MAYDAY BROADCAST SPARKS SEARCH IN CHANNEL

An air and sea search is underway tonight for a trimaran vessel in mid channel after a Mayday radio broadcast for urgent assistance was overheard.

At 4.50pm the Coastguard was contacted by a merchant vessel reporting that they had heard a Mayday on VHF radio from a trimaran vessel in difficulty and at risk of capsizing and reporting their position in latitude and longitude to be 37 miles south of the Needles (off the Isle Of Wight).

Coastguard rescue helicopters from Solent and Portland are searching the area tonight along with all weather RNLI lifeboats from Bembridge and Yarmouth.  A British naval vessel is also assisting with the search and broadcasts for all vessels in the area have been made.

Conditions on scene overnight are winds of between force 5 and 6 from the west or south west. No further contact with the vessel has been possible since and limited information was available in the Mayday call. 

Coastguards coordinating the search and rescue operation have not been notified of any overdue vessels but should anyone have information about a trimaran vessel they know to be sailing in the mid channel area please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

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