MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Canadian yacht rescued by ARA east of Falklands

'The Kim Chow with ARA Pto. Deseado vessel standing by' <br>(Photo by Argentine Navy)

A Canadian solo navigator whose boat suffered a rollover and was heading to the Falkland Islands for repairs was rescued by an Argentine Navy vessel and is ready to return to his hometown of Victoria, according to the latest reports from Argentina and Canada.

Glenn Wakefield, 57, and his yacht "Kim Chow" were approached in a combined air and sea operation by the Argentine ARA Puerto Deseado that was surveying the continental shelf sea bed 500 miles east of the Argentine coast, north of the Falklands. The Victoria man who wanted to be the first to circumnavigate the globe sailing solo and against the prevailing winds but was forced to abandon his quest after severely damaging his boat in a rollover. He had been at sea for 218 days when he made the decision to quit. The 57-year-old's boat engine had failed leaving him dead in the water after the rollover last week. The sailboat was also taking on water through its damaged hull. His first attempt was to head to the Falklands. From "Puerto Deseado" Wakefield was transferred to the Coast Guard vessel Fique which took him to Caleta Paula. He later flew to Buenos Aires to meet his wife Marylou that came in especially from Victoria last week. The Argentine Navy reported "Puerto Deseado" had to wait several hours before it stood alongside the Kim Chow because of the strong winds and five meter waves. Once safely on board Argentine crew of 50 gathered to offer him a toast. Wakefield suffered a concussion and a strained wrist in the rollover.