The day before the British yachtsmen triggered their PLBs (search now abandoned - see other story), three French sailors were luckier.

Their 42-foot sailboat was 1200 miles E of Cape Code, Thursday, when they triggered their PLB. Their capsized boat was located by the USCG HC-130 flying out of Nova Scotia, and a Spanish fishing vessel took them on board.

News Story - three sailors rescued
_________________________
A signal mirror should backup a radio distress signal, like a 406 MHz PLB (ACR PLB) (Ocean Signal PLB)