The 60ft racing yacht, Gartmore, owned by Josh Hall is bound for northern Spain under jury rig having been dismasted 450 miles from Cape Finisterre en route from Horta in the Azores to Cherbourg.

Hall and his three crew cut the carbonfibre rig free in rising winds. Gartmore is steering 140 and making 4-5 knots, according to Falmouth Coastguard.

A tug sent to recover Mike Slade’s abandoned 90 ft sloop Leopard off the Azores was standing by – waiting for winds to ease – to try and take her in tow.