Jane Kelvey recounts 20 nautical miles off the Isle of Wight — Newspaper Headlines

Jane and Alan Kelvey were sailing their 12-metre yacht Bright Future toward Cherbourg when they encountered a Russian frigate in the Channel on Tuesday morning, and Jane Kelvey said warning shots were fired near them about 20 nautical miles from the Isle of Wight. She said the couple had left Lymington, Hampshire, at 4am and were halfway across the Channel when the warship appeared.

Jane Kelvey said, “We actually had right of way,” but added, “But we weren’t going to argue with a warship.” She said she heard “five loud blasts” followed by “a whipcrack sound,” and added: “You can tell when a gun’s been fired. You know that noise.”

Bright Future and Admiral Grigorovich

The Kelveys said the vessel was not showing on the automatic identification system, and Jane Kelvey said they saw Cyrillic lettering on the side of the 125-metre Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich. She said the warship sounded its horn and the yacht changed course. The Ministry of Defence said it regarded the matter as a “nautical incident.”

Moscow’s account at sea

Moscow said the crew of Admiral Grigorovich saw a vessel proceeding under engine power on a direct course toward them. It said radio contact was attempted multiple times and signal flares were launched. Jane Kelvey said, “We don’t want world war three to start because of this.”

Kelveys after Uxbridge

The couple had already completed a similar sailing adventure in 2024 after retiring from the signage business they built in Uxbridge, west London. Their account places a civilian yacht and a Russian warship in the same encounter, with each side giving a different account of how the meeting at sea began.