British billionaire Richard Branson departed Bermuda on Saturday — but the sailboat he arrived on remains moored at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

Virgin Money, a 99ft maxi yacht in which Sir Richard, his two children and an international crew were attempting to break a trans-Atlantic speed record from New York to England, has a ripped main sail, destroyed spinnaker and missing lifeboat after it was hit by a monster wave.

The vessel, also known as Speedboat, made a detour to Bermuda on Friday night after the attempt to reach Lizard Point in Cornwall in less than six days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds was abandoned due to 40ft waves and gale force nine winds.

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club manager David Furtado said yesterday the racing boat was brought to Hamilton on Saturday afternoon and the crew were expected to start repair work today.

Sir Richard, who was co-skippering the boat with its owner Alex Jackson and former World Sailor of the Year Mike Sanderson, said on Friday he was determined to try again to break the record with Britain's America's Cup team, possibly in as little as three weeks time.

His 25-man crew included daughter Holly, 26, a doctor, and 23-year-old son Sam, with whom he has already completed several Arctic expeditions. Holly told The Royal Gazette it was her first adventure at sea.

"We thought it was an opportunity not to be missed," she said. "It was really amazing, especially once we found out the attempt wasn't going to happen. We then had 24 hours of beautiful skies and rolling seas.

"If it goes again, I am going to be on it. We have just got to wait for a weather window. These guys are amazing; they really know what they are doing. I wasn't scared at all."

Head boat builder Ben Malcolm, 25, who was waiting anxiously on shore for the boat to arrive on Friday night, said the Virgin Money would go to Miami or Newport once fixed.

"We will try and turn it around and get it ready for the next job," he said. "You kind of just have to roll with it."

The Bransons were due to leave Bermuda on Saturday morning, headed for their privately-owned Necker Island, in the British Virgin Islands, on a private jet.