Missing yachstman found safe off the South Coast

After major search Port Erin and Port St Mary RNLI lifeboats eventually located him 6 miles west of Niarbyl.

A man who was feared dead after his yacht went missing off the Isle of Man has been found safe and well.

A major search was launched yesterday after he left the Peel on Sunday night and didn't get to his destination in Northern Ireland. He was due to arrive in Ardglass fishing port on the County Down coast.

The alarm was raised by his brother who couldn't get hold of his mobile phone.

A helicopter aircraft and lifeboats were dispatched in a bid to find the yachstman.

Belfast Coastguard called out the Southdown and Bangor Coastguard rescue teams to undertake a search of harbours, marinas and anchorages. Other harbours and marinas are being checked around the Isle of Man and the Liverpool area.

At 02.37pm the Isle of Man authorities managed to get a fix on his mobile phone on one of the rare occasions that it was switched on which indicated that he was still in the area of the Isle of Man. The coordination of the incident was transferred to Liverpool Coastguard, who requested the launch of the Port Erin and Port St Mary RNLI lifeboats who eventually located him 6 miles west of Niarbyl, Isle of Man.

After they checked he was OK and determining what communications equipment he had, which in this case was a mobile phone that had gone flat and a hand held VHF radio that was turned down, the sailor was confident that he would continue his passage to Ardglass.

Su Daintith, Watch Manager, Liverpool Coastguard said: 'We are pleased that this sailor has been located safe and well and hope that he learns from this sailing experience that good communications and knowing how to use them are a vital part of equipment on any sailing trip.
You can always register your vessel with our small yacht and boat safety scheme CG66 and we would advise sailors that they can always let us know their passage plan.'