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Missing sailor rescued from damaged yacht Missing sailor rescued from damaged yacht
(about 3 hours later)
A sailor has been rescued from his badly-damaged boat following an 11-hour search by coastguards. A sailor has been rescued from his badly-damaged boat after nearly 12 hours adrift in stormy seas.
The yachtsman sent a VHF radio message shortly before 17:00 BST on Monday, reporting the vessel was at risk of capsizing in the English Channel.The yachtsman sent a VHF radio message shortly before 17:00 BST on Monday, reporting the vessel was at risk of capsizing in the English Channel.
Portland and Solent Coastguard helicopters, as well as a navy vessel and two lifeboats, began searching 37 miles (60km) south of the Needles. Two coastguard helicopters, a navy helicopter, a French aircraft, a navy vessel and lifeboats, began searching 37 miles (60km) south of the Needles.
The man was found with vessel at about 04:00, 18 miles south of Portland. The man was found with the yacht at 04:00, 18 miles south of Portland.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "Coastguards coordinating the search for a trimaran in the Channel overnight were contacted by the British naval vessel HMS St Albans shortly before 4am, reporting they were standing by a dismasted trimaran with one person visible on top of the damaged vessel. He is not believed to be seriously injured but arrived on shore with his arm in a sling.
"The RNLI all weather lifeboat from Weymouth went to the scene and has recovered a man from the damaged vessel and it is reported that there was only one person on board." The MCA said: "Coastguards coordinating the search for a trimaran in the Channel overnight were contacted by the British naval vessel HMS St Albans shortly before 4am, reporting they were standing by a dismasted trimaran with one person visible on top of the damaged vessel.
Sea conditions on Monday night were described as rough with strong south-westerly winds. "The RNLI all-weather lifeboat from Weymouth went to the scene and has recovered a man from the damaged vessel and it is reported that there was only one person on board."
'Atrocious conditions'
Andrew Jenkins, of the MCA, said the "very faint" Mayday call was picked up by a merchant vessel.
He said: "Quite a large scale search was undertaken in quite atrocious conditions.
"Once the units on scene had used up their endurance, we called in a fifth rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor to complete the search but the conditions were so bad that they had to return off their search due to the electrical storms in the area."
Mr Jenkins said the man was brought ashore by a lifeboat because the conditions were too severe to winch him off.
"He was described as having no serious injuries but clearly, having spent the best part of 12 hours on the board a dismasted vessel in very rough conditions, I think he is very, very cold and probably suffering from some level of hypothermia."