Sailing: Solo rescue act saves stranded Fauconnier

Karine Fauconnier was rescued early yesterday from her disabled yacht in the mid-Atlantic by another boat in the Route du Rhum single-handed race from St Malo to Guadeloupe.

Karine Fauconnier was rescued early yesterday from her disabled yacht in the mid-Atlantic by another boat in the Route du Rhum single-handed race from St Malo to Guadeloupe.

The Frenchwoman, 30, is in good health and on her way to Madeira today aboard Bob Ecoffier's Adecco Etoile Horizon. On Friday, the starboard float of her trimaran punctured, leading her to dump the mast halfway between Lisbon and the Azores.

Ellen MacArthur was taking a tactical gamble by heading further south in her 60-foot Kingfisher at the halfway stage. She led her fellow Briton Mike Golding after they traded places in a race that has seen nearly half the fleet pull out because of capsizes and gear damage.

Golding, on Ecover, had enjoyed a one-mile lead just four hours earlier but moved south, crossing MacArthur's path and losing ground.

The waiting game continued for Britain's America's Cup team as strong winds again prevented racing here on the Hauraki Gulf yesterday. GBR Challenge were one defeat away from elimination as they sat at 3-1 down to Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes in their best-of-seven Louis Vuitton Cup quarter-final.