TIGER PA

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Search for skipper of distressed yacht suspended

On Jan 24, 2025, at around 7:30 pm, the CROSS Etel was alerted by its British counterparts about the 'Tiger PA', which was not responding to radio messages. The sailing yacht was then relocated approximately 185 km from the Pointe de Graves. The nearby ,/v 'Autosun' managed to establish radio contact after several attempts. The only person on board was a 73-year-old British man who said he was safe and continued on his way. However, on Jan 25 at around 3:00 p.m, the distress beacon of the yacht was detected approximately 80 kilometers west of Lacanau. The CROSS Etel took over the coordination of the resources and broadcast a May Day message. It engaged the Caracal helicopter of the Air and Space Force based in Cazaux, which was carrying a medical team and two divers. At 5:30 p.m., the helicopter arrived in the area, found the gutted sailboat and winched up its two divers who discovered the empty raft. The search continued to find the yachtsman. The 'm/v' Autostar' and the Spanish hospital ship 'Esperanza del Mar' were diverted to search for the man overboard. At 7:00 p.m., the Falcon 50 of the French Navy from Lann Bihoué was also engaged to complete the search system at nightfall. The Caracal helicopter from Cazaux returned to resupply and was then redeployed to the area. On Jan 26 at 1:33 a.m., after several hours of searching, due to the lack of new information, the maritime prefect of the Atlantic decided to suspend the search by directed means.