Gardai in Waterford are expecting dental records from France today which may assist in identifying a body believed to be that of missing French international yachtsman, Eric Tabarly.
Mr Tabarly (66) went missing off the Scottish coast last month when he was knocked off the deck of his Irish-built yacht, Pen Duick. A body thought to be his was caught in the trawl of a French fishing vessel off Milford Haven, Wales, on Friday, and was landed into Dunmore East, Co Waterford, on Saturday.
The body was taken for post-mortem examination to Ardkeen Hospital, Waterford, at the weekend. Identification is not expected before today, according to the gardai.
Eric Tabarly inspired a generation of French to take to sailing when he won the British transatlantic solo race in 1964.
The taciturn naval officer set many sailing records, and the Fastnet race was one of his many offshore victories.
Interestingly, his century-old yacht, Pen Duick, bought for him by his father, was built in Ireland in 1898.
"Without me, it would just be a boat; without it, I would probably be different," he wrote of the yacht in his memoirs.
Mr Tabarly had an inexperienced crew on board at the time and was changing sails when the accident occurred in mid-June. He was not wearing a lifejacket or lifeline - in keeping with his "style of life", according to his brother, Patrick, who said he died "in full form".
Following an unsuccessful air and sea search, the yachtsman who sprang to fame when he won the British transatlantic solo race in 1964 was declared dead on June 16th in the port of Brest, and among the tributes was one from the French President, Mr Jacques Chirac. He leaves his wife, Jacqueline, and daughter, Marie (14).