The families and friends of two men lost at sea are preparing to face the Christmas period in mourning.

The pair had been making a routine four-mile trip along the coast from Burnham Overy Staithe to Wells in a 14ft wooden boat when they disappeared.

News of the tragedy spread quickly through the small coastal town of Wells-next-the Sea, Norfolk, where boatbuilder William Cracknell, 39, and retired train driver Lionel Fortescue, 64, lived.

Mr Cracknell, who leaves a wife, Alison, a one-year-old son, Matthew, and a daughter Emily, four, was understood to be taking the boat to be stored over the winter months.

He and his wife had only just fulfilled their dream of building a house in the small coastal town, and had moved in just four days ago, in time for the festive season.

Father alerted lifeboat

In a further tragic twist to the disaster, Mr Cracknell's father, Richard, 65, head of Wells' lifeboat station was the person who co-ordinated the start of the search for the men.

Mr Cracknell senior, a builder, and his wife paid tribute to their son.

"He was very much a local person having attended the town's schools," said the couple, who have two other sons and a daughter, in a statement.

"(He established) his own business, building up a reputation for high quality work, particularly in the field of restoration.

"His sunny and purposeful character made him popular with all he met.

The couple added: "Away from home, boats were his life ... He was never more contented than when working at his chosen occupation.

"His tragic loss will sadden not only his friends but the whole Wells community."

Peter Rainsford, deputy commander of the Wells lifeboat station said Richard Cracknell had personally authorised the launch of the Wells lifeboat, The Doris M Mann of Ampthill, and spent 90 minutes co-ordinating the search from the station before returning home to be with his wife.

He added: "When he authorised the launch of the boat Richard was fully aware that it was his son who was missing.

"He was thoroughly professional at a very difficult time. I relieved him after about 90 minutes and he took no further part in the operation."

Graham Walker, a friend of the Cracknell family and former lifeboat coxswain, added: "This is every lifeboatman's nightmare. Richard is a very strong man. But personally I think it will take great courage for him to return to work here again."

Mr Rainsford said the alarm had been raised at 1430GMT on Thursday by Mr Fortescue's partner, Janet Beckett, a well-known local artist.

Friends of Mr Cracknell and colleagues of Mr Fortescue joined in the massive search for the lost vessel and its crew.

Members of the Wells lifeboat found Mr Cracknell's body in the mouth of the town's harbour - about half a mile from the lifeboat station - late on Thursday night.

Search goes on

The same crew found wreckage from the missing boat nearby a short time later, but lifeboats and a helicopter are still searching for Mr Fortescue.

It is understood that Mr Fortescue, who had been the Wells lifeboat station's houseman for the past year, had offered to accompany Mr Cracknell on the trip.

He had moved to Wells in 1983 after spending most of his life in Romford, Essex, working as a firemen, then a driver for British Rail.

He was divorced from wife Patricia in 1995 and leaves a son David, 33, and daughter Jeanette, 35.

Bemused coastguards and lifeboatmen said weather conditions were good and the sea smooth when the experienced boatmen began their journey and they could not understand what had caused the tragedy.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is flying at half-mast at the Wells lifeboat station in tribute to the two men.