The White House renewed its sharp criticism of BP Plc CEO Tony Hayward after he attended a yacht race off the English coast on Saturday as his company struggles to plug its huge Gulf of Mexico oil leak.

“This has just been part of a long line of PR gaffes and mistakes,” White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said in an interview taped for ABC’s “This Week” week program, referring to Hayward.

Sheila Williams, a spokeswoman for the British energy giant, said Hayward attended the boat race at the Isle of Wight, saying he was spending some time with his teenage son after devoting most of the past two months away from family.