International rescue ship Hatherleigh, Pindar’s converted trawler, has been offered to the boys on Artemis, who were dismasted yesterday about 100 miles west of Cape Finisterre.

Jonny Malbon and Graham ‘Gringo’ Tourell are believed to be heading for Vigo and Andrew Pindar has offered the Hatherleigh to bring the disabled boat back home to the UK.

This would be the former Lowestoft trawler’s third oceanic mercy mission: the longest and most daring was the rescue of Jean-Pierre Dick in the Transat three years ago when he was rolled and dismasted 750 miles west of Ireland. Hatherleigh towed his Open 60 Virbac back to France.