Search for missing Suffolk sailor stood down after boat found
His boat's been found, without him on board
Last updated 30th Jun 2023
Searches for a missing sailor from Suffolk have been stood down.
It's after Duncan Lougee's boat was found - without him on board.
The Coastguard told us, in a statement: "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 yesterday (29 June) approx. 70 miles North West off Trevose Head, Cornwall, sadly the skipper was not on the vessel."
Duncan worked for Clarke and Carter, an international yacht brokers based in Suffolk.
On their website, he's described as "a key member of the Suffolk team, bringing a huge technical knowledge of yacht construction gained from professional boat building over a number of years.
"He is our classic yacht expert and also a very experienced single handed sailor. In 2010 he took part in the Jester Challenge sailing single handed from Plymouth to Newport, Rhode Island in his Rustler 31 which has since been replaced by a classic trimaran."
What happened?
Duncan Lougee set off from Plymouth on 18th June in his boat, The Minke, a 25ft fibreglass folkboat with a white hull and white sails.
He was expected arrive in Baltimore, Ireland four days later, on 22nd June, but there's been no contact since he set sail.
The skipper was taking part in the single-handed Jester Challenge, with a plan to sail the route via the Isles of Scilly.
All other vessels taking part in the challenge are accounted for.
Multiple rescue agencies were involved in the search.