Families pay tribute to Cheeki Rafiki yachtsmen lost at sea

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/may/25/families-pay-tribute-cheeki-rafiki-yachtsmen

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The family of one of the Cheeki Rafiki's missing yachtsmen have said they take some comfort in the fact that he was doing something he really loved.

Hopes of finding the four-man crew, who were sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, faded on Friday after the capsized vessel was found with its life raft still on board.

The discovery led to the US Coast Guard calling off its search for the experienced captain Andrew Bridge, 22, from Farnham in Surrey; and crew members Steve Warren, 52, from Bridgwater in Somerset; Paul Goslin, 56, from West Camel in Somerset; and James Male, 23, from Southampton.

Paying tribute to Male, his family released a statement which read: "As you can imagine we are deeply saddened by Friday's news and struggling to come to terms with the fact that James is missing.

"James was a passionate sailor, surfer, kayaker and all round water sport enthusiast as well as being a keen snowboarder and outdoor instructor.

"He loved being in the outdoors and on the water teaching new skills to people. We must therefore try to take some comfort in the knowledge that he was doing something he really loved."

The statement, which was released by the Foreign Office, continued: "The past week has been a very difficult one for all the families and we have drawn strength from each other and hopefully we can continue to do so.

"James would have been amazed by the overwhelming support shown to us all by the public, which has made this week slightly easier to bear."

The relatives thanked the government and Foreign Office for its support, saying it had been second to none.

The Foreign Office had earlier released a statement from Goslin's family in which they paid tribute to their "wonderful husband, son, father and grandfather", and said they were struggling coming to terms with the fact he will not "be found alive and returned home" to them.

The statement read: "Paul was deeply loving and exceptionally intelligent and we know will be missed by everyone that knew him.

"Paul had been a passionate sailor for many years and loved everything to do with the water. He'd been talking about sailing across the Atlantic for many years. We are, therefore, trying to take some comfort in the knowledge that he was fulfilling one of his lifelong dreams."

Both families offered their gratitude to the US and Canadian Coast Guards, the US Navy, the RAF, the merchant vessels and smaller yachts that took part in the search.