Exclusive: A SAILOR forced to abandon an incredible 5,000-mile trip is set to be reunited with his yacht – thanks to Malin Head Coast Guard.
Dino Silva, 41, was on passage from his home in the Azores to Iceland on his 35ft sloop when the rudder of his aluminium yacht, Lua, failed.
He managed to repair it five times before it became inoperable.
Then, using a satellite phone, he called Falmouth Coastguard and asked for help. A German freighter was directed to his position, took him off and dropped him in Philadelphia, USA five weeks ago.
Since then he has been trying to locate his yacht without success….until now.
And yesterday Malin Head reported the vessel had been picked up by a dive boat and was being towed into Mulroy Bay.
“All my life is on that boat. I sold my house to build her. She is part of me, she’s like a child to me,” Mr Silva said when he put out an SOS to find his boat in June.
The yacht is uninsured.
A Coast Guard spokesman said: “The yacht was located west of Mulroy and is under tow.
“We have contacted Falmouth Coast Guard in England and they are making contact with the owner to let him know the good news.”
Mr Silva is expected to travel to Donegal in the next few days to reclaim his boat.
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