The Kingdom of Bahrain was sailing from its home base to Dubai to take part in a race when its crew was apparently picked up by the Iranian authorities.

They'd reported problems with the propeller of their Volvo 60 class yacht to race officials.

The five British crew members are now being held in Iran and have been since November 25.
 
Sir Richard Dalton is a former British ambassador to Iran.

[Sir Richard Dalton, Former British Ambassador to Iran]:   
"The British government will want to find out whether the Iranians intend to charge these British citizens with an offence. In the past, yachtsmen who have strayed into Iranian waters inadvertently have been investigated for potential links with espionage and that has never been proved against anybody that I am aware of in this circumstance, and then they have looked at the question of illegal entry into Iranian waters."

Two years ago Iranian forces seized eight British Navy sailors and seven marines from a waterway between Iran and Iraq.

They were freed unharmed a few weeks later as a "gift" from Iran's President.

One British Iranian journalist says Iran has a poor relationship with Britain.

[Shahab Mossavat, Journalist]:
"Iran sees Britain very much as its main challenger in the West. Mr. Obama in the White House since January has been much more willing to extend an olive branch to Iran, but not so Britain."

[Sir Richard Dalton, Former British Ambassador to Iran]:   
"In some cases yachtsmen have been released without charge. In others they have been charged, sentenced and have had to spend some time in an Iranian prison."

High level diplomacy is underway to try and secure the crew's release.

It's understood they are safe and being treated well.