Major concern as experienced yachtsman goes missing at sea
AN experienced sailor had last night not been heard from after nearly a week at sea, leaving friends “completely flummoxed”.
Robin Davie was expected back at his home port of Falmouth in Cornwall on Tuesday having set off on a 300-mile journey from Les Sables d’Olonne in western France last Saturday.
The 67-year-old yachtsman, who has sailed solo around the world three times, is understood to have been equipped with a handheld VHF radio with a range of around seven to 10 miles which would be capable of contacting passing ships.
Falmouth Coastguard issued an alert to all ships in the area on Wednesday morning after Mr Davie’s brother Rick reported him as overdue – but no distress signals had been detected.
Yachting journalist Barry Pickthall, who has known Mr Davie for almost 30 years, yesterday
said: “We’re just completely flummoxed, because the weather has been so benign.
“We just don’t understand what could have happened.
“It’s one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, it’s just really surprising no-one has spotted him. He’s just disappeared.”
Mr Davie is understood to have had a life raft on board with a radio and GPS should he have to abandon his yacht.
He had visited the French port to have the yacht, the Rustler 36 C’est La Vie, refitted with a new mast and rigging.
He was reported to have left at 10am last Saturday.
Organisers of the Golden Globe Race said he had been scheduled to compete in the 2022 event, having pulled out of the last year’s race because of a lack of preparation time.
A HM Coastguard spokeswoman said: “HM Coastguard received a concern for welfare of a possibly overdue solo sailor, Robin Davie, on Wednesday.
“No distress alerts have been received. However, Robin has not been in contact with his family.
“HM Coastguard has been issuing broadcasts to all shipping and will continue to support the French coastguard.”