A search for a 36-year-old Portuguese sailor who fell overboard from a yacht travelling to Bermuda has been called off after a rescue team found no trace of him.

The skipper of the Spanish-registered vessel Wendy last night spoke of the tragic loss of his friend Luiz Santos, who is presumed dead after falling into the sea while fixing a sail.

Alvaro Conbe tried in vain to rescue Mr. Santos — his sole crew member — but was defeated by foul weather 350 miles southeast of the Island.

Recovering from the ordeal in St. George's, the Spanish national told The Royal Gazette: "My friend got washed overboard.

"I turned around to look for him but could not find him. I called the US Coastguard who sent out a helicopter and two boats. They looked for two days but didn't find him."

Mr. Conbe, 29, who was speaking through an interpreter, added: "I feel very very bad, but I did everything I could to find him."

The pair had departed from Antigua on December 24, and the mid-ocean drama occurred on Friday. Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre made news of the incident public for the first time in a statement last night.

It said the two men were on the bow of the yacht trying to fix a sail problem in deteriorating weather conditions with winds of 30 knots, when the victim fell overboard.

"The skipper threw flotation gear into the water in an effort to assist him while he attempted to promptly turn the boat around. However, when he finally was able to retrace the boat's course, he was unable to relocate his sailing companion in the rough seas," said the statement.

The Royal Gazette understands from local sources that although Mr. Conbe wore a safety harness during the repairs to the sail, his companion did not.

Mr. Conbe contacted the US Coast Guard in San Juan, Puerto Rico after the incident, and an aircraft search was launched. Two Coast Guard planes stopped off to refuel in Bermuda over the weekend while they assisted in the effort.

Three merchant ships were also diverted to the scene, which lies in US waters. The search was suspended on New Year's Eve after no sign of Mr. Santos was found.

Mr. Conbe continued to sail the>Wendy onwards to Bermuda, and was met by the authorities upon his arrival in St. George's at 4 p.m on New Year's Day.

A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said last night that it was conducting inquiries into the incident, but declined to give further information.

Mr. Conbe indicated that he had given a full statement to officers, and planned to set sail from Bermuda in the near future.