The French Coast Guard service has asked coast guard services in Britain and Ireland, as well as other ocean going ships off the south and west coast of Ireland to look out for a brave yachtsman, who is making a 7,000km transatlantic voyage.

His 12m-yacht, La Galatee, left Cayenne, French Guiana on 5 August and had set sail to to Saint Malo in France but has not been sighted since.

There are no plans to launch air and sea searches at this time but coast guard stations, including Valentia in Co Kerry, are broadcasting alerts and seeking information on any sightings of the yacht.