An air and sea search is being carried out for a yacht missing en route from Bermuda to Ireland.
The Golden Eagle, with two men on board, has not been heard from since it left on August 21st.
It was due to arrive in Crookhaven, west Cork, last Thursday, September 15th.
One of the men on board is a 69-year-old from Norway, while the other is believed to be 60 and from New Zealand.
The Coast Guard said the Navy and Air Corps are involved in the search off the southwest and that ships in the mid-Atlantic have been asked to try to contact the yacht.
The Coast Guard was notified on Saturday night by the Norwegian coast guard after the 69-year-old’s family raised concerns.
The vessel is 9.8m long, white and with a blue trim on the side.
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 off the coast.
PA