MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine and British Air Forces aid stricken yachtsman.

A further example of the improving relationships between Britain and Argentina has resulted in the a joint Air Force rescue exercise off the Falkland Islands to save a lone American yachtsman.

Roger Coble sailing alone in the ?CASSIOPEIA' reported severe damage after gale force winds snapped the mast of his small 30 feet yacht, bringing down the sail, while the continued battering also led to his boat taking on water, although the yacht was said not to be in danger of sinking.

Initially, following the sending of a distress signal by Mr. Coble on Sunday, a P3 Orion aircraft of the Argentine Navy flew to a position 360 nautical miles North East of the Falklands to observe the stricken yachtsman and report on his condition to both Argentine and British authorities. Meanwhile a Hercules C130 aircraft of the Royal Air Force, based at Mt. Pleasant in the Falklands, flew to the scene to relieve the Argentine crew, and at 0400 on Monday morning, a life-raft and survival equipment was dropped from the Hercules to Mr. Coble.

Because of the distance from the Falklands it was not possible to send a helicopter to pick up the American, so a British Ministry of Defence fuel ship the ?Maersk Rapier' which was en-route to the Falklands, was diverted to the ?CASSIOPEIA' and late on Monday night Roger Coble was lifted to safety on board the ?Maersk Rapier'. The vessel has also encountered severe storms and has had to reduce speed and is not now expected to reach the Falklands late on Thursday night.

Earlier Roger Coble had called into the Falklands for 12 days having sailed from Juan Fernandez Island in Chile. He left Port Stanley on 31st January giving his next destination as Puerto Rico, and was making good progress before being hit by gale force winds and 8-meter high waves.

The joint surveillance operation by the Argentine and British aircraft typifies the growing confidence between the two Countries which went to war over the Falklands in 1982, said one official.