when his capsized yacht, the Coyote is boarded.

The yacht has been seen by a number of ships and aircraft 640 nautical miles southwest of Ireland.

Bad weather has prevented the yacht being boarded so far but the French ocean-going tug Malabar was expected to arrive early today. The ship has divers aboard capable of inspecting the interior of the Coyote .

Searchers are hoping that Mr. Plant was able to find his way to a lifeboat attached to the yacht.

An RAF Nimrod and US Coast Guard vessels are continuing to search for the American round-the-world solo sailor, of Jamestown, Rhode Island.

Mr. Plant, 42, left New York on October 16 in a two-week crossing to France.

The yacht was expected to take part in a round-the-world race which began on Sunday.

Three days after leaving New York he asked a passing freighter to relay that had lost electrical power, preventing him from using his long distance radio gear and automatic pilot.

He last made radio contact on October 21 and fears about his life have been raised ever since.

Mr. Plant's brother-in-law Mr. Bob Simmons of Wayzata, Minnesota, described him as a survivor. He said: "He has been in situations like this. It's not a wholly uncommon experience for these shorthanded ocean racers.''