Missing British sailor found in North Sea
A British yachtsman who went missing for a week has been found alive and well on his yacht in the North Sea.
Charles Pickering, 69, from East Yorkshire, sparked a rescue operation after not contacting his family for one week.
Humber Coastguard launched an extensive air and sea search, and spent more than a day searching 5,000 square miles of the North Sea between Scarborough and Heligoland in Germany, The Northern Echo reports.
His family last heard from him while he was sailing near the Keil Canal in Germany.
Pickering was found 80 miles off Spurn Point after setting off an emergency beacon from his 17ft yacht Equinox.
He said his yacht had been blown off course by the storm.
Mike Green, watch manager at Humber Coastguard, told the BBC: "We are all absolutely delighted that this gentleman has been found alive and well.
"It is important that yachtsmen planning this sort of passage have adequate communications and log a passage plan with a shore contact."
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