British sailor missing after his damaged yacht found off French coast
A British sailor is missing in the Bay of Biscay after his damaged yacht was found off the French coast.
A search was launched for the 73-year-old on Saturday after a distress beacon was launched 50 miles west of Lacanau at around 3pm, according to the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture, a French government organisation.
He had earlier told a nearby cargo ship he was safe and continuing on his way, after not responding to previous radio messages.
A French air force helicopter found the American flagged yacht – called Tiger PA – at around 5.30pm.
Divers who winched down to the “gutted” sailboat found no sign of the man.
A Portuguese cargo ship and a Spanish hospital ship were diverted to the area and joined the search.
The French navy’s Falcon 50, a maritime surveillance aircraft, was also deployed at nightfall.
The search was suspended at 1.33pm on Sunday, the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture added.
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Storm Herminia – named by Spanish meteorologists – brought heavy rain and strong winds to the north of Spain and western France at the weekend.