The wreck of the Ouzo, the 25ft Sailfish, which sank in the English Channel south of the Isle of Wight, with the loss of her three crew, may never be found experts believe.

This is because it is thought she is lying virtually entombed, 100ft down, on a part of the sea-bed where limestone crevices are common.

It is an area where bottom-trawling fishing boats – one of which, some hoped, would one day snag the hull of Ouzo – avoid lowering their nets for fear of shredding them.