The
family of a missing yachting couple are appealing to sailors in
the Caribbean for information.

Arthur
Alleyne – known as Captain Sam – and his wife Sharon Went Alleyne haven’t been
heard from since sailing their yacht Serenity from Barbados, en route to St
Lucia.

The
Serenity is a 47ft fiberglass sloop with a white hull, teak deck and a light
blue bimini.

Last
contact was 2pm on 25 October. But daughter Tao Alleyne, from Wales, said a
strange voicemail came in to one if the docks phones at 3:15pm Sunday. In that
voicemail, there was only the sound of wind blowing and water lapping. We don’t
know what that means.

Tao
Alleyne appealed on Facebook: ‘Friends in the Caribbean! Please if you hear of anything
or see anything or can do anything please please let us know!

‘My
siblings and I are grateful for any and all help! My parents were caught in a
storm and there’s a possibility they’ve been thrown off course and are just
drifting so please keep an ear out regardless of where you are in the island chain.

‘The
yacht is 47ft and is called The Serenity. They only have VHS, no GPS or AIS.’

Martinique
and Barbados sent out search and rescue planes from the evening of 26 October.

St.
Lucia marine police have also joined in the search.

Tao added: ‘We
believe the boat had engine trouble and they’ve lost power. No one has been
able to raise them on VHF, sadly their only form of comm.

‘They
both have iPhones, and we have explored their GPS option also, sadly, it only
works if the phones are on, which they are not.

Daughter
Nicola Shepherd said: ‘My dad Arthur and my stepmother Sharon have been missing
at sea since Saturday.

‘They
were sailing from St Lucia to Barbados, an easy sail and one my dad has
possibly done hundreds of times.

‘Searches
from Barbados, St Lucia and Martinique have been ongoing with no sightings so
far. My siblings and I are now appealing for anyone in any surrounding islands
with access to boats, light aircraft or helicopters to join in the search. Our
hope is that the yacht may be drifting.

‘We
thank you all for any assistance that you may be able to offer.’