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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Round-the-world yacht sailor safe | Round-the-world yacht sailor safe |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British sailor feared missing in a round the world attempt has contacted his family saying he is safe and well. | A British sailor feared missing in a round the world attempt has contacted his family saying he is safe and well. |
| Paddy Macklin, 52, who set sail from Falmouth, Cornwall, in December, was thought to have got into trouble during storms off the west coast of France. | Paddy Macklin, 52, who set sail from Falmouth, Cornwall, in December, was thought to have got into trouble during storms off the west coast of France. |
| Fears rose on Thursday when he failed to contact family on his satellite phone as intended. | Fears rose on Thursday when he failed to contact family on his satellite phone as intended. |
| But he contacted them late on Friday saying he had been prevented from calling because of the bad weather. | But he contacted them late on Friday saying he had been prevented from calling because of the bad weather. |
| Mr Macklin said he had heard a report about him on the radio. | Mr Macklin said he had heard a report about him on the radio. |
| A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "He has been through some really atrocious weather and he had wrapped up his phone at the bottom of a bag in some clothing in order to avoid getting it wet. | |
| "He didn't contact his family yesterday because he did not want to get the phone out and risk getting it wet." | |
| Spanish coastguards launched an air search after Mr Macklin radioed coastguards several days ago saying he was experiencing difficult weather conditions in his 27ft yacht Tessa. | |
| He was about 200 miles from shore when he called coastguards during force nine gales. | He was about 200 miles from shore when he called coastguards during force nine gales. |
| Former painter and decorator Mr Macklin is aiming to break Robin Knox-Johnston's record and sail solo around the world in the smallest boat. | Former painter and decorator Mr Macklin is aiming to break Robin Knox-Johnston's record and sail solo around the world in the smallest boat. |
| He is paying for the £40,000 expedition himself and has enough food to last 600 days. | He is paying for the £40,000 expedition himself and has enough food to last 600 days. |