Stranded yacht couple rescued.

A RETIRED British couple had their dream round-the-world-trip cut short when they were left without power, steering or fresh water drifting in the Atlantic Ocean, coastguards said yesterday.

Shealagh Ward, 68, and her 64-year-old husband Alan, set off from the Cape Verde Islands seven days ago bound for Trinidad and Tobago as part of their voyage.

Their 36ft catamaran Wahinema lost propulsion, steering and they ran out of fresh water, leaving them stranded in the Atlantic Ocean.

A distress beacon on board the catamaran alerted Falmouth Coastguard to their predicament at 9.30am on Saturday and an international rescue began.

Falmouth rescue workers contacted the couple's son Stuart, 40, to whom the beacon was registered.

He gave them details about his parents, their boat and kept in close contact for news of their safety.

Falmouth

Coastguard managed to contact a merchant ship which was travelling near to the last known position of the couple's catamaran, around 640 miles west of the Cape Verde islands.

The ship, a 38,500 tonne bulk carrier sailing under the Bahamas flag, diverted from its scheduled route to rescue Mr and Mrs Ward at 12.15pm yesterday.

Coastguards said the couple were now "recovering from their ordeal" and would be landing in Port Comfort, Texas, on March 2. Their catamaran will be left in the Atlantic either to sink or to be salvaged.