An urgent rescue operation is under way to reach a British yacht that is drifting at sea off Spain's north-west coast.
The UK-registered 10 metre yacht Helena sent a beacon alert in an area 500 miles north-west of Cape Finisterre at around 12.20am on Friday, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.
The HM Coastguard has now successfully made contact with the skipper of the Vancouver yacht and is coordinating search and rescue efforts.
Using VHF radio, officials were able to confirm one person is on board and the skipper is not injured.
A French maritime patrol aircraft is on the scene and has located the 10 metre yacht which is without a mast and drifting. Authorities said the vessel is watertight.
The RAF is providing a Hercules aircraft to keep a presence at the scene while merchant vessels are diverted to assist, but the first vessel won't arrive at the scene until around 6am tomorrow.
Duty maritime operations commander Mark Rodaway OBE said: “This is an excellent example of cooperation, HM Coastguard has been able to collaborate with the Ministry of Defence and international search and rescue partners to identify the exact location of the yacht.
“Every effort will now be made to ensure assistance arrives as soon as possible.”
