The skipper who managed to stay alive for 20 hours after his boat sank- killing his two crew - off the coast of Bermuda last week is finally to step on dry land tomorrow.

Robert (Bobby) Lambe, who was plucked from the Atlantic by American naval hospital ship USNS Comfort after floundering in treacherous seas for hours, will finally be dropped off in Spain.

He has been on the warship since last Wednesday afternoon because the vessel was on its way to the Persian Gulf for the possible war against Iraq and was unable to divert or make any unscheduled stops.

But Government yesterday announced that Mr. Lambe, of Beach Estate, Somerset, will be allowed off the ship at an undisclosed location in Spain, where he will be met by a British Consulate official.

Minister for Labour and Home Affairs Terry Lister said: “We were happy to receive the news that Mr. Lambe was likely to arrive in Spain on Thursday.

“He is anxious to come home to his family and friends, and we, as well as the general public, eagerly anticipate his return.”

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Mr. Lambe was on board his boat New Nuts with his friends and crewmen Alan Edness, 56, and Micah Battersbee, 29, last Tuesday night when a freak wave overturned the boat, causing it to sink about 20 minutes later.

Both Mr. Edness, of St. Anne's Road, Southampton, and Mr. Battersbee, of Dock Hill, Devonshire, who were both fathers, are believed to have gone down with the boat.

Only Mr. Lambe managed to escape alive. He was finally picked up on Wednesday afternoon by USNS Comfort following a massive search by the US Coast Guard.

The three fishermen had left the Island last Monday morning in search for abandoned yacht Altair, but were forced to head back earlier than planned on Tuesday because of worsening weather conditions.

However, they only made it to within 80 miles of the Island when the tragic events began to unfold.

Mr. Lister added: “This is a very emotional period for Mr. Lambe and his family, and Government wants to ensure that he is able to return without any problems or delays. It is unusual for someone to survive as he did, be picked up by a naval vessel and have no indication of where or when he would be landed.”

He said arrangements were being made by the Foreign Commonwealth Office, with the assistance of the Department of Immigration in Bermuda, for Mr. Lambe's speedy return to the Island, possibly at the weekend.

And Mr. Lister said that Cabinet members had yesterday agreed to cover the costs of Mr. Lambe's return to Bermuda.