Search for missing Essex sailor Duncan Lougee stood down as boat found

Duncan Lougee, who worked in Ipswich, set sail from Plymouth as part of the Jester Challenge at midday on 18 June

A search for a sailor who went missing while taking part in a single-handed sailing challenge has been stood down after his boat was found.

Duncan Lougee, from Essex, set sail from Plymouth as part of the Jester Challenge at midday on 18 June.

There had been no contact since his departure and he had been due to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, on 22 June.

UK Marine and Coastguard Agency said he was not on his yacht when it was found off the coast of Cornwall on Thursday.

It said his fibreglass boat, the Minke, was found 70 miles (113km) north west off Trevose Head.

The Minke, a 25ft fibreglass boat, was found off the coast of Cornwall but Mr Lougee was not on board

Mr Lougee, who lived in Dedham near Colchester, was taking part in the single-handed sailing challenge with a plan to sail to the finish in County Cork via the Isles of Scilly.

He was described as an "experienced yacht broker, boat builder and sailor" who had undertaken many miles of sailing.

They included single-handedly crossing the Atlantic Ocean and making three return trips from Plymouth to the Azores.

He is a director at Clarke & Carter yacht brokers, which has a main office at Levington marina, on the Orwell estuary, near Ipswich.

The UK Marine & Coastguard Agency said: "The search for the yacht Minke and its skipper, who was taking part in the single-handed Jester Challenge, from Plymouth to Baltimore, Ireland, has been stood down. "The yacht was found on 29 June approximately 70 miles north-west off Trevose Head, Cornwall; sadly the skipper was not on the vessel."

Devon & Cornwall Police said the boat was due to be brought to shore and Mr Lougee's next of kin had been informed of the latest situation.