Off Philippines | Yacht missing with 2 Britons, American, Canadian, Filipino

A yacht carrying two Britons, an American, a Canadian and a Filipino disappeared while sailing in waters that were lashed by a storm last week, the Philippine coast guard said yesterday.
Philippine and Hong Kong authorities have dispatched search planes and alerted ships, but the yacht Europa has not been found in the South China Sea area where it last emitted a distress signal, Philippine coast guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said.
The British Embassy in Manila confirmed two of its nationals were on board. “We are liaising urgently with the local authorities concerning search and rescue operations and providing support to the families,” it said in a statement.
The 18.2-meter (60-foot) yacht left Hong Kong on Thursday and was supposed to arrive in Subic Bay northwest of Manila not later than Monday. An emergency position-indicating radio beacon on the boat was activated Saturday, indicating the vessel was experiencing difficulties, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club said in a statement.
Hong Kong’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre dispatched a search plane and passing ships were asked to be on the lookout.
“No yacht, life raft or debris was detected,” the club said.
The Hong Kong-registered boat was owned and skippered by Robin Wyatt with four crewmembers, who were all experienced sailors, according to the club. The Philippine coast guard identified Wyatt as one of the two Britons on board the Europa.
A tropical storm, Mujigae, blew out of the northern Philippines on Saturday and intensified at sea into a powerful typhoon before slamming into the southern Chinese province of Guangdong the following day. At least 10 people were killed in both countries, Chinese and Philippine authorities said.
More than 200 Filipino fishermen were reported missing in Mujigae’s aftermath, including many who ventured out to sea from the northwestern Philippine provinces of Pangasinan and La Union despite warnings of rough sea conditions, Manila’s Office of Civil Defense said.
Many sailed back safely after taking shelter somewhere and others were rescued but a few dozen fishermen remain missing, officials said. Jim Gomez, Manila, AP