The families of three missing Bermudian fishermen are refusing to give up hope that they will be found.

Brothers Randy Outerbridge, 30, and Geoffrey Outerbridge, 25, and Geaige Minks, 26, have been missing on the boat Simply Red since Tuesday morning.

Marine Police, Government and the US Navy are continuing an air and sea search of waters in an around the Island.

The search has covered an area well in excess of 1,000 square miles despite being hampered by this week's turbulent weather conditions. It has involved the US NAS helicopter, the US Coast Guard Hercules and a number of boats.

But so far searches offshore and inquiries on land have failed to turn up any evidence about what has happened to Simply Red .

At Mr. Minks' home in Happy Valley Road, Pembroke, his family were comforting his mother Mrs. Barbara Smith, and waiting for any news.

Mrs. Smith said: "I had no idea Geaige had gone out fishing with his friends.

The first I knew was when I heard the boat had not returned to its mooring on Wednesday morning.

"I did hear that a boat was missing but I feared it might be my other son who is a commercial fisherman.'' Mr. Minks' aunt, Mrs. Phyllis Simons said that the three boys had been friends since childhood. "They grew up together in Cedar Hill,'' she said.

Mrs. Simons said that the family had only found out that the boat was missing on Wednesday, but since then they had been kept informed by Marine Police Sgt.

Paul Cranage.

"It is a difficult time but all we can do is hope and pray. We are listening to the radio for any news and Sgt. Cranage is calling us regularly.'' Mrs. Simons said that the boat was well equipped and had flares and life jackets and a radio on board which was helping them to believe that it could have survived the storms.

Mother of the two brothers, Mrs. Verona Outerbridge only arrived back in the Island, from a trip abroad, on Wednesday night.

Her brother, former Police officer Mr. Custerfield Crockwell said that Mrs.

Outerbridge and father Mr. Arthur (Cracker) Outerbridge were very upset by the events.

"The weather is starting to break down and we are hoping for some favourable new developments,'' said Mr. Crockwell.

Sgt. Cranage, detailing how the search was proceeding, said: "While we are still searching we never give up hope of finding something.

"Our boats are concentrating on the inshore areas while the aircraft can cover a much larger area. If the boat is still afloat there is a very good chance that we will find it. Our problem is that there is such a large area to cover.'' He asked that all ships and aircraft keep on the lookout for the red and white, 21 foot Cutty cabin open cockpit, pleasure boat.

Meanwhile, Harbour Radio, which is co-ordinating the search, has been stung by an allegation that it ignored a distress call from the three men. The allegation was during an interview on ZBM-TV.

Director of Marine and Ports Services, Mr. Ron Ross said: "Reports from Harbour Radio indicate that the call received from the Simply Red was not a distress call.

"When the radio signal became unreadable, broadcasts were made on numerous VHF channels in an attempt to obtain further information on the location of the vessel or the reason for their call. The results were negative.

"Other vessels were known to be operating in the area southwest of Bermuda and there had been no reports made up to that time of any vessel seen in difficulty.

"The persons interviewed on television obviously were listening on only one channel and did not know of the radio traffic between Harbour Radio and vessels at sea on all the other channels.'' Mr. Crockwell said that he would be looking into the matter and said he was "dissatisfied'' with some of the reports on ZBM.

SIMPLY RED -- The missing boat, pictured before it was bought by Mr. Randy Outerbridge.

MR. GEAIGE MINKS -- lost at sea.