Search for missing lone yachtswoman called off: UPDATE (From Falmouth Packet)

Search for missing lone yachtswoman called off: UPDATE

6:00pm Monday 15th October 2012 in News By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

UPDATE: October 15. 7pm

Coastguards have confirmed that the search for a missing 65-year-old yachtsman has been called off .

Mrs Unwin was reported missing after setting off from Mousehole on Saturday evening, heading for Bideford in north Devon.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said said that the search has now "ceased".

The agency added that yacht wreckage found at Sennen Cove on Monday was "likely" to be that of the Seagair after coastguard teams compared photographs of the yacht with the wreckage.

UPDATE: October 15. 2.30pm

The wreckage of a yacht has been found by coastguards searching for a missing 65-year-old yachtswoman Mary Unwin.

Hopes are fading for Mrs Unwin's safe return after the wreckage was discovered at Sennen Cove during an air and sea search.

Mrs Unwin was reported missing after setting off from Mouseholeon Saturday evening, heading for Bideford in north Devon.

Coastguards said the wreckage was being analysed.

The £32,000 Seagair yacht was reported to have been purchased in Falmouth last Thursday.

October 15. 9am

Lifeboat crews from three RNLI stations in the far west of Cornwall were called out to search after Mrs Unwin left Mousehole on Saturday.

Mrs Unwin, aged 65, set off at around 6.30pm heading for Bideford in North Devon onboard the 31 foot yacht Seagair.

Falmouth coastguard say the alarm was raised when no-one heard from her after she set sail.

Three volunteer RNLI crews from Penlee, Sennen Cove and St Ives were launched at around 2am this morning to search along the coastline.

The Coxswains report that there was a lot of wash on the shoreline and it was a very dark night to be searching.

All three lifeboat teams stayed at sea until 6.30am this morning but didn't find anything.

The three RNLI lifeboat crews have now returned to station. It's understood an air search is now getting underway involving helicopters from RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall and RMB Chivenor in North Devon.

Coastguards are also appealing to local people to keep their eyes open for a 31ft blue and white yacht.