MISSING YACHT SPARKS MAJOR SEARCH

Clyde Coastguard has located a yacht that sparked a major air and sea search off the west coast of Scotland on 21 April 2001.

Two people from Edinburgh were on board the ‘Maud Ellen’ when she left Troon early yesterday morning. The alarm was raised when she failed to return to harbour last night.

Clyde Coastguard officers say the yacht, a 22ft sloop with a wooden hull, was being crewed by its owner - an experienced yachtsman - and his female companion.

After the female companion became sea sick they decided to moor in East Loch Tarbert where they were found early this morning, but neglected to notify anyone about their change of plan.

Coastguards tasked 13 coastal rescue teams, and with help from 5 lifeboats combed the whole of the Clyde estuary. A rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet also searched the area.