A yacht?s sailing log signed by the late Beatle John Lennon after he made a 600-mile journey from Rhode Island to Bermuda in 1980 is expected to fetch up to $43,000 at auction next month ? more than five times what it raised at auction six months ago.

And the sale of the book has brought to light two more photographs of Lennon in Bermuda, one shows him with his four-year-old son Sean on the yacht with what appears to be the Ferry Reach, St. George?s in the background and the other a picture of Lennon enjoying a meal in Bermuda with his sailing companions.

The log book from the yacht is included in a pop and rock memorabilia auction to be held at Madame Tussauds in London on April 19.

It includes a journal entry by the singer-songwriter dated June 11 1980, the day he arrived on the Island to begin what subsequently turned out to be his last summer holiday.

In December that year, and aged only 40, the former Beatle was shot dead on a New York sidewalk outside his home.

The importance of Lennon?s visit to Bermuda has increased in recent months, including it being listed as one of the 11 most significant moments in his life as it heralded his return to songwriting after a five-year hiatus from the music business.

The yacht?s journal book contains notes and messages from passengers and crew including a half page message from Lennon which reads: ?Dear Megan, There?s no place like nowhere, and thanks Hank,? it is signed by Lennon who added a sketch portrait of himself with a beard next to a picture of the yacht sailing.

Lennon stayed on the Island for two months and began writing songs for his final album Double Fantasy, finding inspiration for the title after coming across Double Fantasy freesia in the Botanical Gardens. During his stay he rented a home at Knapton Hill and later in Fairylands and was joined by his four-year-old son Sean.

Regarded by many to be the guiding spirit of The Beatles, Lennon set sail in a chartered 43ft schooner with four strangers.

He joined Tyler, Ellen and Kevin Coneys and a Captain called Hank and set sail on June 4.

At one point during the five-day trip Lennon took charge of the yacht after the other crew members fell ill, and famously took the helm during a tempestuous storm.

The musician later recounted in an interview: ?So there I was at the wheel. The wind and sea lashing out at me, wave after wave. At first I was terrified, but Capt?n Hank was at my side, so I felt relatively safe, ?cause I knew he wouldn?t let me do anything stupid.

?But after a while he (Capt?n Hank) wasn?t feeling too well and he retreated to the cabin below.

?Once I accepted the reality of the situation something greater than me took over and all of a sudden I lost my fear. I actually began to enjoy the experience, and I started to sing and shout old sea shanties in the face of the storm, screaming at the thundering sky.?

Lennon compared the sensation to how he had felt in 1961 when the still unknown Beatles were at their peak as a live act performing in Liverpool and Hamburg, saying he felt ?centred? and ?in tune with the cosmos.?

The log book was sold at auction in the USA last October and sold for a mere $8,500, but it?s value has increased and the catalogue price for the upcoming sale by auctioneers Cooper Owen in London pitches the log book between $24,000 and $28,000. However, last night a number of news agencies including the British Broadcasting Company were speculating the log would sell for around $43,000.