Portsmouth, Virginia- On Friday, 11th May, The U.S. Coast Guard called for more aircraft in the fifth day of the search for the missing sailing yacht ‘Flying Colours’. ‘Flying Colours’ is a Little Harbour 54, with 4 crew members on board. A severe storm with North Easterly winds near hurricane strength and waves of around 30 ft battered the East Coast on Monday. At this time of the year a lot of boats are returning from the Caribbean and many diverted to Bermuda. Four sailboats were in trouble off the North Carolina coast, with Coast Guard helicopters rescuing nine people from three of the boats throughout Monday. All had activated their emergency radio beacons, giving their locations. However, the Flying Colours signal, which began about 3:30 a.m. Monday, stopped about 7 a.m. At that time, it was about 160 miles southeast of Cape Lookout, N.C., the Coast Guard said. Despite a search of 50,000 square miles, ‘Flying Colours’ remains missing and no debris has been found.

Two Navy P-3 Orions from Jacksonville, Fla., a Coast Guard Falcon jet, an Air National Guard C-130 from Cape Cod., Mass., and another C-130 from Clearwater, Fla., joined two Elizabeth City -based Coast Guard C-130s, a helicopter and two cutters in the search.The vessel is a hardy bluewater yacht with a 3 inch thick hull, sheathed in kevlar and with a heavy lead keel. The owner, family and friends are hoping that somehow the eprib was parted from the boat and that they are unharmed. The crew have been desrbed as very experienced. Aboard the Flying Colours are Patrick “Trey” Topping, 39, Jason Franks, 34, Rhiannon Borisoff, 22, and Christine Grinavic, 26, all with Rhode Island addresses, according to the Coast Guard. Franks, of Newport, R.I., is a licensed captain and has taken a similar boat across the Atlantic to Spain. Christine, has worked for the past two years on the 160-foot sailing yacht Arabella, out of Newport, which has been in the Caribbean for the winter.

Some weeks ago ‘Flying Colours’ was moored at the Catamaran Club, Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, before heading to St. Thomas and on to Annapolis. The friends of the crew here in Antigua will be waiting anxiously for their safe return. Yachtbuddy sends heartfelt wishes to family and friends during this difficult time. Thanks to the Coast Guard and rescue services for the job they do for the men and women at sea.

For more follow the news report by Jack Dempsey of pilotonline.com as found here.