Legendary BBC star who solved baffling mystery dies aged 86 as family pay tribute to his ‘amazing life’

A LEGENDARY BBC star who once solved a baffling mystery has died aged 86.

Craig Rich joined the BBC Spotlight team in Plymouth in 1978 and held the position for 25 years.

The former presenter died on December 1 and leaves behind his wife Pat, to whom he was married for 62 years, and their three children Jo, Sarah and Thomas.

Mr Rich’s family said he “died peacefully” and that it was now a time to celebrate his life.

Craig was the first and longest-serving regional weather forecaster.

He famously discovered the truth about Donald Crowhurst, the yachtsman who mysteriously vanished from his trimaran in the mid-Atlantic.

The Devon inventor made headlines breaking speed records as he piloted his plywood boat in a round-the-world race, using self-designed navigational aids.

He seemed set to win a £5,000 prize — worth £85,000 today — for posting the fastest solo time, plus global publicity for his gadgets.

But for the final month there was radio silence from his leaky vessel, the Teignmouth Electron.

It was found adrift in the South Atlantic on July 10, 1969, with nobody aboard.

Rich’s suspicions that Crowhurst’s claims of making good progress were not all they seemed had been aroused by “some very odd messages and claimed records”.

He was asked to examine the log books by Sunday Times editor Harold Evans.

Rich found that Donald’s log books revealed he had lied about his position in the race — before apparently taking his own life.

Rich was subsequently involved in helping Nicholas Tomalin and Ron Hall write The Strange Voyage of Donald Crowhurst, and was interviewed about the tragedy for documentaries.

Crowhurst’s body was never found.

Craig Rich was born in Plymouth on February 3 1938 and, after evacuation during the war, attended Devonport High School for Boys.

At just 16-years-old he went to sea as a cadet with Ellerman Lines and became navigating officer aged 20.

Before joining the BBC in 1978, Craig had served in the Merchant Navy, a position he held for 12 years.

The main routes he sailed were between South Africa and the UK.

And in 1968 he was navigation adviser to The Sunday Times, sponsors of the single-handed Round the World Yacht Race.

It was the first non-stop round-the-world yacht race, and at a time before GPS and support crews it was a gruelling test of physical and mental stamina.

The race was controversial because no evidence of sailing experience was required to enter, and because, of the nine men who set off, only one, Robin Knox-Johnston, finished.

Rich was a fully-qualified master mariner and an extra master mariner.