A MAN is feared dead today in the second fishing tragedy off Portland in two days.

The fishing boat skipper was trapped in the wheelhouse as his boat took on water and capsized in seconds in stormy seas off the Bill.

Two young crewmen jumped for their lives into a liferaft and were picked up about an hour later by Weymouth Lifeboat.

Rescuers who have been searching all night for the missing skipper, a 45-year-old man from Fife, Scotland, began a sweep of the area again today but coastguard chiefs admitted the chances of anyone surviving were practically zero.

The efforts of rescuers were praised again today after they searched for hours in darkness in atrocious conditions.

It comes just one day after young Portland fisherman Peter Lynham was lost overboard from his father Paul's boat.

Tributes were paid today to Peter, 20, who was passionate about his job and karate.

Portland has also been rocked by the loss of 14-year-old Kyle Moore who is feared drowned when the boat he was in capsized in the harbour.

Chief Inspector Bob Nichols of Dorset Police said today: "This is the third occasion in less than three weeks where extensive sea searches have been carried out in the Portland area.

"I cannot express adequately how dedicated, professional and committed those involved in the searches have been.

"The fact that persons are still missing following these incidents is immensely distressing for all those involved.

"However we must not forget that as a result of the efforts of these individuals, many of whom are volunteers, three people have been recovered safe and well."

Last night's rescue operation began when a member of the public reported red flares fired from the sea off Portland Bill at 6.13pm.

Lifeboats and coastguard teams investigated and about an hour later the lifeboat picked up two men in a liferaft aged 19 and 20, both from Fife in Scotland.

The pair, who were shocked and cold and were airlifted to Dorset County Hospital for a check-up shortly after, told rescuers they had been on board the Ramsgate-registered fishing boat Unity on its way from Brixham, Devon, to Weymouth when it ran into difficulties on the eastern side of Portland.

District Operations Manager for Portland Coastguard Mark Rodaway said a catastrophic event' had caused the boat to take on water, start to rock and then capsize very quickly.

The two crewmen managed to deploy a liferaft before the boat went down and last saw their skipper in the wheelhouse.

Mr Rodaway said a major air and sea search had gone on through the night involving two coastguard rescue helicopters, the Royal Navy warship Portland, Weymouth all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboat and Portland Bill Coastguard Rescue Team.

Life-rings, fishing boxes and buckets have been found but there is no sign of the missing skipper.

Mr Rodaway said given the water temperature of 10 degrees and the weather conditions last night of near gale force 8 a successful recovery operation was likely within 4-5 hours of the boat going down.

But he said: "We won't stop searching yet.

"With every passing hour a successful outcome is looking less likely but it shouldn't mean we should give up."

He added: "The positive aspect is that two lives have been saved. A fishing boat got into difficulties, two people had sufficient training to get into a liferaft, they had flares that worked and we found them - that's a win."

Mr Rodaway praised the efforts of rescuers, many of whom have been involved in the searches for Kyle Moore and Peter Lynham.

He said: "I work with a very dedicated team of search and rescue professionals and so many serious incidents on the back of each other impacts on them too.

"They're doing a superb job, they've been non-stop.

"We're doing this job because we're committed to saving life at sea and the people of Dorset should be proud of the way the maritime emergency services have responded."

Weymouth Lifeboat spokesman Alan Birch said: "The crew have had a rough week but they've performed brilliantly.

"It's been a tiring and trying time for them.

"The men and women that crew the boats are the salt of the earth."