The body of a 54-year-old yachtsman has been found in the River Erme in Plymouth, four miles from where his catamaran was discovered on Friday night.

No mayday was heard, but the abandoned 24ft vessel, believed to be called Talatasha from the name on its grey tender, was spotted by a member of the public near rocks close to Stoke Point. The forward hatch was open and the anchor was on deck but not deployed. The sails were stowed and the man’s belongings were inside.

The man had been wearing a high-visibility green and yellow jacket, but no lifejacket or harness. He had been on passage from Salcombe to his mooring near Cawsand Bay, and was last seen motoring off Thurlestone around 730pm on Friday. The wind was from the west to the south-west F3, visibility was good and sea state slight.