Police have confirmed that the body of the missing Weymouth sailor Jeff Cole has been found.

Mr Cole, aged 61, disappeared after leaving Castle Cove Sailing Club in his yacht Palamina at 7am on Saturday 21 September.

He was bound for Swanage, just a short hop along the south Dorset coast, for a club cruise in company but never arrived.

His family raised the alarm on 23 September, and on the same morning his empty 27ft UFO cruiser was found washed up on a beach near Dieppe, northern France.

An extensive search was carried out by the French emergency services.

Investigations were also launched on the British side of the Channel by Dover Coastguard, Portland Coastguard and then Dorset Police.

Found

Now Dorset Police have confirmed that Jeff Cole’s body was recovered earlier today, Friday October 4, in a sea cove near Exmouth, Devon.

A spokesman said: ‘On 4 October 2013, a male body was found in a sea cove just off Exmouth.

‘The male has been positively identified as the missing Dorset man Jeff Cole, who was last seen in September sailing his boat off the Dorset coast.

‘The next of kin have been informed and ask for their privacy to be respected at this most difficult time.’

He added: ‘Dorset Police would like to thank the public and the various maritime agencies for their assistance in tracing Mr Cole.’