Fears grow over yacht missing for a week after leaving Plymouth

Fears grow over captain of yacht which set off from Plymouth in solo challenge race and was due to arrive in Ireland seven days ago

• Captain Duncan Lougee and his yacht The Minke departed Plymouth on June 18 
• It was due to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland on June 22 but has been no contact  

Fears are growing over the captain of a missing yacht that set off from Plymouth and was due to arrive in Ireland seven days ago. 

The coastguard has issued a public appeal to help find captain Duncan Lougee of ‘The Minke’, which was due to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, last Thursday but has now been missing for over a week.

It had departed from Plymouth, Devon, just four days earlier on June 18 to make the 300-mile journey.

However, there has been no contact with the 25ft-long fibreglass vessel since it left.

HM Coastguard says that the skipper, described as being in his late 60s, was taking part in the single-handed Jester Challenge, with a plan to sail the route via the Isles of Scilly.

Fears are growing for Captain Duncan Lougee, who went missing alongside his yacht on June 18 after leaving Plymouth

‘The Minke’ was due to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, last Thursday nut has now been missing for 11 days

The other 43 vessels taking part in the challenge have arrived safely, and the Coastguard are seeking any information from the public about the disappearance.

The Minke is a folk boat with a white hull and white sails. The yacht’s sail number is FB597.

The missing sailor is described as being in his late 60s.

He was reportedly last seen near the Helford River at 2pm on Monday, June 19.

Mr Lougee is an experienced sailor having navigated the Atlantic three times solo, from Plymouth to Azores and back.

The yacht broker and boat builder has made the same trip from Devon to Baltimore, in County Cork, before.

The vessel is reportedly equipped with both an EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Beacon) and a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) – however, neither device has been activated. 

In a bid to solve the riddle, coastguards today issued a fresh appeal for anyone who may have seen the yacht.

The Minke is a folk boat with a white hull and white sails. The yacht’s sail number is FB597

They said: ‘The Minke is a 25ft fibreglass folkboat with a white hull and white sails. Her sail number is FB597.

‘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 are accounted for.

‘HM Coastguard has issued regular broadcasts and liaised with the Irish Coastguard, UK police and the RNLI.

‘If you have any information, please call the Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre on 01326 317575.

‘We urge all water users to keep an eye out and repost this in local water user groups.’

In a post on social media last weekend, a spokesperson for the Jester Challenge said: ‘Despite the best efforts of Falmouth MCA and the Irish Coastguard, including a fixed wing search of the area between the Scillies and Baltimore, Minke’s whereabouts are still unknown.

‘Everyone involved in the search for Duncan and Minke is perplexed by the absence of any sign of her position.’

The spokesperson said the vessel was equipped with both an EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Beacon) and a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). Neither device has been activated.

‘Hope has not yet been lost that after some major setback, Duncan is still trying to reach a safe haven’ the spokesperson said.

‘This is a particularly difficult time for Duncan’s partner Louise, who is showing great fortitude during the wait for some firm news and the thoughts of all the Jester Challengers, past and present, are with her.’

HM Coastguard says Lougee was taking part in the single-handed Jester Challenge, with a plan to sail the route via the Isles of Scilly

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