Dietmar Schram: "When the engine stopped working, I was afraid"

A lifeboat towed the boat to the Channel Island of Guernsey late on Monday night after a helicopter winchman from Portland had established contact with the skipper, Dietmar Schram.

Mr Schram's 30-foot yacht was travelling from Brest in France to Sweden when it was caught in a storm and struck by lightning that damaged his radio and sails.

Two days later a rope became caught in the engine's propeller and Mr Schram drifted helplessly.

'I had no chance'

Mr Schram said that at first he was not too worried when Force 6 gales ripped the sails and mast. But when he lost power he began to fear for his life.

"The engine stopped. Then I had no chance," said Mr Schram.

"Before that day I had the engine _ if I saw a harbour I could go in, but yesterday it happened with the rope in the propeller and then I became afraid."

The yacht was discovered 27 miles north-west of the Channel Islands by a bulk carrier Okapi. But there was no sign of life and St Peter Port Radio and Brixham Coastguard were alerted.

A nearby aircraft was diverted to the scene but could see no one aboard.

'Very relieved'

A winchman from Hotel Lima, the Portland-based coastguard helicopter, made contact with Mr Schram by writing a message on a blackboard and was then lowered onto the deck.

"The man put his head in his hands indicating he thanked God help had arrived," said Andy Huber, watch manager of Brixham Coastguard.

"He was in good condition, did not need hospital attention and was very, very relieved."

The winchman handed over some flares and a radio to temporarily replace broken equipment.

"He was a lucky man to be spotted in such poor weather," said Mr Huber.