The solo sailor raised the alarm after his yacht collided with an unknown object in Argentinian waters on 17 September.
The situation was serious: pumps were working to bail out water coming in through a hole in the bow, and the damage had caused the anchor to run out, impeding the yacht's ability to manoeuvre.
The sailor, who was on his way from the Falklands to Chile, alerted the Falkland Islands Maritime Authority which swiftly updated HM Coastguard's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Fareham.
It’s a credit to all the search and rescue authorities involved
In turn, the JRCC informed counterparts at Ushuaia Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Argentina, with Spain’s MRCC Madrid lending a hand with liaison.
With the drifting yacht's communications limited, the jurisdictions worked together to calculate its location about 108 nautical miles south-west of the Falklands.
They established who would coordinate elements of the response and planned the rescue.
Three of the nearest vessels in the area were requested to go to the aid of the sailor. He was eventually picked up by a fishing trawler which steamed to the scene from about 80 nautical miles away.
Read more about keeping safe on board
The man was later transferred to another vessel and taken, safe and well, to Stanley on the Falkland Islands.
Rob Priestley, Network Commander at HM Coastguard, said: “This was a good example of international cooperation that brought a yachtsman to safety from a dangerous situation, miles from land.
“It’s a credit to all the search and rescue authorities involved and shows how HM Coastguard in the UK has the experience, skills and connections to react to all sorts of incidents where people are in distress – working with international partners across the planet to provide help to mariners."
• HM Coastguard is one of the UK's frontline emergency services. In an emergency at sea or by the UK coast, use VHF Channel 16 or call 999 to ask for the Coastguard.
Main picture: the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Fareham
