Local sea captains who set out on a recovery mission to find an abandoned yacht over the holiday had a fright when their boat ran into engine trouble and set them adrift.

After searching a twenty square mile area for the Altair, the Sundeck 36-foot power craft, which had set out on the salvage operation, herself suffered engine failure.

Sundeck Captain Kirk Parris said he and his brother-in-law Sloan Paul Wakefield were about 54 miles north-east of Northrock on New Year's Day when the raw water pump broke down on his boat, causing the engine to over-heat.

But when they tried to call for help using Mr. Wakefield's emergency beacon for his vessel, Atlantic Spray, they only complicated matters further, as Bermuda Harbour Radio could see his boat sat on dry dock in St. George's.

Harbour Radio operators said they could not understand why a May Day call was being sent from Atlantic Spray when it obviously was not in difficulty.

However, when the seamen realised the error of their ways, they sent a second emergency beacon from the Sundeck which finally alerted Harbour Radio to their plight and their location.

Mr. Wakefield said: "We were out of range for our VHS radio to alert Harbour Radio, so we both had to set off our emergency beacons.

"We could not tell anyone that we were having difficulties because we were out of range. Harbour Radio was confused as it could see my boat on dry dock at Ordinance Island, but when Kirk set off his beacon they knew that it was the Sundeck that was in trouble."

Harbour Radio sent urgent broadcasts to ships and the US Coast Guard, in the hope that they could assist the drifting vessel and its crew.

Within a few hours, the two-man crew on the Sundeck was able to make repairs to the engine, which allowed them to limp closer to the Island.

When they reached 40 miles off the coast, they were able to re-establish VHF radio communication with Harbour Radio, and they eventually hobbled back to port at about 9.50 p.m. on New Year's Night.

The Coast Guard and passing ships were then told to stand down.

Mr. Parris said: "It was a frightening experience, we were just drifting."

The Altair had been abandoned by her four crew members on November 29th after her steering failed during heavy weather, and she has remained adrift in the area north-west of the Island since.

There have been several sightings of her during the last five weeks, and in recent days she has been seen drifting closer to shore.

Two weeks ago, a Bermuda 70-foot deep line fishing boat, Ark Angel, owned by Bobby Lamb, had searched for the 60-foot sailing yacht, without any success.

So at 2 a.m. on Wednesday, Mr. Parris and Mr. Wakefield decided to go in search of the vessel after hearing that shehad been spotted by the MV Oleander on Tuesday. Before setting off they contacted the owner of the Altair, who has set up a salvage fund for anyone who could bring her to shore.

"The owner had put in a claim with his insurance company, but he still would like to find the Altair, so he has put out a recovery fee for anyone who finds her," said Mr. Parris.

A Harbour Radio spokesman said: "The Altair remains adrift, and we continue to alert passing vessels to the potential danger from this hazard to navigation, and mariners should keep a lookout and report any further sightings."