A search for a missing sailor involving four lifeboat crews and a helicopter has been suspended after an 11 hour operation failed to locate him.

The search had resumed this morning for the sailor who failed to return home for his Sunday dinner with his family last night.

Sussex Police has confirmed that the missing man is 75-year-old Alfriston businessman and father-of-three Leonard King.

An all-night search through testing weather conditions failed to locate him and at first light crews returned to the water to carry on looking for Mr King.

Just before noon, Shoreham Coastguard ‏said that their team had been stood down after an 11 hour search.

The Marine and Coastguard Agency said the search had been suspended until new information came to light.

An MCA spokeswoman said that lifeboats had searched "in and out of every pontoon", the stretch of water between Newhaven and Shoreham and as far out as 2.5 miles offshore.

Lifeboat crews were launched from Brighton, Shoreham and Newhaven and were joined by coastguard teams through the night for the yachtsman after his wife reported him missing at just before 10pm last night.

Mr King went sailing between Brighton and Newhaven on his own yesterday just before lunch but his family became concerned when he did not return home for dinner, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said.

His empty 70 foot Sunseeker yacht, described as one of the biggest in Brighton Marina, drifted into the marina at 11.30pm but with no one on board.

Lifeboat crew boarded the boat and said they found evidence that the boat had recently been used because the engine was warm and that the boatmen was experienced as the route was well-planned out. 

Mr King is described as an experienced yachtsman who regularly sailed in and out of Brighton Marina.

Attempts to find him were hampered by difficult weather conditions with the coastguard rescue helicopter returning to base because of an electrical storm.

Brighton, Shoreham and Newhaven lifeboat crews were stood down at around 5.30am today but launched again at 7am at first light to recommence searching. 

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said: "The Coastguard was contacted at around 9.50pm last night with reports that a man was missing from his boat.

"Brighton Marina had been told by a friend of the man who said he had not returned home as planned.

"The man’s Sunseeker was then found near the harbour wall at Brighton.

"A search was launched and continues this morning.

"The Shoreham and Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Teams, along with lifeboats from Shoreham, Newhaven and Brighton are all involved with the search, along with the Coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-Solent."

Roger Cohen, Brighton RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said conditions for the volunteers overnight were "challenging".

He said: "We had heavy rain with passing thunderstorms and fork lighting in Sussex throughout the night, making things even more challenging than they would normally be.

"At the moment this is something of a mystery – the Sunseeker was found within the eastern breakwater of the marina, banging up against the wall.

"When my crew boarded they found evidence it had recently been operated, but no sign of anyone.

"Judging by the instruments and passage plans we found, the yachtsman appears to be skilled and experienced.

"Obviously at this moment we are focusing on the search and hoping for a positive outcome for all concerned.’

A RNLI spokesman said: "At the moment we are open minded and we have got to hope that the man is ok.

"One must assume he has gone overboard but it is a mystery at the moment."