The Irish Sea claimed the life of one yachtsman over the weekend, with a search continuing for another.
One body was found on the beach at Balbriggan, in north Co Dublin, yesterday morning, and last night the search continued for a second man, missing presumed dead.
According to the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the Gillyann, a 25ft yacht, was reported aground on the beach between Laytown and Mosney at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday, and the body of a man, Mr Liam Mulpeter, single and in his 50s, from Ringsend, was found at Balbriggan beach shortly before 7 a.m. yesterday.
The search for the second man, also thought to be in his 50s, was suspended for some hours yesterday because of high tides.
Two Irish Coastguard units from Skerries and Clogherhead; the Marine Rescue helicopter based in Dublin, Skerries Lifeboat and Drogheda River Rescue boat participated in a resumed search at 4 p.m. i the Garda in Laytown also participated.
The yacht was last seen off St Patrick's Island earlier in the day but was not reported as missing or in difficulties. Visibility at the time was very poor, although the wind was mild.
It was later found fully rigged off the Meath coast at Laytown on Saturday evening.
There was no distress call from the men, and no flares were seen. Last night experienced sailors said that sudden bad weather might have thrown one man overboard and that his friend went to his assistance.
The alarm was raised by people playing pitch-and-putt at Laytown. The course runs adjacent to the shore and they became concerned because the yacht appeared to be unmanned.
They telephoned local gardai who immediately alerted the coastguard. When the vessel was boarded it was found to be empty, and a search began.
Both men were friends and members of the Poolbeg Yacht and Sailing Club in Dublin. Nine boats were making their way to Carlingford for a race among Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club members for the Sean Whiston Trophy when the accident happened.
Conditions were squally with a difficult north-easterly wind and poor visibility, according to a spokesman for the club, Mr William Murphy.
The members had been "terribly upset" by what had occurred. "The two men were both very capable sailors. They have been years sailing. I sailed with them in the Cork Dry Gin Round Ireland Race in 1992," he said.
The search is being co-ordinated by Irish Marine Emergency Services, and just before 7 a.m. yesterday members of the coastal search teams found Mr Mulpeter's body. It was removed to James Connolly Memorial Hospital.
Four lives, including two children, were lost in a boating accident off the Louth coast last year.