Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The families of five British sailors arrested after apparently straying into Iranian waters en route to  Dubai voiced relief yesterday after the men were released and headed for the emirate.

The Foreign Office said the men were being towed on their yacht into international waters after being arrested by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a week ago as they sailed from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in a race.

Beverly Porter, the mother of 21-year-old Luke Porter, said she had felt “elation” when she received the phone call telling her the news.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband confirmed the men and their boat were helped away from Iranian waters, and were expected to arrive in Dubai last night.

Beverly Porter said: “It does look like there was a problem with the boat - the boys are being not only towed out from Siri Island but also being met by Team Pindar to tow them.

“So obviously (there were) serious problems with the boat which would confirm what we always thought in the first place, it was just an accident.”

It is believed the men, who worked for sailing company Team Pindar, had been detained after the yacht had drifted into Iranian waters after suffering mechanical failure as they headed to the UAE for the Dubai - Muscat Offshore Sailing Race.

Luke Porter’s father Charles said he was relieved that the sailors had not been drawn into a diplomatic row at a time of heightened tension between Britain and Iran over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme.

“That was our greatest fear yesterday, that it appeared they may be used as some form of bargaining tool.

If that had happened, the situation would have been far more protracted,” he said.

Edwin Smith, the father of crew member Oliver Smith, 31, added: “The Iranian authorities have accepted that this was an unintentional error by five sailors who were keen to get to Dubai in time to start their race, and nothing more.”