St Mary's lifeboat is currently steaming WSW of the islands to go and pick up a dismasted yacht that has been 'missing' for 11 days.
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| This was the last recorded AIS position recorded by the yacht after leaving Antigua. |
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| The catamaran was said to be making "very slow progress" towards Falmouth with an improvised mast and sail rigged by the skipper - photo courtesy of RNAS Culdrose SAR |
Here's the story from the BBC:
A catamaran which had been apparently missing for nine days, has been found by a search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose. The crew from 771 Squadron found the dismasted vessel about 100 nautical miles off the Cornish coast. The Orinoco Flo, which was en route to Falmouth from Antigua, was last seen on 2 June but had been out of radio contact since. The skipper, who had rigged an improvised mast and sail, was unhurt. The catamaran's radio had been damaged when the mast fell, he said. The skipper told the helicopter crew he had food and water on board, but with his boat making "very slow progress" and poor weather forecast, he would accept the offer of a tow to the Isles of Scilly by the St Mary's all-weather lifeboat.