RESCUERS have called off the hunt for a man believed to have fallen overboard from a yacht which was discovered off Arran.

Clyde Coastguard said last night the two-day search of waters in and around the Kilbrannan Sound had been completed, with no sign of the missing sailor – who has not yet been named.

The man was seen on the boat – believed to be named Cena – in Lochranza, Arran, before it was discovered adrift just two or three miles off the coast around 2.20pm on Wednesday.

A rescue operation – involving a Royal Navy helicopter and lifeboat crews – was launched after signs indicated someone had been on board.

However, it is still unclear whether anyone definitely was on the yacht.

The coastguard said the sailor's next of kin had been notified, although Strathclyde Police refused to confirm this and said inquiries were still ongoing into the missing man's identity.

A spokeswoman for Clyde Coastguard said: "The search was stood down at 3.30pm, by the time all units completed searching areas they had been allocated.

"All units conducted a thorough search of the area and were willing to go back out again. But if the man is in the water, he has been there for well over 24 hours now and there is no chance of survival at that stage.

"It now becomes a recovery process. The incident has been passed to Strathclyde Police for further inquiries."

The spokeswoman admitted they were still "not 100% sure" there was ever anyone on the boat.

She said: "Apparently the man was seen aboard the vessel in Lochranza harbour and it is believed he set sail. The boat was discovered only two or three miles from the town.

"However, it is possible it set off on its own and the man has not made himself known to people."

The yacht was discovered by the crew of the fishing boat Scotia Star who raised the alarm before towing the vessel to Tarbert harbour.

Coastguard teams from Arran, Kames, Tarbert, Rothesay and Carradale searched the shoreline, while two lifeboats scoured the water.

A Royal Navy helicopter from Prestwick was scrambled to assist in the search.

The coastguard spokeswoman said the man was probably not wearing a lifejacket when he fell into the water as one was discovered on board the yacht.

She added: "If he was wearing his life jacket, and it had inflated, he would almost certainly have been found by now.

"This is because he would have been more visible, would have been on the surface, and would have been more affected by the wind and therefore more likely to wash ashore."

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said they were still trying to establish the man's identity.

She said: "We are continuing extensive inquiries into the incident.

"Officers are still searching for information and trying to trace who was, or should have been, on board the yacht."

Clyde Coastguard watch manager Graeme Watters added: "Our teams and the lifeboats were searching in difficult conditions, but we were not able to find any sign of the missing man."