A UK sailor has been rescued from his yacht in the Indian Ocean, 2,100 kilometres off the coast of Perth, after getting into trouble in heavy weather.
The yachtsman, who was attempting a solo voyage around the world, ran into trouble during a storm on Thursday morning and lost his mast.
He activated an emergency beacon which notified the Australian Marine Safety Authority (AMSA) of his predicament, and merchant ships in the area were alerted.
AMSA said a US car carrier, the Patriot, changed course to help search for the man.
The authority chartered a Falcon 900 jet aircraft from Perth, with a WA police officer on board.
"Both the Patriot and the jet arrived on the scene at about 1230 AEDT on Friday where the jet oversaw the rescue operation," AMSA said in a statement.
The man, whose name has not been released, was eventually brought aboard the vessel safe and well around midday on Friday.
It is understood be began his solo voyage from the UK.
He is due to arrive in Fremantle aboard the Patriot on Monday.
