Pete Goss: Led the failed sea trial

The court imposed a suspended committal order for 42 days.

Mr Tudor is commodore of Pwllheli sailing club and was one of the Team Philips crew rescued by a passing freighter 10 days ago after the �4.5m racing catamaran hit difficulties.

He was taken to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and flew into Manchester at the weekend.

A race against time began last week to reach the stricken superyacht before it was claimed by salvage "pirates".

DSalvage fears

Skipper Pete Goss and his six crew members were forced to evacuate the catamaran after she was damaged by a fierce Atlantic storm during sea trials.

But fears were growing that the catamaran itself, which has been left adrift more than 750 miles west of Ireland, could be claimed for salvage.

Team Philips said it was preparing a rescue plan for the damaged vessel but said no attempt would be made until the weather improved.

The catamaran's crew were taken aboard the German cargo ship Hoechst Express, which battled through high waves and 50-knot winds to reach the vessel.

The crew are expected to reach land by Wednesday or Thursday this week.

The drama was the latest in a series of setbacks for the Team Philips group, which was due to take part in a round-the-world race starting on 31 December.

But the project team remained optimistic she could still race again.