a A British sailor rescued off Bermuda last week is appealing to the Island's maritime community to help him retrieve his damaged yacht.

Paul Custance, 41, a diabetic who suffered from hypoglycemia after he was rescued from his stricken yacht, was brought ashore by US Navy paramedics last Tuesday. His "dreamboat'', the 32-foot Contessa yacht Emma , is still floating 340 miles east of here.

Now Mr. Custance, who has returned to his home in Chertsey, Surrey, is asking for help from the local yachting community to bring his boat to the Island.

Mr. Custace was so shell-shocked by the five-day ordeal in mountainous seas that he vowed never to sail again.

But he told The Royal Gazette yesterday he is now desperate to retrieve his boat and sail it home.

Mr. Custance was knocked unconscious when the boom of his yacht swung round viciously in high winds and hit him on the head. The same happened to his fellow crewman, Dutchman Bengt Liberg, 26, minutes later.

The pair issued SOS calls after the mast snapped and were picked up 12 hours later by a passing Panamanian-registered freight ship, the Crusader .

But the drama continued when Mr. Custance, who lost his insulin in the rescue, began suffering from hypoglycemia.

A team of paramedics from the 106 Rescue Wing of the Navy Air National Guard in New York, parachuted into the ocean and made their way to the Crusader to stabilise Mr. Custance and bring him to Bermuda.

Mr. Custance, who was sailing from St. Martin in the Caribbean to England, said: "I had no insurance for the boat or the trip, so I'd just like to appeal to anyone who can locate her or find her.

"She's out there in good condition -- all she needs is a mast and rigging -- and I'd like to come to Bermuda to complete the trip back... that boat is a big part of me and I can't think of leaving her out there waiting to be run over.

"I am getting desperate now because time is so important. I don't have much money, but if anyone could help in any way, I'd pay them back in any way I can.

"Bermuda Harbour Radio told me a ship had managed to retrieve our luggage, which we had to leave in the boat, and tried to pull the boat onboard, but was unable to.'' Mr. Custance said he also wanted to thank everyone in Bermuda, especially at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Mariner's Home, for helping him and Mr. Liberg.

Anyone who can help Mr. Custance should call him in England on 011 441 1932 563926.

SAILING SLG