 The retired pair had set out from the Cape Verde Islands a week ago |
A yachting couple were rescued after getting into trouble in the Mid-Atlantic, 640 miles west of the Cape Verde islands. Falmouth Coastguard picked up a distress beacon from Shealagh and Alan Ward's vessel on Saturday morning.
With help from other international rescue services, coastguards were able to identify a merchant ship which changed course to pick the couple up.
The Leicester couple are now recovering and will arrive in Texas on 2 March.
The ship which rescued them is a 38,500 ton bulk carrier, the Castillo de San Pedro.
The ship picked up the couple at 1215 GMT on Sunday. They will stay on board until it docks at Port Comfort in Texas.
Mrs Ward, 68, and her 64-year-old husband had set out from the Cape Verde Islands a week ago bound for Trinidad.
 Falmouth Coastguards picked up the distress beacon on Saturday |
They have been sailing around the world for the last four years in a 36ft catamaran.
Ray George, duty watch manager at Falmouth Coastguard, said: "We were very pleased to communicate with the Captain of the Castillo de San Pedro and to hear that he had successfully rescued this British couple from their distress situation.
"Their family are also very relieved that they are safe and well.
"We would like to thank all persons involved in this International rescue, especially the Captain of the Castillo de San Pedro."
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Their family are also very relieved that they are safe and well
