sailor after its crew found an overturned boat close to the US coast.

Sailors aboard the Bermuda Islander spotted the capsized trimaran Anna V off the Virginia coastline as it headed toward Salem, New Jersey on April 9.

They notified the US Coastguard and a search was initiated for a German sailor, Bernhard Fricke, who had been aboard the 31 foot vessel. Last night, authorities were planning to suspend the search after not finding the sailor.

A spokesman for the Bermuda Islander in New Jersey said the ship had relayed information on the empty vessel to the Coastguard, but was unable to do anything more because of the severity of the seas.

A life-raft appeared to be missing from the trimaran, according to the Coastguard.

The Bermuda Islander is expected back in Bermuda today.