Four Britons have gone missing after their yacht, Cheeki Rafiki, capsized in the mid-Atlantic Ocean.

The contact with the four sailors was lost in the early hours of 16 May, when they were diverting to the Azores on their way to UK from Antigua Sailing Week in the Caribbean.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The sailors were reportedly delivering the vessel after participating in the world’s largest regatta.

Following the news, the US Coast Guard immediately began search operations, but could not find anyone.

“The US Coast Guard immediately began search operations, but could not find anyone.”

British yacht training and charter firm Stormforce Coaching stated that the US and Canadian merchant vessels suspended the search after looking out for crew of the 40ft performance cruiser yacht through 16 and 17 of May.

Stormforce Coaching principal and director Doug Innes said: “We were informed on Sunday that a capsized yacht had been found in the search area by the merchant ship M/V MAERSK KURE. However, the sea state prevented them from closely examining it, which is very disappointing but understandable.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

A Foreign Office spokeswoman was quoted by the Telegraph as saying: “We are aware of a missing yacht off the east coast of the US with four British nationals on-board.

“We are in contact with the US Coast Guard and have offered consular assistance to the families.”

Meanwhile, the families of the four sailors have urged the American authorities to resume the search operations.

Ship Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Ship Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
From automated chartering invoices to EU ETS and CII management, Ankeri Solutions’ maritime SaaS platform has earned three Ship Technology Excellence Awards for 2025. See how Ankeri is helping shipowners and charterers boost efficiency, cut emissions, and collaborate better across complex global fleets.

Discover the Impact