A major search for a yacht that was believed to have sunk off the Co Down coast was called off today after rescue teams failed to find any evidence of an accident.
A lifeboat, three shoreline coastguard teams and a Royal Navy helicopter from Scotland were scrambled as the rescue bid got under way in Strangford Lough.
But a spokesman for the Northern Ireland coastguard said: "No one has been reported missing, no vessels have been reported overdue and there are no reports of anyone in difficulties. "The area has been comprehensively searched from the air, sea and shore and nothing has been found".
He said the search would not be started again unless there was a report of someone missing or in trouble.
Earlier a spokesman said that the skipper of amother yacht raised the alarm. "He informed us he heard a call on VHF radio saying: `Coastguard, coastguard we are sinking, we need help'," the spokesman said. "He said the caller [on the VHF radio] seemed genuine".
PA