Rescue couple overjoyed as yacht survives

Published on Sunday 17 May 2009 22:00

A SWEDISH couple involved in a dramatic rescue operation were overjoyed when their abandoned homemade yacht returned to shore – 24 hours later.

Eight-metre-high waves and gale force winds in the North Sea forced Jonas and Ingrid Akerblom, who were on the first leg of a round-the-world trip, to radio for help 35 miles north-east of Dunbar.

They had no option but to abandon the yacht – which took them five years to build – on Friday night.

But after a night in Dunbar's Bayswell hotel, which was paid for by their lifeboat rescuers, the Swedes were stunned to hear that their boat had washed up completely undamaged.

Now the pair are preparing to get back on the waves and continue their trip.

Yesterday, Mr Akerblom said: "We are so grateful to be alive, and so impressed with the lifeboat crew who rescued us."