RESCUED sailor Phil Kirby today thanked Weymouth Lifeboat crew after they came to his aid off the Dorset coast.

Mr Kirby, who has more than 40 years' experience at sea, raised the alarm when his yacht suffered engine failure and became caught in shipping lanes 25 miles off Portland Bill.

With sea conditions expected to worsen the yachtsman feared big problems ahead on his journey between Cherbourg and Torquay.

But Mr Kirby was returned to dry land safe and sound after the lifeboat crew spent almost eight hours at sea on the rescue mission.

The Torquay-based yachtsman, 53, was travelling alone on his 22ft fin keel vessel Xeitosa when troubles arose.

He said: "The journey between Cherbourg and Torquay normally takes between 22 to 25 hours and it is a trip I've done many times before.

"Unfortunately, on this occasion the wind conditions were not ideal and I got into trouble in shipping lanes off Portland Bill.

"It was mid-afternoon at the time and with the weather forecast expected to worsen the last thing I wanted to do was remain where I was. Being in a shipping lane it could have caused all sorts of problems."

Mr Kirby added: "I raised the alarm and the lifeboat came out to tow me into Weymouth where I arrived at around 1.30am, about ten hours after the problems first began.

"I was pretty tired, but the crew were excellent, making up a temporary bed for me in the lifeboat house by the quay.

"It is the first time I've ever had trouble like this and I can't thank them enough for helping me."

Relief coxswain Chris Winzar said a crew of seven - who are unpaid and rely on donations from the public - were aboard lifeboat Ernest and Mabel when it launched from Weymouth on Tuesday to rescue Mr Kirby.

The crew also worked to keep the yacht afloat when it started taking on water in Weymouth.

He said: "Luckily we were able to tow Phil into Weymouth without too much of a problem but he definitely did the right thing raising the alarm."