THE French yachtsman rescued by an Australian ship from the Southern Ocean says it's a miracle he's been given a second chance at life.
Alain Delord spent three days in a life raft before being rescued by Antarctic cruise ship Orion on Sunday night about 500 nautical miles southeast of Tasmania.
His yacht, the Tchouk Tchouk Nougat, was dismasted and suffered hull damage in the Southern Ocean last week on its round-the-world voyage.
"It's a second chance at life," he told reporters through a translator after arriving in Hobart on board the Orion today.
"It's a miracle the Orion was on the way back."
"You always hope for the best."
Mr Delord said it had been more than three months since he had left home and his confidence in his vessel had grown.
"(I had) already travelled half-way across the world," he said through the translator.
"And then (I) hit bad weather with 60-70 knot winds and by then (I) was in the centre of the depression."
Delord described himself as "pretty lucky" to escape the ordeal with only a few bruises, scratches and swollen hands.
"When first contact happens you know someone's aware and you feel much better," Mr Delord said.
"You're hoping for life and for someone to come and rescue you."
He thanked his rescuers, saying "merci" several times.
"Thank you to the Australian maritime authorities and thank you to Orion," he said through the translator.
Orion's captain Mike Taylor said the ship had taken three days to reach Mr Delord once the alarm was raised with maritime safety authorities.
Once the ship arrived, rescue conditions were very difficult.
The crew had only 20 minutes of daylight to pull Delord from the water after reaching him at 9pm -- three hours later than Capt Taylor had hoped.
"Once we got there it was touch and go," Capt Taylor said.
"Visibility was very very bad."
"The problem with that, of course, is that the sun sets at 2120 (9.20pm) and although you've got a little bit of twilight you're really under the gun to effect the rescue while you've still got daylight.
"It's not the kind of thing you can do in the hours of darkness.
"My heart was really in my mouth."
The Orion arrived at Hobart's Macquarie Wharf just after 9am today. The ship's 100 passengers crowded the front deck as it docked in front of a small crowd and large media contingent.
Customs, immigration and French consular officials arrived soon after and boarded the vessel.
Mr Delord lost his personal belongings, including his passport, and new documents had to be organised before he could disembark.
He is expected to remain in Hobart tonight before travelling to Canberra to visit the French Embassy.
Read more in tomorrow's Mercury
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