Search begins for missing yacht

Efforts are underway to try and locate a yacht off the southwest coast.

The vessel, which had been en-route from Bermuda to West Cork, is overdue by almost a week.

The 32-foot yacht, Golden Eagle, left Bermuda in the middle of last month, and had been due to arrive in Crookhaven in Co Cork last week.

However, it never arrived, there has been no radio contact, and concern is growing for the safety of the two man crew.

Coastguard officials fear it got into difficulty during the Atlantic crossing, with the vessel at sea during the tail end of Hurricane Katia.

The Defence Forces said a number of ships and the Air Corps Casa patrol aircraft were on normal operating duties, including fisheries patrol, but have been put on alert to look out for the yacht.

“We have ships at sea and there are of course airborne maritime patrols ongoing anyway, so of course we will be very much on the lookout for any signs of this vessel, in accordance with the request from Valentia Coast Guard,” he said.

Ireland’s fisheries zone, which is regulated by Naval vessels, extends to about 370km (230 miles) off the coast.