Round-worldsailor allaysfears as he calls family

Paddy Macklin, 52, from Falmouth, Cornwall, was attempting to sail solo around the world when he ran into difficulties in the Bay of Biscay, off western France and north-west Spain.

He radioed the Coastguard several days ago to report that he was experiencing difficult weather.

But the alarm was raised on Thursday after he failed to contact his family on his satellite phone as intended.

Mr Macklin called relatives to let them know he was safe after hearing a report about him on the radio, according to the Coastguard.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “He has been in touch with his family, who are obviously very relieved.

“It seems he had a radio tuned to Radio 4 and heard it broadcast the news we were looking for a sailor.

“He has been through some really atrocious weather and he had wrapped up his phone at the bottom of a bag in some clothing in order to avoid getting it wet.

“He didn’t contact his family yesterday because he did not want to get the phone out and risk getting it wet.

“The Coastguard will keep monitoring him.”

Coastguards said they did not believe Mr Macklin was carrying a distress radio beacon which would have emitted a signal if something catastrophic had happened to his yacht.

Mr Macklin, a former painter and decorator, set off from Falmouth earlier last month in his 27ft yacht named Tessa.

He contacted Falmouth Coastguard on December 29 to report rough sea conditions.