HOW a competent and experienced Hampshire sailor came to fall in the water and die still remains a mystery after an inquest this week.

Hugh Carter, former Commodore of Lymington Town Sailing Club and founder of the long-running Solent Circuit yacht races, was last seen alive on November 6 when he left Keyhaven Yacht Club at 9.44pm.

It is understood Mr Carter, 74, had gone to his dinghy to make his way back to his yacht Norisle, which was his home.

His body was found on the shore close to Normandy Lane, Lymington, 16 days later.

His dinghy was found near Hurst Castle.

Winchester Coroner’s Court heard how police had launched an extensive air and sea search for Mr Carter.

Detective Constable Martin Timmes said the police marine unit, the coastguard, Hampshire Search and Rescue, and even a specialist water dog joined the search.

DC Timmes said the most likely scenario was that Mr Carter had fallen from his boat.

The court heard that on November 6, he had been in good spirits drinking at Keyhaven Yacht Club.

Earlier that day at around 4pm, he had also spoken to director of the company Echo Pilot, Mike Phillips, who said he had concerns about Mr Carter’s demeanour.

He described Mr Carter as an excellent seaman, who was perfectly competent in sailing a dinghy.

Mr Phillips said: “I was concerned because he was normally very practical with his hands and competent but he appeared to be clumsy.

“He stumbled and I commented to my wife that he did not appear as co-ordinated as I expected.”

Pathologist Dr Vipul Foria said there were raised alcohol levels in Mr Carter’s blood, which amounted to 2.5 times the drink-drive limit.

Dr Foria concluded that the death was likely to have happened two weeks before the body was found, and said the cause of death was probably cardiac arrest from immersion in water.

A member of the public attending the inquest interrupted proceedings to suggest that Mr Carter’s dinghy may have had an engine failure, which may have resulted in him entering the water.

The coroner Grahame Short said he would take this into consideration.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Short said: “Mr Carter left the clubhouse and made his way back and at some stage he ended in the water. The reason he entered the water, it is not possible for me to say.”