The loss of one of his most prized possessions no longer matters to Kai Gr?newald in the light of recent tragic events.

The , his 60-foot yacht, was abandoned 300 miles northeast of Bermuda on November 29, the first in a series of events that culminated in the deaths of Bermudian sailors Alan Edness and Micah Battersbee last week.

The two men, along with skipper Robert (Bobby) Lambe, set sail from Bermuda on board the last Monday morning in a bid to retrieve the abandoned vessel. Returning home the next day in treacherous seas, their vessel was struck by a freak wave. The bodies of Mr. Edness and Mr. Battersbee have still not been recovered.

Speaking for the first time about the tragedy last night, Mr. Gr?newald said: "Our thoughts are with the families of those lost at sea last week in the search for the

"My family and I are shattered with the tragedy that has befallen the two Bermudian fishermen.

"In November, I was relieved when the delivery crew had been rescued without injury or worse.

"I feel terrible that now, after more than six weeks, two people have lost their lives in connection with the events around my yacht.

"We have missed the , since her abandonment in November and we were having a very bad time trying to come to terms with her loss.

"Now all this seems nothing compared to the horrible recent events. We feel extremely sorry for the loved ones of the two crew members missing and for Bobby Lambe, who also has to come to terms with all this."

The Gr?newalds wanted the returned, as she is a classic yacht, which they were hoping to restore.

But four-crew members delivering her from Jersey City to St. Marten when they ran into trouble. When rescued by the they were sailing in 20-foot seas.

After being abandoned, the was spotted by numerous passing ships and Mr. Gr?newald asked local fishermen go in search for her.

Mr. Lambe went out on an initial search for thein mid- December. Kirk Parris and his brother-in-law Sloan Paul Wakefield searched for her on the when they ran into trouble about 54 miles north-east of Northrock on New Year's Day.

Last night Mr.Gr?newald said : "The had become an intricate part of our family, so we were devastated and we missed her when she had been abandoned. Whether we get her back or not, no moment will ever pass that we forget the two people who lost their lives in connection with her."