Search for crew suspended after yacht found along with life raft

The loss of two Somerset sailors and their crew mates in the Atlantic last May was a "tragic accident", the head of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has said.

But, Chief Inspector Steve Clinch, said the disaster also identified important safety issues that should reduce the chances of anything similar happening.

Paul Goslin and Steve Warren, were onboard the Cheeki Rafiki with James Male from Romsey and Andrew Bridge from Farnham, when the yacht went missing in rough seas after leaving Antigua.

Mr Clinch said that during the investigation "it became clear that opinions were divided as to whether or not Cheeki Rafiki's return passage across the Atlantic Ocean was a commercial activity".

He added that he made a recommendation to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to improve the guidance on when small vessels are required to have commercial certification and that this "should help resolve what has, for too long, been a grey area".

Hopes of finding two missing Somerset sailors and their crew mates have all but faded tonight after their capsized yacht was discovered in the Atlantic.

The US coastguard said an unused life raft was found on board and they called off their search in the early hours of this morning.

Today the Prime Minister David Cameron said his thoughts were with the families.

Ken Goodwin reports:

The Prime Minister has said his thoughts are with families of the crew of the Cheeki Rafiki after the boat's upturned hull was found, with the life raft still in place.

Mr Cameron said: "My thoughts are with the families and friends of the crew of the Cheeki Rafiki after the sad news that its hull has been found with the life raft unused."

He added: "My sincere thanks to the US Coast Guard for leading the international search with great dedication - and to the US Navy, the Canadian authorities and to our own RAF C-130 aircraft who took part in it."

A spokesman for the World Cruising Club, which organises boat races around the world, has said the changes of finding the crew of the Cheeki Rafiki yacht are now "non-existent".

Jeremy Wyatt told the BBC: : "I think we have to be realistic and face facts that they're not in a raft and therefore the chances of finding anyone are non-existent now."

"In some ways it's a hard fact, but I think, after a week of searching, it's really the only conclusion you can safely draw," he added.

Read: Search for crew suspended after yacht found along with life raft

An RAF Hercules plane will no longer search for the missing Cheeki Rafiki yachtsmen today after the US Coast Guard discovered its life raft was still on board the capsized vessel, the Foreign Office said.

The US Coastguard has says nothing has changed at this point in terms of their intentions to scale down the operation at 5am UK time. A friend of the families of the crew has said they have been at a meeting at the Foreign Office tonight and are aware of the news.

The US Coast Guard reportedly said it has found the hull of the missing Cheeki Rafiki yacht in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The families of two Somerset sailors missing in the Atlantic say they haven't given up hope their loved ones will be found, despite being told the US Coastguard search will end tomorrow morning.

Steve Warren and Paul Goslin were on board the Cheeki Rafiki with two other men when contact was lost a week ago. Their families have been meeting with the Foreign Office today. Clare Forestier has the story.