Latest news with #TigerPA
The Independent
11-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Family mourn sailor who vanished in Bay of Biscay during Storm Herminia
Tributes have been paid to a 'loving and charismatic' sailor who vanished in the Bay of Biscay during a fierce storm. Charles Todd, 73, is feared dead after rescuers found the wreckage of his yacht day s after he set off to sail solo to the Caribbean. The family of the father-of-five have revealed they are 'heartbroken' by their 'sudden loss'. Mr Todd, a beloved sailor with the Greenwich Yachting Club in London, set off a distress beacon on January 25 around 50 miles west of France. It came after he radioed a cargo ship that he was safe after not initially responding to radio messages. It was his last contact before the search for Mr Todd was called off the following day after divers who winched down to the yacht, called Tiger PA, found no sign of the sailor. His daughter Nadine Gowan told the BBC that Mr Todd was sailing to the Caribbean when the tragedy occurred. She described him as someone who 'lived life to the full and was 'loving, charismatic, young-at-heart'. Born in Ghana, Ms Gowan said her father moved to Manchester when he was young and lived in Germany for more than two decades before returning to London in the 2000s. Greenwich Sailing Club in London posted on Facebook: 'Rest in peace dear friend.' 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 'due to a lack of information". The north of Spain and western France have had heavy rain and wind during Storm Herminia, which was named by Spanish meteorologists because the country was expected to experience the worst of the conditions.
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
- Yahoo
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. Read more from Sky News: Storm Herminia - named by Spanish meteorologists - brought heavy rain and strong winds to the north of Spain and western France at the weekend.
Sky News
27-01-2025
- Sky News
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.
