Latest news with #Préfecturemaritimedel'Atlantique
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Family 'heartbroken' as missing sailor named as London father
The family of a British sailor who went missing after his boat capsized off the south-west coast of France say they are "heartbroken by this sudden loss". Father-of-five Charles Todd, 73, sent out a distress signal from his yacht on 25 January amid fierce weather brought on by Storm Herminia in the area of the Bay of Biscay. A French air force helicopter was dispatched as part of an immediate response to try and find Mr Todd, but they found his 12-metre yacht, the Tiger PA, "eviscerated" in the Bay of Biscay. Mr Todd's family said the search was called off in the early hours of 26 January after teams were "unable to locate him". According to the Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique, the distress call was detected approximately 80km (50 miles) west of Lacanau at about 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT). As part of the rescue operation, French officials said a Portuguese cargo ship and a Spanish hospital vessel were both diverted to the area and to help with the search, alongside the French navy. But, at 01:33 (00:33 GMT) the following morning the Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique said the search was suspended "due to a lack of new information". In a tribute, Mr Todd's daughter, Nadine Gowan, told the BBC her father was sailing to the Caribbean via the Canary Islands when the tragedy occurred. His family described him as a "loving, charismatic, young-at-heart" and as someone "who lived life to the full". They added that Mr Todd was born in Ghana and moved to Manchester when he was young. He was a keen musician, a skilled carpenter and lived in Germany for 25 years where he ran his own joinery business, the family said. Mr Todd returned to London in 2004 and was a well-respected member of the Greenwich Yacht Club for over a decade. The family has expressed their gratitude to the French rescue teams and the British Consulate in Bordeaux.
BBC News
11-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Family 'heartbroken' as missing sailor named as London father Charles Todd
The family of a British sailor who went missing after his boat capsized off the south-west coast of France say they are "heartbroken by this sudden loss".Father-of-five Charles Todd, 73, sent out a distress signal from his yacht on 25 January amid fierce weather brought on by Storm Herminia in the area of the Bay of Biscay.A French air force helicopter was dispatched as part of an immediate response to try and find Mr Todd, but they found his 12-metre yacht, the Tiger PA, "eviscerated" in the Bay of Todd's family said the search was called off in the early hours of 26 January after teams were "unable to locate him". According to the Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique, the distress call was detected approximately 80km (50 miles) west of Lacanau at about 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT).As part of the rescue operation, French officials said a Portuguese cargo ship and a Spanish hospital vessel were both diverted to the area and to help with the search, alongside the French at 01:33 (00:33 GMT) the following morning the Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique said the search was suspended "due to a lack of new information". In a tribute, Mr Todd's daughter, Nadine Gowan, told the BBC her father was sailing to the Caribbean via the Canary Islands when the tragedy family described him as a "loving, charismatic, young-at-heart" and as someone "who lived life to the full".They added that Mr Todd was born in Ghana and moved to Manchester when he was young. He was a keen musician, a skilled carpenter and lived in Germany for 25 years where he ran his own joinery business, the family Todd returned to London in 2004 and was a well-respected member of the Greenwich Yacht Club for over a family has expressed their gratitude to the French rescue teams and the British Consulate in Bordeaux.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
UK sailor missing after yacht found 'eviscerated'
A British sailor is lost at sea after his yacht was found "eviscerated" off the south-western French coast in stormy weather, maritime officials have said. The 73-year-old set off his distress beacon on Saturday after getting into difficulty approximately 80km (50 miles) west of Lacanau, the Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique said in a statement. A French air force helicopter was dispatched to find the man, but found his 12-metre yacht, the Tiger PA, "eviscerated" in the Bay of Biscay. Two divers were then winched down to the wreckage, where they discovered an empty raft, officials added. A Portuguese cargo ship and a Spanish hospital vessel were both diverted to the area and to help with the search, alongside the French navy. After several hours of searching, it was called off in the early hours of Sunday morning "due to a lack of information". In the statement the the Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique reminded people to be careful in the waters during the stormy weather. It comes after Storm Herminia, named by the Spanish weather service Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) on Friday, brought heavy rains and wind battered the north of Spain and western France. Gusts of wind exceeded 62mph and floodwaters caused by the storm also left cars and buildings submerged in western France.
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Lacanau: UK sailor missing after yacht found 'eviscerated'
A British sailor is lost at sea after his yacht was found "eviscerated" off the south-western French coast in stormy weather, maritime officials have 73-year-old set off his distress beacon on Saturday after getting into difficulty approximately 80km (50 miles) west of Lacanau, the Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique said in a statement.A French air force helicopter was dispatched to find the man, but found his 12-metre yacht, the Tiger PA, "eviscerated" in the Bay of divers were then winched down to the wreckage, where they discovered an empty raft, officials added. A Portuguese cargo ship and a Spanish hospital vessel were both diverted to the area and to help with the search, alongside the French several hours of searching, it was called off in the early hours of Sunday morning "due to a lack of information".In the statement the the Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique reminded people to be careful in the waters during the stormy comes after Storm Herminia, named by the Spanish weather service Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet) on Friday, brought heavy rains and wind battered the north of Spain and western of wind exceeded 62mph and floodwaters caused by the storm also left cars and buildings submerged in western France.
