Alain Delord, a French sailor who spent the last three days adrift aboard a tiny lifeboat off the coast of Tasmania, was finally rescued by a cruise ship that passed in those waters.

The sailor was attempting a round the world solo trip, last Friday when he had some problems at about 500 nautical miles away from Tasmania: the tree of his boat is broken because of adverse conditions, and the 63 years man was forced to abandon it. The marine authorities have been able to provide food, water and a survival suit through the use of a plane, but the position of man was too remote groped for a helicopter rescue.

The cruise ship Orion was returning from the Antarctica when he received the distress call, and he made a detour of 50 hours to reach the shipwrecked, once brought on board, the man was in good physical and mental condition.