A SAILOR rescued from a dismasted boat following an 11-hour-search says he is grateful to be alive.

A huge rescue operation involving coastguards and the RNLI was launched on Monday evening following a ‘May Day’ call from Mick Royton, 52.

Mr Royston got in to difficulty when a huge wave hit his boat.

Speaking from Dorset County Hospital, where he is now recovering, Mr Royton said: “I set off from Lannion, France at dusk on Sunday. I sailed south past Guernsey; the wind was picking up all the time and so did the waves.

“When my canoe got washed over the side, I decided to take the jib down and have a rest.

“I tied the canoe up and had a cup of coffee. I was debating whether to carry on sailing. All of a sudden there was a loud bang and a very big wave with a log hit both the floaters breaking one in half and seriously damaging the other.

“I decided in order to lengthen the period of time between the next one breaking and falling off I needed to get the mast down.

“You don't normally do that without a crane.

“It wasn't until the next afternoon that the other one started to sink.

“I had already taken the precaution of putting a wetsuit on.

“I thought the boat was going to turtle and sink.”

Rescuers spent around 11 hours looking for the trimaran in winds that reached force six to seven and wave heights of around two meters.

British Naval vessel HMS St Albans came across Mr Royton at around 4am on yesterday 18 miles off Portland Bill (Tues) and alerted the Maritime Coastguard Agency.

He was brought ashore by the Weymouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat.

Of his ordeal, Mr Royton, from Brighton, added: I was just very grateful to get off the boat at that time because the wind was picking up and big waves could have sunk it. I still could have died from hypothermia.

“I was a little bit worried but not seriously worried. The time to worry is when you are freezing to death.

“I feel a bit battered and tired but I feel okay.

“I hope to go out and find my boat but if not I shall build another one.”