'Europa' search called off after 10 days.

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World.com on 17 Oct 2015 Yesterday, 16 October 2015, Hong Kong Marine Rescue Coordinating Committee (HK MRCC) sent out the last Hong Kong Government Flying Service (GFS) flight to search for the Europa and her missing crew. They found nothing.

We are now compelled to convey the painful announcement that their search effort is now at an end. Here is the exact wording of the announcement, as received by a relative:

“The consular officials have been advised by the Hong Kong authorities that they have suspended the SAR operation. They have advised that:
1. The search has been an exhaustive and extensive one, since 6 October. HK authorities stated that they firmly believe they have done all they can.
2. The survivability after 10 days of searching is, they are confident, zero; particularly given the severity of weather that the yacht would have experienced according to the EPIRB data and the track of last week’s storm.
3. They have not had an EPIRB signal for a very long time, which means that the search area has now got too large to search with any remaining certainty.

SitRep (Situation Report) 2100h on 14 October:

Further to the sitrep at 1500, GFS tasked out another air sortie in this afternoon. The SAR aircraft was on scene at 1450 and off scene at 1800. Together with the area covered this morning, They have completed all assigned area. The weather was cloudy with good visibility during the operation. Nothing significant to report.
Having considered the most probable areas being searched and the extremely low possibility of locating any survivor, the search operation will be suspended on 15 October pending further new development of the case. HK MRCC will continue to advise vessels in the vicinity by shipping broadcast to maintain sharp lookout and report any sighting of survivor.

Please note that this is last SitRep on the subject.'