They say if you're lost or in trouble, ask a policeman. And so it should come as no surprise that when solo sailor Alan Paris issued a plea for help it was a boy in blue who was among those that answered the call.

Paris is closing in on the finish on Leg Three of the Around Alone Race but with his destination almost within sight disaster struck his yacht BTC Velocity.

As he neared Hobart in Tasmania en route to New Zealand the wire holding up his mast let go on the starboard side. This put the rig in jeopardy and Paris was forced to carry out an emergency repair so he could limp to port.

At 6 a.m. on Sunday, Paris arrived at an outlying island seven and a half miles from an area known as Spring Bay.

"I was met at 6.30 a.m. by two local residents with whom I had been put in contact with only 12 hours earlier," he said. "At this point I was put under tow - race rules stipulate no tow may be longer than ten nautical miles or I would be subject to disqualification - and an hour later BTC Velocity was comfortably tied up to a fishing boat in a protected harbour."

Paris was met at the dock by a customs agent and local constable, Tony Buckingham, who he said had become an amazing partner in assuring he had everything he needed.

"The customs and immigration officer quickly cleared me into Australia and even went as far as to issue my departure documents so that I can leave without delay on Monday (yesterday)," he said. "At 8 a.m. I was officially in Australian waters and by 9 a.m. I had climbed the mast and removed the `offending ` stay and related fittings."

Paris then received some local help to carry out the repairs and when finished was driven to Hobart by constable Buckingham.

"This is a one hour, 14 minute drive," he said. "His kindness was not finished as when he discovered that I was looking for a hotel room for the night, he called a local of the Spring Bay Port who just happens to own one of the nicest hotels in Hobart, The Lenna, and I am now typing this from the comfort of a beautiful guest room one block from the harbour with a cold beer in my hand.

"Also on the drive from Spring Bay to Hobart we stopped by the Hobart International Airport and booked my ticket to Melbourne on Monday that has me leaving at 6.30 a.m. and returning at 3 p.m.

"When I arrive back to at the Hobart International Airport on Monday afternoon guess who will be there to pick me up? Yes that's right. Constable Buckingham will be at the airport and drive me straight back to BTC Velocity so I should be at sea by early evening tomorrow with a revised ETA in Tauranga of January 29."

Paris, who is at the back of the race fleet, enjoyed dinner and a "good six-hour sleep in a bed that does not move" before continuing his journey.