Falmouth Coastguard co-ordinate French yacht rescue
Falmouth Coastguard has helped in the rescue of three crew from a French yacht in the Atlantic.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said an emergency alert was received from the crew of the Idem at about 0730 BST.
En route from Iceland to Brittany, the yacht had been blown 500 miles off course in severe weather and was without power.
Falmouth notified a nearby container ship which picked up the crew.
Watch officer Henry Purbrick said the yachtsmen's lives were saved by the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).
"In harsh weather conditions, the captain manoeuvred the vessel with great skill to evacuate the yachtsmen from their yacht which has now been abandoned.
"We cannot stress how important it is to carry a registered EPIRB... it certainly saved the lives of these three yachtsmen."