"Serious concern" has been raised over a missing solo yachtsman who was due to arrive in Falmouth on Tuesday.

Robin Davie, 67, left Les Sables d'Olonne in France on Saturday (January 5) and is now three days overdue on his 300 mile voyage.

He is an experienced seaman and has successfully sailed around the world on his own three times.

Speaking to the Packet, an acquaintance described him as "an individual".

Robin set out from the French port at 10.00am on Saturday and told his brother to expect him back on Tuesday. Nothing has been heard from him since.

His brother Rick reported him overdue on Wednesday morning.

Robin had entered the 2018 Golden Globe Race but ran out of time to complete his preparations, and was returning home to Cornwall intending to compete in the next GGR solo round the world race in 2022.

Race organisers said there was "serious concern" for him.

Falmouth Coastguard have been broadcasting alerts to all shipping in the area since the report came in on Wednesday morning.

No distress alerts have been received although Robin has not been in contact with his family.

Weather conditions have been light and variable for the past week. Davie's yacht, the Rustler 36 C'Est La Vie had recently undergone a complete refit including new mast and rigging, which had been fitted in Les Sables D'Olonne.

Robin Davie was born in St Agnes in 1951 and served in the merchant navy for 20 years.

He competed in the first BOC Challenge Around Alone Race in 1990 in yacht named Spirit of Cornwall, and went on to make his second and third solo circumnavigations in the 1994 and 1998 BOC races.