THE funeral of a Norwich yachtsman who died in a marina near Ipswich was due to be held this afternoon .Charles Pennington, known as Max, is believed to have drowned after falling into water near his yacht Levington Marina on the River Orwell last month.

THE funeral of a Norwich yachtsman who died in a marina near Ipswich was due to be held this afternoon .

Charles Pennington, known as Max, is believed to have drowned after falling into water near his yacht Levington Marina on the River Orwell last month.

His funeral was set to take place at Colney Woodland Burial Park at 2pm today followed by a gathering of family and friends in Great Melton.

Capt Victor Sutton, 75, from Felixstowe was also found dead after the pair were reported missing at 6.30am on Sunday, March 28.

The two men had been staying aboard the Genoa after attending a dinner to mark the opening of Haven Ports Yacht Club's season.

Today Mr Pennington's son, Matthew, 41, of North Walsham, said: "This has been a considerable shock to us all - it was such an unusual event.

"He wasn't known to have accidents. He was a very safe man.

"He was a very experienced boatman of many years. The only thing we think can have happened is that someone slipped and the other went in to rescue him."

Mr Pennington last saw his father less than a fortnight before the accident.

He said: "We were just at that stage in life when I was getting to know him better as a friend.

"He had always been a very private man and I had been hoping to get closer.

"At least he was happy with his life and the things he was doing."