefly raised on Thursday when debris was found in the ocean near where the Cheeki Rafiki is thought to have gone missing, but the US Coast Guard later confirmed that this debris could not have come from the 40ft yacht. | Hopes were briefly raised on Thursday when debris was found in the ocean near where the Cheeki Rafiki is thought to have gone missing, but the US Coast Guard later confirmed that this debris could not have come from the 40ft yacht. |
| Risks | Risks |
| Capt Popiel said it was "not uncommon" to find debris. He said locating smaller items in the ocean indicated favourable sea and search conditions. | Capt Popiel said it was "not uncommon" to find debris. He said locating smaller items in the ocean indicated favourable sea and search conditions. |
| But he warned volunteer ships helping out with the search of the "inherent risks" of operating in what was a "very remote region of the Atlantic". | But he warned volunteer ships helping out with the search of the "inherent risks" of operating in what was a "very remote region of the Atlantic". |
| The decision to resume the initial search followed an official request from the UK government. An online petition, set up to put pressure on the US Coast Guard to resume its search, also attracted more than 200,000 signatures. | The decision to resume the initial search followed an official request from the UK government. An online petition, set up to put pressure on the US Coast Guard to resume its search, also attracted more than 200,000 signatures. |
| On Thursday, the relatives of the sailors visited the US Embassy and delivered letters addressed to US President Barack Obama, the US Coast Guard and the US ambassador to express their gratitude for the resumption of the search. | On Thursday, the relatives of the sailors visited the US Embassy and delivered letters addressed to US President Barack Obama, the US Coast Guard and the US ambassador to express their gratitude for the resumption of the search. |
| At the time of going missing Coast Guard officials predicted the yacht would have been facing 15ft waves, 50mph winds and sea and air temperatures of 15C (60F). | At the time of going missing Coast Guard officials predicted the yacht would have been facing 15ft waves, 50mph winds and sea and air temperatures of 15C (60F). |
| Earlier in the week the Coast Guard predicted that the "estimated survival time" of any crew members was about 20 hours after the last distress call was made. | Earlier in the week the Coast Guard predicted that the "estimated survival time" of any crew members was about 20 hours after the last distress call was made. |
| Locator beacons activated by the crew indicated they were in a position 1,000 miles east of Massachusetts on the morning of Friday 16 May. | Locator beacons activated by the crew indicated they were in a position 1,000 miles east of Massachusetts on the morning of Friday 16 May. |
| A yellow and orange 12-person life raft was believed to have been on board the yacht at the time, and it was thought that the men may have inflated it and climbed on board, but this vessel is also yet to be spotted by rescuers. | A yellow and orange 12-person life raft was believed to have been on board the yacht at the time, and it was thought that the men may have inflated it and climbed on board, but this vessel is also yet to be spotted by rescuers. |