Major search for missing yacht

Yacht missing en route from Peel to Northern Ireland.

A major search is underway after a yacht has gone missing en route from the Isle of Man to Northern Ireland.

The boat was heading for Ardglass fishing port on the County Down coast after leaving the Island last night but still hasn't arrived.

At 09.00am this morning Belfast Coastguard were contacted by the concerned brother of a sailor.

He had last communicated with his brother yesterday morning when he departed Peel on his way to Ardglass in Northern Ireland.

He had declared that he would call his brother on his arrival at 21.00 yesterday evening. He did not make that call.

This afternoon the focus of the search moved to an area south of the Isle of Man, and Liverpool coastguard are co-ordinating the search.

An aircraft from the Republic of Ireland has been assisting in the search. Port Erin and Port St Mary lifeboats joined in the search at around 5PM.

It's understood the man had been living on his boat in Liverpool and left the city on Friday night for Peel.