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Vigil Will Honor Crew Of Missing Sailboat

Friends and family members will hold a vigil for the crew at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Newport Shipyard near the bridge to Goat Island.

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended a six-day search for a missing sailboat and its four sailors with Rhode Island ties on Sunday.

A spokesman said an air-and-sea search of an area larger than the size of Texas has shown neither debris, nor the large boat.

The 54-foot Flying Colors disappeared Monday in rough seas off the coast of North Carolina, hours after sending and electronic distress signal.

The search involved the Coast Guard, Air Force units, together with those from the Rhode Island, New York, Georgia and North Carolina Air National Guard.

They covered more than 282,000 square miles. Petty Officer Kip Wadlow said one of the hardest thing for the Coast Guard to do is call off a search without having found anybody.

The Coast Guard said it will investigate any lead or report on the Flying Colors or its crew.

Patrick Topping, 39, Jason Franks, 34, Rhiannon Borisoff, 22, and Christine Grinavic, 26, were sailing the boat from the U.S. Virgin Islands to Annapolis, Md.

Franks' mother and girlfriend said they're grateful for the efforts of the Coast Guard and the Rhode Island National Guard.

Now they are hoping the Flying Colours might be found by the crew of some other boat out on the ocean.

Carol Dale, of Wickford, has hung yellow buoys outside her home, hoping for the safe return of her son, Jason Franks, and his three friends.

All four have worked summers in Newport aboard various boats. Topping and Franks are experienced captains.

Friends and family members will hold a vigil for the crew at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Newport Shipyard near the bridge to Goat Island.