France salutes brave yachtsman

A British lone yachtsman is to be awarded with France's highest medal of honour for bravery after he risked his life to save a rival Frenchman on a stricken boat.

Pete Goss, 35, abandoned his position in a gruelling non-stop round-the- world race after he was informed Raphael Dinelli had sent out an SOS in the Southern Ocean. He changed course and headed for the floundering yacht, 160 nautical miles away, and pulled Dinelli on board his 50ft vessel Aqua Quorum. President Jacques Chirac has nominated the former Royal Marine for the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest accolade for bravery. He will be awarded with the medal on his return to France today.

A spokesman for Mr Goss, of Torpoint, Cornwall, said: "He is very proud." Mr Goss is the only Briton to have completed the Vendee Globe race, which set off from Les Sables D'Olonne four and a half months ago. He is expected to finish 5th in the race.