Mary Unwin: Missing yachtswoman 'not believed to be alive'

Mary Unwin was sailing round Land's End at night when she disappeared

A yachtswoman from north Devon who went missing at sea six months ago is not believed to be alive, police say.

Mary Unwin disappeared last October while sailing her yacht, Seagair, from Mousehole in Cornwall to Bideford.

Wreckage of the 32ft (9.7m) vessel was discovered near Sennen Cove, west Cornwall, three days after the 65-year-old was last seen.

Devon and Cornwall Police said it was more than likely that she went down with her boat when it hit rocks.

Mother-of-four Mrs Unwin was on a 130-mile (210km) journey after setting off at about 18:30 BST on Saturday 13 October.

She was trying to sail around Land's End on her own at night - despite warnings not to - after buying the £32,000 yacht in Falmouth.

No body has ever been found.

Det Con Martin Hearn, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "With the witness accounts that we've got of Mrs Unwin's sailing abilities, we would consider that she set sail while not having enough experience and, unfortunately, an accident is the most likely cause [of her death]."