Attempts to recover Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki from extreme condition off the coast of Golfo di Castallammare on the north-west tip of Sicily have been abandoned.

Sadly Loki, the 60ft Australian Reichel Pugh-designed yacht which lost her rudder while competing in extreme conditions this weekend in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, dragged anchor and is now foundering on the rocks on the coast.

The crew was airlifted off on Sunday night see previous news story here.