Fears grow for British skipper and crew on missing yacht

Two British men are among five people that went missing in the Philippines last week, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

The coast guard in the Philippines identified skipper Robin Wyatt (pictured) as one of the boat’s crewmates as fears continued to grow for the Europa vessel, which disappeared last weekend.

The identity of the second British crewmember has not yet been confirmed.

An FCO spokesman said, “We can confirm a yacht, with two British nationals on board, has gone missing between Hong Kong and Subic Bay, Philippines.

“We are liaising urgently with the local authorities concerning search and rescue operations and providing support to the families.”

Three other crewmembers were on board the 60ft yacht when it disappeared while sailing from Hong Kong to the Philippines around the time that tropical storm Mujigae hit.

The Europa left Hong Kong on Thursday (01 October) and was expected to arrive in Subic Bay, north west of Manila, by Monday. An emergency position-indicating radio beacon on the boat was activated on Saturday, according to the Royal Hong Kong yacht club.

The yacht club said the Hong Kong-registered boat was owned by Wyatt, whom it described as an experienced sailor.

“The boat is new and on board are the skipper Robin Wyatt and four other crew members, all of whom are very experienced seamen; each having crossed the (South) China Sea a number of times” the yacht club said.

On Tuesday (06 October) coastguard commander Armand Balilo said a body and a life jacket had been spotted floating near the Europa’s last known position – about 250 miles west of the Filipino city of Laoag.

The body has not yet been identified or confirmed as being one of the Europa’s five crewmembers.

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