A sailor who went missing while taking part in a solo yachting challenge may have drifted into a shipping lane while he was asleep and been struck by a bigger vessel, a fellow competitor has told the Mirror.
Coastguard crews are desperately looking for Duncan Lougee, who 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.
He was taking part in the single-handed Jester Challenge, with his plan to sail the route via the Isles of Scilly.
All other 42 challenge vessels and their skippers are accounted for.
Among them is experienced sailor Kris Matuszewski who arrived at the finish on Friday evening (June 23) in his Carabela 650 Junk Schooner called 'Anna Lucja 2'.
The 75-year-old told the Mirror on Wednesday evening - as he prepared to leave Baltimore for Cork - all sailors are aware of the risks before setting out.
"As far as I know it is the first time that someone has gone missing within a Jester Challenge," he said.
"But it’s not something I would say is impossible or extraordinary. It may happen at any time."
Mr Matuszewski, from Opole, Poland, has been sailing since he was 14.
It was his first time competing in a Jester event, which also runs competitions across the Atlantic to Azores.
Mr Lougee - understood to be in his late 60s - has competed on both routes before.
He was last seen around Falmouth Bay near the Helford River at around 2pm on Monday, June 19.
Mr Matuszewski said: "Initially the winds were very light, my boat is kind of slow. It almost doesn’t tuck in light airs. It means I’ll be towards the back of the group. But there were favourable conditions.
"Everyone was tucking in towards Falmouth and shipping lines are very close, I was taking care not to interfere with shipping lanes."
He favours off shore sailing and so always uses a satellite communicator and AIS transponder that sends his position, speed and course at regular intervals to those on the land.
However, Mr Matuszewski said he is aware not all sailors in the Jester Challenge use them, with some preferring to use minimal technology.
"Some think that it’s not necessary. They prefer basic sailing, no electronics and so on," he said.
"I sail a lot longer distance, for me it’s necessary to have it."
Mr Matuszewski said it's possible Mr Lougee drifted into a shipping lane while he was asleep, and for whatever reason was not picked up by incoming vessels before being struck.
He said: "His boat may have gone into the shipping lane, it’s quite possible. Seeing as the boat has not been found, this looks like the most likely reason for his disappearance."
However, he emphasised there were multiple possibilities, including that his steering simply locked and he drifted far off course and will be picked up in a couple of days.
The first Mr Matuszewski was aware of the disappearance was when he went down to the eating area after arriving at around 7.30pm on Friday.
"We were all very sad about it. It was making us down. However, we did not widely discuss the case," he explained.
"Everything may happen for the worst, but it might turn out fine and he will be found in a day or two. We didn’t make any kind of speculation, everyone was keeping him in their heart."
Mr Matuszewski said a Jester organiser was involved in the search and he had been going to him each day for updates.
"He was reporting about what work has been done, day after day. They were in planes, searching over the sea looking for the boat but so far it was in vain."
He said he was not aware that Mr Lougee's partner was in Baltimore but understands she is being kept up to date with the search.
The two sailors did not know each other well, and had only met during the skippers' meeting on June 17, the day before setting out.
Mr Lougee's yacht is described as having a white hull and white sails, with her sail number FB597.
Mr Lougee is a yacht broker, boat builder and experienced sailor.
Sailing blogger Sallu Lucy-Ann Stamford, whose partner Jim also competed, setting off from Pwllheli, Wales, confirmed to the Mirror she last spotted Mr Lougee on the Radar App around the Scilly Isles.
She said in a Facebook post on Monday: "All yachts and skippers 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.
"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."
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 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".
A spokesperson told the Irish Examiner: "Coast Guard is making local enquiries and broadcasting marine VHF messages, seeking any reports on sightings of the vessel."
The spokesperson added there have been no reports or information on the vessel being sighted in Irish waters, and that the operation is ongoing.
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.
