Local papers in Cornwall are reporting that the Penlee lifeboat last week rescued a mini transat yacht which had collided with a trawler.

Matt Trautman, from South Africa, was completing a 1,000-mile qualifying passage - from Lorient to Ireland and back - for the Mini Transat when the incident happened last Thursday evening. He and his boat were towed safely to Newlyn.

The collision happened 42 miles south of Land's End. The yacht's mast broke in four places, the bow was damaged and she started taking in water. In winds gusting to force eight, the undamaged trawler waited with the yacht for the lifeboat to arrive.

See The Cornishman's report here
Yachting Monthly, 17 April 2008