missing yacht the minke

Missing yacht has been found 50 miles off Pembrokeshire coast, minus its captain

The Minke yacht which vanished after leaving Plymouth to sail single-handedly to Ireland has been found, minus its captain, 50 miles west of St Anne’s Head.

Police have now confirmed that the search has been called off for Duncan Lougee following his disappearance on June 18.

A Irish fishing vessel spotted the yacht on Thursday, June 29 and Angle All-Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch by Milford Haven Coastguard to assist with the multi-agency search and recovery on the 110-mile round trip.

In the meantime an Irish coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117, had arrived on scene and a winchman was lowered onto the yacht, which had been overdue for six days. He was able to confirm that nobody was onboard.

Following the lifeboat’s arrival on scene, two crew members went onboard to inspect the vessel for any information that may have indicated the last known position of the casualty.

“At this point, R117 from Ireland left and was replaced by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R924 from Newquay, Cornwall,” said a spokesperson for Angle Lifeboat RNLI.

“Due to the nature of the incident and the extent of the search area, a coastguard search plane, Rescue 51 had also been tasked and was now on scene closely followed by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R187 from St Athan.

“With our crew members now onboard, new information was found indicating the last recorded position of the occupant.

“With the lifeboat out of VHF range, this information was passed to Rescue 51 for relay to Falmouth Coastguard and, following their discovery, all search assets were stood down as the new search area had shifted significantly south.”

Angle Lifeboat assists with the recovery of the Minke (Image: Angle RNLI)

Padstow Lifeboat proceed to tow the yacht back to Padstow harbour, with Angle Lifeboat crew passing a tow to the yacht to begin the journey south where the two lifeboats could rendezvous.

“After around an hour of towing, the Padstow Lifeboat arrived on scene and our crew members dropped the tow and assisted the crew of Padstow in attaching their tow to the vessel," said a spokesperson for Angle Lifeboat RNLI.

"Our crew were then recovered from the vessel and stood by for a short while until Padstow confirmed they had the tow rigged safely.

"After stowing the towline and fenders, Angle Lifeboat began the two hour passage back to Angle, where the lifeboat was recovered, refuelled and ready for further service by midnight."

Duncan Lougee was on his way to Baltimore in Ireland where he was expected to arrive on June 22 He was taking part in the single-handed Jester Challenge aboard his 25ft fibreglass folkboat ‘The Minke’.

The 70 year-old left Plymouth at around midday on June 18 and was expected to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, on June 22 after sailing via the Isles of Scilly.

But there had been no contact with him since his day of departure and Mr Lougee from Colchester, Essex, remains a missing person.

Duncan Lougee (Image: Newsquests)

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Devon and Cornwall Police can confirm that the missing yacht Minke has been located on Thursday 29 June by Ireland Coastguard, around 70 miles northwest of Trevose Head, Cornwall.

"It appears that no one was on the vessel and therefore the boats skipper, 70-year-old Duncan Lougee from Colchester, Essex, remains a missing person."

Detective Inspector Daniel Massey said: “Yacht Minke has been brought to shore and is currently docked in Padstow Harbour. We continue to liaise with partners including The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, and The Coroner’s Office in relation this matter.

“Whilst Mr Lougee remains officially a missing person, responsibility of searches in open water sits with the Coastguard. However, yacht Minke has been missing since it left Plymouth on Sunday 18 June, and initial enquires appear to show no fresh entries in the ships journal for at least nine days.

“Therefore, due to the potentially vast and prohibitive area of search at sea, at this time there is currently no new searches planned by Coastguard.”

He added: “This matter will remain under review and if any fresh information comes to light, this will be assessed accordingly. We have informed the family of these initial updates and our thoughts are with them at this time; the family of Duncan Lougee have asked for privacy.”

A spokesperson from HM Coastguard said: “Extensive searches were carried out and coordinated by HM Coastguard and the yacht found. The search was terminated once it became clear that the period of survivability had passed.”

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Urgent search for missing yacht The Minke which set sail from Plymouth

The skipper of The Minke left Plymouth on 18 June and was expected to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, on 22 June

• 15:42, 28 JUN 2023

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Coastguard crews are urgently searching for a missing sailor who they have lost contact with a week ago. The skipper of The Minke left Plymouth on 18 June and was expected to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, on 22 June.

But coastguards have said that there has been no contact with her since departure. Six days since she was due to arrive, they have still heard nothing.

The Minke is a 25ft fibreglass folkboat with a white hull and white sails. Her sail number is FB597. The Jester Challenge website names the skipper as Duncan Lougee.

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.

Boscastle Coastguard Team said: “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.”

The Jester Challenge sees skippers set sail from Plymouth Breakwater or Pwllheli Sailing Club with the finish at Baltimore Haven, when the line between Barrack Point light on the western side of the entrance and Loo Rock buoy on the eastern side of the entrance is crossed. The aim is to sail single-handed from Plymouth or from Pwllheli to Baltimore, Republic of Ireland, (ROI), a distance of about 250nm.

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Fears for missing sailor as yacht found drifting crewless off Cork coast

Uk registered ‘minke’ left plymouth on june 18th and was due in baltimore on june 22nd.

The UK registered yacht Minke left Plymouth on June 18th and was due in Baltimore in Co Cork on June 22nd. Photograph: Jester Challenge/Wordpress

The Irish Coast Guard has located a British yacht missing for a week off the Cork coast but has found no trace of its lone crew member, who it is feared may have fallen overboard and been lost at sea.

The UK registered yacht Minke left Plymouth on June 18th to take part in the Jester Challenge, which involved 43 vessels heading for Baltimore in west Cork in a non-racing 250 nautical mile voyage.

The Minke was skippered and crewed by Duncan Lougee, an experienced yachtsman, and was due to arrive in Baltimore on June 22nd. A search operation was launched when the yacht failed to arrive.

The Minke, like the other boats participating in the challenge, should have taken a route via the Isles of Scilly and Mr Lougee was last seen near the Helford River estuary in Cornwall at 2pm on June 19th.

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The Irish Coast Guard, which had been liaising with HM Coastguard based at Falmouth, Englang, received a report on Thursday afternoon of a boat matching the description of the Minke off east Cork.

The Waterford-based Irish Coast Guard Sikorski helicopter Rescue 117 was tasked to investigate. Shortly after 4.30pm it located the yacht 75 nautical miles southeast of Ballycotton.

A winchman was lowered on to the eight metre yacht and he reported there was no trace of anyone on board, prompting fears for Mr Lougee’s safety.

The Irish Coast Guard is liaising with HM Coast Guard as the vessel is in the British search and rescue zone and efforts are currently underway to secure the vessel and bring her under tow to land.

Mr Lougee, who was in his late 60s and from Dedham, Essex, is described as “an experienced sailor having navigated the Atlantic three times solo, from Plymouth to Azores and back”.

A yacht broker and boat builder, he had also made the trip from Devon to Baltimore previously. He took part in the Jester Challenge in 2010, sailing solo from Plymouth to Newport, Rhode Island.

The Minke was reportedly equipped with an EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Beacon) and a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon), but neither device had been activated.

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times

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Missing Minke yacht found floating off East Cork coast with no one onboard

Missing skipper Duncan Lougee hasn't been seen or heard from for 10 days

• 17:54, 29 JUN 2023
• Updated 17:56, 29 JUN 2023

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A boat spotted floating in the sea around 120 kilometres off the East Cork coast was searched by the Coast Guard today, who found no one onboard.

The Irish Coast Guard were alerted to a possible sighting of the missing Minke yacht, which was scheduled to come into West Cork from Plymouth in the southwest of England and is now seven days overdue.

The Waterford-based Coast Guard helicopter R117 was tasked to the scene of the boat approximately 75 miles South-East of Ballycotton this afternoon. A crew member from R117 boarded the vessel and conducted a visual check.

The Irish Coast Guard has confirmed that Duncan Lougee, the missing Minke skipper, was not onboard. As the vessel is positioned in the UK Search and Rescue Region, the UK authorities are continuing to coordinate the operation.

The Minke left Plymouth on June 18th and was scheduled to come into Baltimore on the 22nd. There has been no contact with it since its departure. The last sighting of Duncan and his yacht was near the Helford River in the south of England at 2 pm on Monday 19th June.

Duncan, who hails from the East of England, had been taking part in the 'Jester Challenge' and planned to sail from Plymouth to Baltimore via the Isles of Scilly. All other vessels that were taking part in the challenge have been accounted for.

He is an experienced sailor, having many miles of sailing including single-handedly crossing the Atlantic, and three trips from Plymouth to the Azores and back. He has also done this trip to Baltimore before.

His desperate family have shared appeals for information as UK police, RNLI stations in multiple jurisdictions, and multiple coast guard units are working with each other to try and account for him and the yacht.

The Irish Coast Guard said today: "This afternoon MRCC Dublin was advised of a possible sighting of the yacht ‘Minke’ approx. 75 miles South East of Ballycotton, Co Cork.

"The Waterford based Coast Guard helicopter R117, which was conducting a search in the vicinity, was immediately tasked to the scene. A crew member from R117 boarded the vessel and conducted a visual check. Unfortunately the missing skipper was not onboard.

"R117 has departed the scene. As the vessel is positioned in the UK Search and Rescue Region, the UK authorities are continuing to coordinate the operation."

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Search called off for missing yachtsman Duncan Lougee

The missing yacht Minke was located on Thursday, June 29, by Ireland Coastguard, around 70 miles northwest of Trevose Head, Cornwall. No-one was on board the vessel.

• 15:48, 30 JUN 2023
• Updated 15:59, 30 JUN 2023

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The search for a missing yachtsman who set sail from Plymouth and whose unmanned vessel was found floating in the sea has been called off. Coastguard crews have ended the search for the skipper of the boat who is feared to be lost at sea.

Duncan Lougee left Plymouth on The Minke - a 26ft Varne folkboat - at midday on June 18 and was expected to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, on June 22 as part of the single-handed Jester Challenge, with his plan to sail the route via the Isles of Scilly. But there was no communication from the skipper since his departure, which sparked a major search

Read More - Fears for sailor after yacht that left Devon found off Irish coast with no-one on board

Devon and Cornwall Police have said that while they continue to liaise with partners and that the 70-year-old remains a missing person, there are currently no new searches planned by Coastguard. The family of Duncan, from Colchester, Essex, have been informed and have asked for privacy

Detective Inspector Daniel Massey said: “Yacht Minke has been brought to shore and is currently docked in Padstow Harbour. We continue to liaise with partners including The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, and The Coroner’s Office in relation to this matter.

“Whilst Mr Lougee remains officially a missing person, responsibility of searches in open water sits with the Coastguard. However, yacht Minke has been missing since it left Plymouth on Sunday, June 18, and initial inquiries appear to show no fresh entries in the ships journal for at least nine days.

“Therefore, due to the potentially vast and prohibitive area of search at sea, at this time there are currently no new searches planned by Coastguard. This matter will remain under review and if any fresh information comes to light, this will be assessed accordingly. We have informed the family of these initial updates and our thoughts are with them at this time; the family of Duncan Lougee have asked for privacy.”

A spokesperson from HM Coastguard added: “Extensive searches were carried out and coordinated by HM Coastguard and the yacht found. The search was terminated once it became clear that the period of survivability had passed.”

Mr Lougee is a yacht broker, boat builder and experienced sailor. He has previously solo navigated crossing the Atlantic in three trips from Plymouth to Azores and back. He has also done the same trip to Baltimore before, the Mirror reports.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Urgent search for yachtsman missing for a week on solo boat challenge

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The coastguard has issued an urgent appeal for a yacht that has been missing for more than a week.

Fears are growing over the whereabouts of ‘The Minke’ and skipper Duncan Lougee – as it was due to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, last Thursday.

It had departed from Plymouth , Devon, just four days earlier on June 18.

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

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

All other vessels 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, measuring 6ft 1in and likely wearing glasses, Musto oilskins and waterproof boots.

He was reportedly last seen near 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.

He is also understood to have made the same crossing to Baltimore on a previous occasion. He is employed as a yacht broker and boat builder.

Sailing blogger Sallu Lucy-Ann Stamford confirmed on Monday (June 26), that all yachts and skippers taking part in the Jester Challege have either arrived at Baltimore or retired to another port of their choice, with the exception of Duncan Lougee and his 25’ Folkboat Minke.

‘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,’ she said.

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

‘Duncan is carrying both an EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Beacon) and a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon), neither of which have been activated.

‘Conditions in the Celtic Sea have generally been benign throughout the last week, further contributing to the puzzle.

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

‘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.’

The Department of Transport said the Coast Guard is currently ‘collaborating with UK MCA [Maritime and Coastguard Agency] in assisting with a request for any sightings or reports of the yacht’.

If anyone has any sightings of The Minke or of Duncan Lougee, they are asked to call the Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre on 01326 317575.

A spokesperson said: ‘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.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Update: Signs that missing Cork-bound sailor hadn't made entry in ship's journal in 9 days

LAST UPDATE | Jun 30th 2023, 4:01 PM

DEVON AND CORNWALL Police have said that there are signs that the now missing sailor who was journeying from Plymouth to Cork on a solo challenge hadn’t made a fresh entry in the ship’s journal in at least nine days. 

The search for Duncan Lougee, an experienced boatsman who was partaking in the ‘Jester Challenge’ that was to see him dock in Baltimore, Cork, has been stood down. 

Today Detective Inspector Daniel Massey said that the ship Lougee had been aboard, but was found empty with no indication of his whereabouts, has been docked in Cornwall.

“Whilst Mr Lougee remains officially a missing person, responsibility of searches in open water sits with the Coastguard. However, yacht Minke has been missing since it left Plymouth on Sunday 18 June, and initial enquires appear to show no fresh entries in the ships journal for at least nine days.

“Therefore, due to the potentially vast and prohibitive area of search at sea, at this time there is currently no new searches planned by Coastguard,” he said. 

Massey further stated: “We have informed the family of these initial updates and our thoughts are with them at this time; the family of Duncan Lougee have asked for privacy.”

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said that extensive searches were coordinated, but that the search was stood down once the “period of survivability had passed”. 

Sighting off Cork coast led to ship being found 

Duncan Lougee, an experienced boat builder and sailor, set sail from Plymouth, Devon for Baltimore on the Cork coast on 18 June in his yacht the ‘Minke’ and was expected to have arrived by the 22nd.

The Dublin Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was advised of a possible sighting of the Minke 120 kilometres south east of Ballycotton, Co Cork yesterday and Coast Guard helicopter R117 was dispatched, the Irish Coast Guard said.

Upon discovering that Duncan Lougee was not aboard, R117 departed the scene and the yacht drifted south east into UK territory.

In a statement issued this morning, the UK Coast Guard said:

“The yacht was found yesterday approx. 70 miles North West off Trevose Head, Cornwall, sadly the skipper was not on the vessel.”

The Jester Challenge issued a statement on its website  this morning paying its respects to Duncan Lougee.

“The UK authorities took over, sending a helicopter and a lifeboat to retrieve  Minke.”

“Duncan, tragically, was no longer on board. When and how he had become parted from his much-loved  Minke  is yet to be determined. The investigations of the UK coastguard and the Devon and Cornwall Police continue.”

“In the meantime the Jester Challenge community holds firm and sends its full support to Duncan’s nearest and dearest.”

- Additional reporting by Jamie Mc Carron. 

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Search called off for missing Essex sailor after yacht found with no-one aboard

The yaught Minke, on which Mr Lougee was sailing, went missing off the Cornish coast

• 18:16, 30 JUN 2023

The Coastguard's search for a missing yachtsman from Essex off the coast of Cornwall has been called off nine days after he went missing. The yacht Minke, sailed solo by Duncan Lougee, from Colchester, was found 70 miles northwest of Trevose Head, Cornwall but with no one aboard.

Mr Lougee, 70, who is now feared lost at sea, left Plymouth in the 26ft yacht at midday on June 18 and was expected to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, on June 22 as part of the single-handed Jester Challenge, with his plan to sail the route via the Isles of Scilly.

But there was no communication from Minke since its departure which sparked a major search. In a major development since, the Minke was located by Irish Coastguard 70 miles from the coast but with no one found aboard, our sister publication CornwallLive reports .

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A spokesperson from HM Coastguard said: “Extensive searches were carried out and coordinated by HM Coastguard and the yacht found. The search was terminated once it became clear that the period of survivability had passed.”

Devon and Cornwall Police said that while they continue to liaise with partners and that the 70-year-old remains a missing person, there are currently no new searches planned by Coastguard. The family of Mr Lougee have been informed of this by police and have asked for privacy

Detective Inspector Daniel Massey said: “Yacht Minke has been brought to shore and is currently docked in Padstow Harbour. We continue to liaise with partners including The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, and The Coroner’s Office in relation to this matter.

“Whilst Mr Lougee remains officially a missing person, the responsibility of searches in open water sits with the Coastguard. However, yacht Minke has been missing since it left Plymouth on Sunday, June 18, and initial inquiries appear to show no fresh entries in the ships journal for at least nine days.

“Therefore, due to the potentially vast and prohibitive area of search at sea, at this time there are currently no new searches planned by Coastguard. This matter will remain under review and if any fresh information comes to light, this will be assessed accordingly. We have informed the family of these initial updates and our thoughts are with them at this time; the family of Duncan Lougee have asked for privacy.”

Mr Lougee is a yacht broker, boat builder and experienced sailor. He has previously solo navigated crossing the Atlantic in three trips from Plymouth to Azores and back. He has also done the same trip to Baltimore before, the Mirror reports.

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Major search operation launched for yacht which had been due to arrive in Cork seven days ago

A major search operation has been launched for a yacht which had been due to arrive in West Cork seven days ago.

The 25ft yacht ‘Minke’ departed Plymouth on June 18 and was set to arrive in Baltimore on June 22, with no contact since the departure.

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Duncan Lougee is the sole occupant onboard the yacht, and his sail number is FB597.

Mr Lougee had been taking part in the Jester Challenge, a 250-nautical-mile sail from the southwest of England to West Cork, with the isles of Scilly.

All other participants in the boating challenge have been accounted for.

According to Cork Beo, the missing boat is a 25ft fibreglass folk boat with a tall white hull and white sails.

The sailor had been participating in the Jester Challenge with plans to sail from Plymouth to Baltimore, via the Isles of Scilly.

According to reports from Cork Beo, multiple coast guard stations across the United Kingdom are appealing for information on the missing boat.

‘”The Minke” left Plymouth on 18 June and was expected to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, on 22 June. There has been no contact since departure, however, and as of today (Wednesday 28 June) she is six days overdue,’ an appeal from His Majesty’s Coastguard reads.

‘”The Minke” is a 25ft fibreglass folk-boat with a white hull and white sails. Her sail number is FB597.’

The appeal added that ‘regular broadcasts’ have been issued, and HM Coastguard have ‘liaised with the Irish Coastguard, UK police and the RNLI .’

Anyone with any information is requested to contact Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre on 01 326 317 575.

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Cornwall police statement on missing yacht skipper Duncan Lougee

• West Country
• north cornwall
• HM Coastguard
• Friday 30 June 2023 at 5:20pm

No new searches are planned for the skipper of a yacht that went missing last week.

Duncan Lougee, 70, from Colchester, Essex, left Plymouth aboard his yacht Minke on 18 June and was expected to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, four days later.

However, when he did not turn up on time, search teams swung into action and yesterday his boat was found by the Ireland Coastguard, 70 miles off the Cornish coast.

Today, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed Mr Lougee was not aboard the vessel when it was located and there had been no fresh entries in the ship's journal for at least nine days.

He remains a missing person, but the coastguard said the search for him had been stood down.

Detective Inspector Daniel Massey said: “Yacht Minke has been brought to shore and is currently docked in Padstow Harbour.

"We continue to liaise with partners including The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, and The Coroner’s Office in relation this matter.

“Whilst Mr Lougee remains officially a missing person, responsibility of searches in open water sits with the Coastguard.

"However, yacht Minke has been missing since it left Plymouth on Sunday 18 June, and initial enquiries appear to show no fresh entries in the ships journal for at least nine days.

“Therefore, due to the potentially vast and prohibitive area of search at sea, at this time there is currently no new searches planned by Coastguard.”

A spokesperson from HM Coastguard said: “Extensive searches were carried out and coordinated by HM Coastguard and the yacht found.

"The search was terminated once it became clear that the period of survivability had passed.”

DI Massey added: “This matter will remain under review and if any fresh information comes to light, this will be assessed accordingly.

"We have informed the family of these initial updates and our thoughts are with them at this time; the family of Duncan Lougee have asked for privacy."

Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

Jester Challenge folkboat Minke is found – but sailor Duncan Lougee is missing

• Laura Hodgetts
• June 29, 2023

A 25ft yacht which disappeared whilst sailing from the UK's south coast to Ireland as part of the Jester Baltimore Challenge fleet has been found, but solo skipper Duncan Lougee was not aboard.

The missing Jester Challenger folkboat Minke has been located in UK waters, 70 miles north west of Trevose Head, Cornwall, but single-handed yachtsman Duncan Lougee was not on board.

It follows an appeal for sightings of Duncan when Minke did not arrive in Ireland on 22 June as expected, having departed from Plymouth, Devon on 18 June.

All other Jester Challengers who set sail from Plymouth and Pwllheli, Wales, have arrived at Baltimore in Ireland or retired to another port of their choice.

A spokesperson for the Irish Coast Guard said: “I can confirm the yacht has been found, but the captain wasn’t.”

Yesterday afternoon, MRCC Dublin was advised of a possible sighting of Minke approximately 75 miles south east of Ballycotton, County Cork. The Waterford based Coast Guard helicopter R117, which was conducting a search in the vicinity, was immediately tasked to the scene.

A crew member from R117 boarded the vessel and conducted a visual check. Unfortunately the missing skipper was not onboard. R117 then departed the scene, as the vessel was positioned in the UK search and rescue region.

‘Intense anguish’

A spokesperson for the Jester community said: “After five days of intense search of the Celtic Sea and its periphery by the UK and Irish coastguards, and after five days of intense anguish for Duncan Lougee’s family and friends, Minke was finally located yesterday afternoon. “She was drifting at a point 75 miles south-east of Ballycotton on the County Cork coast, at a mid-point of the Celtic Sea that in fact put her within the UK jurisdiction. After an initial investigation by a helicopter from the Irish coastguard, the UK authorities took over, sending a helicopter and a lifeboat to retrieve Minke . “Duncan, tragically, was no longer on board. When and how he had become parted from his much-loved Minke is yet to be determined. The investigations of the UK coastguard and the Devon and Cornwall Police continue. In the meantime the Jester Challenge community holds firm and sends its full support to Duncan’s nearest and dearest.”

Extensive searches for Minke involved Falmouth Maritime Coastguard Agency and the Irish Coastguard, including a fixed wing search of the area between the Scillies and Baltimore.

Everyone involved was perplexed by the absence of any sign of Minke’s position, as Duncan was carrying both an Emergency Position-Indicating Beacon (EPIRB) and a personal locator beacon (PLB), neither of which were activated.

Conditions in the Celtic Sea have generally been benign throughout the last week, further contributed to the puzzle.

Spokesman for the challenge, Roger Taylor said previously: “This is a particularly difficult time for Duncan’s partner, 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.” He added: “The Jester Challenge has a large community of followers with 178 skippers having participated in challenges. The whole community is shocked and numbed by the disappearance of such an experienced fellow-sailor.”

Duncan Lougee’s folkboat Minke. Source: HM Coastguard Crosby

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What is the Jester Challenge?

The Jester Challenge is an opportunity for skippers to test their boats and their seagoing mettle in a supportive and non-competitive environment. It is not a race in any way, shape or form.

Every two years a group of singlehanded sailors heads for Plymouth to sail across the Atlantic . The Challenge in 2024 will see them head off to the Azores and 2026 will likely see them making a full Atlantic crossing to Newport, Rhode Island.

In the intervening odd years there is a less challenging passage to Baltimore in Ireland.

Skippers can make stopovers in other ports or harbours if they so desire, and there is no stigma attached to retiring from the event. Each sailor takes full responsibility for him or herself, their boat and the equipment they carry.

There is no entry fees and virtually no rules, although there are guidelines.

This year’s 250-mile Jester Baltimore Challenge saw a total of 43 yachts take part, the main fleet from Plymouth and another 14 from a simultaneous start in Pwllheli, Wales – the biggest Jester fleet of all time.

PBO’s Jake Kavanagh had a long interview with Duncan before he left, and said “both man and machine were in top shape”.

Sailing community appeal

In a Facebook post appealing for sightings, Duncan is described as “6ft 1in, white male with glasses, late 60’s. Probably wearing Musto oilskins with waterproof Dubarry boots. Fit healthy individual.”

The last sighting of Minke was near Helford River 1400 Monday 19 June 2023.

Minke is a 25ft fibreglass folkboat with a white hull and white sails. Her sail number is FB597.

Duncan was expected to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland on 22 June, or 23 June at the latest.

Fiona Gordon-Clarke said ‘on behalf of the family’: “We are just desperate for any information however small. “Duncan is an experienced yacht broker, boat builder and sailor with many miles of sailing including single handed crossing Atlantic, 3 x trips from Plymouth to Azores and back. “He has even done this trip to Baltimore in Ireland before.”

‘No new searches planned’

In a statement, the Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the missing yacht Minke by the Irish Coast Guard, around 70 miles northwest of Trevose Head, Cornwall, stating: “It appears that no one was on the vessel and therefore the boats skipper, 70-year-old Duncan Lougee from Colchester, Essex, remains a missing person.”

Detective Inspector Daniel Massey said: “Yacht Minke has been brought to shore and is currently docked in Padstow Harbour. We continue to liaise with partners including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, and the Coroner’s Office in relation this matter. “Whilst Mr Lougee remains officially a missing person, responsibility of searches in open water sits with the Coastguard. However, yacht Minke has been missing since it left Plymouth on Sunday 18 June, and initial enquires appear to show no fresh entries in the ships journal for at least nine days. “Therefore, due to the potentially vast and prohibitive area of search at sea, at this time there is currently no new searches planned by Coastguard.”

A spokesperson from HM Coastguard said: “Extensive searches were carried out and coordinated by HM Coastguard and the yacht found. The search was terminated once it became clear that the period of survivability had passed.”

DI Massey added: “This matter will remain under review and if any fresh information comes to light, this will be assessed accordingly. We have informed the family of these initial updates and our thoughts are with them at this time; the family of Duncan Lougee have asked for privacy.”

You can find the latest updates on the Jester Challenge blog