Royal Ocean Racing Club ‘s web site reads:

‘It is with great regret that the Royal Ocean Racing Club has to report a tragic loss of life during the RORC Morgan Cup race from Cowes to Cherbourg. A 46-year-old British sailor lost his life after falling overboard during the race, which started in Cowes at 1900 on Friday night. It is understood that the accident took place approximately 17 miles South East of the Isle of Wight. The Coastguard and Lifeboat services were called to assist the crew who recovered the man but were unable to revive him. The boat returned to port in the UK overnight.

The yacht was one of seventy-two experienced offshore race boats taking part in the race.

Our thoughts and condolences are with the family, who have been informed.’

The man was believed to be Christopher Reddish, who was sailing ‘Lion’, a Reflex 38 and who fell overboard during bad weather at about 11.45pm on Friday night. He was rescued from the water off Selsey Bill, but was pronounced dead by a doctor on board.

Quoted in a local Southampton newspaper a Solent Coastguard spokesman, said: “We got a mayday call from a yacht in the Morgan Cup race with reports of man overboard.

“We requested the helicopter to scramble and while this was in the process of happening, they subsequently recovered the person. There was a doctor on board who pronounced the man dead.”