London:
The British government on Friday called families of the four British yachtsmen missing in the Atlantic Ocean to tell them that the US Coast Guard was on the verge of calling off the search.
Foreign Office minister Hugh Robertson told families of the crew of the missing yacht "Cheeki Rafiki" that the coast guard intended to suspend the search after Friday if no sign of the boat or crew was found, according to a statement.
The 40-foot (12-metre) yacht was returning from a regatta off the Caribbean island of Antigua when it began taking on water on Thursday, some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) east of Cape Cod.
The crew comprised experienced captain Andrew Bridge, 22, and crew members James Male, 23, Steve Warren, 52, and Paul Goslin, 56.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of James Male, Andrew Bridge, Steve Warren and Paul Goslin tonight," said Robertson.
"We all continue to hope that we will find them, and are committed to a further intensive search tomorrow.
"I know that, despite there bring no further sightings of the Cheeki Rafiki or its crew, any decision to suspend the search will be incredibly difficult and will only be taken after the most serious deliberation."
US coastguard Captain Anthony Popiel earlier said the search would continue throughout Friday.
Foreign Office minister Hugh Robertson told families of the crew of the missing yacht "Cheeki Rafiki" that the coast guard intended to suspend the search after Friday if no sign of the boat or crew was found, according to a statement.
The 40-foot (12-metre) yacht was returning from a regatta off the Caribbean island of Antigua when it began taking on water on Thursday, some 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) east of Cape Cod.
The crew comprised experienced captain Andrew Bridge, 22, and crew members James Male, 23, Steve Warren, 52, and Paul Goslin, 56.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of James Male, Andrew Bridge, Steve Warren and Paul Goslin tonight," said Robertson.
"We all continue to hope that we will find them, and are committed to a further intensive search tomorrow.
"I know that, despite there bring no further sightings of the Cheeki Rafiki or its crew, any decision to suspend the search will be incredibly difficult and will only be taken after the most serious deliberation."
US coastguard Captain Anthony Popiel earlier said the search would continue throughout Friday.
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